Page 123

Tonight, I’ll bring daisies.
Love,
Harrison
I’m normally not a crier, but the warm tears drench my cheeks as my heartbeat thuds hard in my chest. Completely awestruck, I reread the letter twice more.
It took an entire lifetime, but here’s a glimpse of the old Harrison. The man I thought I could love. And I do. In a different way than I expected, but it’s still profound. My heart may be with Jacob, but my family is with Harrison.
I tuck Harrison’s letter into my box, deciding it’s sacred enough to stay.
The remainder of my day is back-to-back meetings—budget approvals and quarterly earnings. But I decide to cancel it all. I can’t remember the last time I took a day off. I think I’ll cut out early and get my hair touched up and my nails refreshed. Bright red, as always. It’s Harrison’s favorite color.
I smile to myself. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I’m looking forward to dinner with my husband.
35
Lennox
Present Day
Las Vegas
On Tuesday morning, I find myself on Avery and Finn’s porch, a place that’s always felt like a second home. Before heading inside, I pull out my phone, debating if I should call Dex this morning. It’s already near eleven o’clock in Miami. No doubt he’s awake. He’s probably been buried in meetings since the crack of dawn, still dealing with the fray.
After our confrontation with Denny a few days ago, Dex asked for a little time to himself. We had already agreed that I would go home and visit friends and family in Vegas, but after Denny’s threat, I didn’t want to leave him. Dex was eerily calm and quiet. He didn’t say much after reading Harrison’s letter. Instead, he asked me to stay in Las Vegas until our dive trip.
When Kat’s article hits the media, he knows the reporters and lawyers will be swarming. He wants me far away from the chaos as he handles the shitstorm himself.
Very reluctantly, I agree to his wishes. But I feel like I made the wrong choice. I should be there with him, braving the storm right by his side. I’m not against the whole idea of the damsel in distress. Some call it anti-feminist, but personally, I love when Dex sees me, validates me, and saves me. However, sometimes it’s my husband who is in distress. I think in a healthy relationship, I’m supposed to save him, too. That’s equality. We’re strong for each other, and we’re soft for each other. Balance.
I dial his number when the urge to talk to him wins over my logic to give him space.
“Hey you,” he answers. “How’d you sleep?”
“Not so great without you. Why’d you send me away again?”
He grumbles. “I didnotsend you away. I wanted you to be with your parents, Finn, and Avery, and not waiting around the penthouse alone while I sort through everything.”
I scoff. “Sure, that’s why.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You didn’t want me there messing more stuff up,” I tease. It was mostly a playful joke, but when Dex doesn’t respond right away, my feelings are hurt. “Sorry…that’s probably accurate, isn’t it?”
“No, not at all. I just didn’t want you to see me like…this.”
“Like what, babe?”
He sighs heavily. “The Denny stuff is bothering me more than it should. I’m upset, I guess.”
I plant myself on the edge of the concrete porch, crossing my ankles on the step below. “You should be very upset. Talk to me.”
“I closed all the bank accounts she had access to. I rescinded my offer to give her Hessler Estate. She’s broke and had to leave the property today. She came out swinging, cocky and overconfident, but she overlooked the fact that my mom waslegallyadopted. It just wasn’t publicized. Meaning, I’m still Harrison’s legitimate heir.”
“Isn’t that a good thing, Dex? She tried but failed to take everything from you.”
“She was so angry, Len. She hated Harrison so much it bled into her relationships with all of us. That’s what his absenteeism did to her. He drove her to be this unhinged.”