Page 50 of Breaking

Olivia scoffed. "You think she'll be taking your calls after this?"

"I don't care. It’s not true. It was a setup," Troy said, as he started pacing restlessly. "I'm not letting this be how it ends."

"She deserves better than to have her pride trampled on in public," Olivia shot back. "At least let the divorce go through before you go crawling back."

Troy turned, his expression dark. "There's not going to be a divorce."

Olivia's brows shot up. "Excuse me?"

"I'm not signing anything until I see her. Face to face."

Olivia let out a slow breath, studying him. "And what if she refuses?"

Troy's jaw tightened. "Then I'll find another way."

Olivia shook her head, muttering under her breath. "You really are an idiot."

Troy crossed his arms. "Maybe. But I'm not walking away without a conversation."

Olivia's gaze sharpened. "And what are you going to say, exactly? That you didn't mean to humiliate her? That you just *accidentally* let Lila manipulate you into the perfect scandal? That your entire family has treated her like an outsider for decades, and now you suddenly care?"

Troy's hands curled into fists. "There are things she doesn’t know. Things she deserves to know. I’m going to tell her the truth."

Olivia let out a bitter laugh. "And you think anything you say is going fix this?"

"I don't know," Troy admitted, voice hard. "But I know I can't let her think I just replaced her. I won't."

Olivia slammed the folder shut. "And what's your plan, Bradshaw? Storm into her new life and demand she listen? Because I promise you, Jenna is done being ordered around. Why haven't you reached out to her yet? Why didn't you attend Sasha's funeral?"

Troy let out a sharp breath. "I was just trying to respect Jenna’s wishes. She didn't want to see me. But I know where she is. And I don't care how long it takes, Olivia. I will see her. Or else."

Olivia's eyes narrowed. "Or else what?"

"Or else I'll show up at her door, at wherever the hell she's staying until she gives me five goddamn minutes."

Olivia scoffed, shaking her head. "And what, exactly, do you think she's doing? Sitting around, pining for you?"

Silence filled the space between them.

"Please, Olivia, there are things I need to say to her. At the very least, she deserves the whole truth. There must be something left in her for me."

Then Olivia let out a short, humourless laugh. "Oh, Troy." She shook her head, amusement creeping into her voice. "You really don't know her at all, do you?"

Troy frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

Olivia just leaned back, tapping her fingers against the desk. "If you want your meeting, I'll see what I can do. But don't come crying to me when you realize just how much Jenna doesn't need you."

As he walked into his house, his phone vibrated.

He debated letting it ring, but then he picked up.

"What?"

"You don't get to be short with me, Dad," Lilly snapped. "Not after the mess you've made."

Troy exhaled. "Is this going to be another lecture?"

"No. It's about Mom," she said sharply. "I called her. I tried to explain everything. She wouldn't listen."