"YOU'RE PUTTING that place up for rent?!" Jason asked, a note of surprise in his voice. Even over the video call, Brad could sense the shift in his friend's demeanor, from casual and relaxed to amazed and curious.
He sat up a little straighter, his eyes wide and questioning. He seemed to be waiting for an explanation as if he couldn't quite believe what he had just heard. Perhaps it was the suddenness of the announcement or the fact that he hadn't expected him to make such a decision. Either way, it was clear that the news had caught him off-guard. Jason Lyndon was about the only best friend Brad had in the universe that he could trust with his life. They hadn't actually started out as friends. They had begun as mortal enemies. They'd met in the third grade of their elementary school when Brad had just transferred to the school Jason attended. He had been the new kid and didn't know much or cared to. Their animosity had begun when someone broke the overhead projector and everyone was clueless as to who did it. And just as the entire class was about to get punished for it, Brad stood up and ratted Jason out. It was recess and everyone was at the cafeteria but Brad had been on his way to the teacher's lounge when he heard the crashing sound and almost at the same moment, Jason had fled from their homeroom. He had known he was the new kid but he just couldn't turn a blind eye and let the whole class take the fall for him. Jason had been so pissed about the incident and made it his life mission to make his life in school a living hell. Every. Single. Day! And Brad had borne it until he got to the limit of his long-suffering and just couldn't take the torture anymore. He'd walked straight up to Jason and confronted him for his attitude towards him. However, one thing had led to another and they found themselves throwing hands in the hallway which had earned them both a term in the good ol' Detention. The teacher in charge had asked them to "kiss and make up" right after she'd compelled them to write a thousand-word essay on the damages of fighting in the school, but neither of them was the least bit inclined to settle their differences. Instead, when the teacher had gone to use the restroom, Brad had raised the issue again, demanding to know the reason he was tormenting him, and that if he did something wrong it was only right that he admit guilt and accepted his punishment instead of dragging the entire class along with him. But then he'd found out that Jason wasn't actually the one who had broken the overhead projector, it had been some other kid in the class. When he'd asked him why he didn't deny the accusations when he'd called him out as the perpetrator, Jason had told him the kid who'd broken the overhead projector had no parents and lived with his grandmother who couldn't afford to replace it. But he had parents who could buy a thousand of overhead projectors without breaking a sweat and that was why he'd taken the blame. Brad's younger self couldn't believe anyone his age could be that selfless even though they looked like troublemakers and he'd decided at that moment he wanted a friend like him. And since then till forever, they'd sworn brotherhood to each other. "Yeah, well," Brad lifted his broad shoulders. "I think it's been long overdue. I cleared the apartment for a while now. I don't think it's wise to leave the place empty. According, to the agent, the renters will be moving in the day after tomorrow." "You must have really moved on now. I mean, clearing the space your ex-wife used as her painting studio? You couldn't even get in there for years," Jason said cheerfully. "I'm happy for you, man." Brad frowned. Somehow, he sensed a smidge of ridicule underlying the other man's tone. Was he teasing him? Or was he just assuming things? "I moved on a long time ago, thank you," he retorted, conveying the contrary of thankful. "I just needed time to come to terms with the whole situation." One side of Jason's lip rose. "Yeah, whatever you say." Okay, he was definitely teasing him. He couldn't blame him though. He had no idea of the struggles. Brad never wanted to admit it but apart from his parents, the only other people he envied in their marital life were Jason and his significant other. Jason Lyndon was a global pop superstar, known for his chart-topping hits and sold-out world tours. But his fame paled in comparison to the love he shared with his wife, Evelyn Rodriguez. Their relationship was often the subject of tabloid gossip and speculation, but they remained fiercely protective of their privacy. When they walked a red carpet together, they exuded the confidence and ease of a couple who had been together for decades. They knew how to complement each other's strengths and weaknesses, and their love was evident without being said. He prayed their marriage remained as strong as it was and never ended in a disaster just as his marriage had. His ex-wife was a memory he wished he could erase but sadly he couldn't. As much as he hated it, she still was a significant part of his memory. She was the woman who had brought his precious daughter to the world. The woman who he'd loved with all his soul, but had ended up scarring him for eternity. "Besides, I had other intentions of putting it out for rent," Brad added softly. Then hesitated when Jason left the camera frame and continued when he came back. "I had specifically requested for renters with kids. It would be a good way for Nora to make friends." "Ah! Nora!" Jason's face glowed with concern at the mention of her name. "How's my little princess coming along these days?" "Great!" Brad sighed, shaking his head. "Honestly, not great. She gets worse by the day. She doesn't have friends nor wants to associate with anyone. She'd rather stay cooped up in her room, all day long, than hang out with other kids from the neighborhood. Even when they come begging her to play. I think she's trying to put this sort of demarcation between herself and everyone else. I just don't know what to do anymore. I want to help her but whenever I try to talk to her about anything we either end up fighting or she just locks me out completely. It's both hurting and scary. I mean, she's not even a teenager yet and we're already this way." "I think you have to approach this with a level head and try to see things from Nora's perspective," Jason advised calmly. "I know it's frustrating, but you have to remember that Nora is just a kid who's going through a lot of changes coupled with her health issues. She's still learning how to navigate the world, and sometimes things can get a bit overwhelming for her. She'll figure it out in her own time, and all you can do is be there to support her." Jason spoke in a soft, soothing voice, his words full of empathy. He wanted to help him see that this was not a personal rejection, but rather a child trying to cope with new experiences. "Nora is a really sweet kid and I'm sure she'll come around once she feels more comfortable," he continued, his words filled with compassion and belief. "Just give her some time and don't get too upset, okay?" Reassured, Brad smiled. "Okay." "Oh! By the way..." Jason said suddenly. "We had dinner with Doris over here. Apparently, she has been in Paris all this while." "Oh, yeah! I know," Brad replied blankly. "I was in Paris a few days ago. We were supposed to meet up before I felt but we didn't get the opportunity. Something came up and I had to leave early." Jason nodded. "Oh? Okay. Anyway... Good luck." Brad's brows squeezed together. "Good luck? For what?" Jason grinned devilishly. "You'd find out soon." And before Brad could get another word in, he disconnected the video call. "Okay, that was weird!" Brad muttered to himself as he closed his laptop. But Jason was the embodiment of weirdness so he wasn't the least bit disturbed.THE DINING room was bathed in early morning light, as the sun shone through the large windows. A soft breeze drifted in, carrying with it the sweet scent of flowers. Brad and his daughter, Nora sat at the table, each lost in their own thoughts while Mrs. Hopkins bustled around the kitchen, making sure everyone had what they needed. Brad was so engrossed in reading the morning paper that he barely noticed what was happening around him. As he reached for his coffee to take a sip, his eyes drifted for a second, and caught a glimpse of his daughter with eyes fixed on her breakfast. She absentmindedly poked at her cereal, taking a few half-hearted bites, but leaving most of it untouched. She sat hunched over, her shoulders rounded, a far cry from her usual bubbly self. Something was clearly bothering her, and Brad's parental instincts kicked in. He set his paper down and turned to his daughter, concern etched on his face. "Hey, sweetie," he said, his voice gentle. "Is every
IT TOOK all Doris' life force not to laugh her lungs out. The look on Brad's face was epic. It was one to be captured, printed, enlarged, and hung in a museum as the emblem of shock. It was a look of pure, unadulterated astonishment, the kind that could make even the most jaded person do a double-take. Doris took a quick look around the living room. Things didn't seem to have changed that much around here, she thought, nodding in acknowledgment. The living room was a study in contrasts, its sophisticated decor interspersed with the adorable and the whimsical. On one wall, a gorgeous oil painting hung in an ornate gilded frame, its colors rich and vibrant. On the opposite wall, a row of childlike drawings hung from tiny clothespins, their crayon strokes haphazard and uneven. In the corner, a plush toy monkey peered out from a giant potted plant, its tail curling around the leaves like a vine. The couch was upholstered in a deep, rich velvet, its cushions plump and inviting.
IT WAS nearly a week since Doris had arrived in Los Angeles and it felt weird how much the city had changed in a span of four years when she was away. On the other hand, when she'd spent all those years growing up, it never felt like anything changed at all. She wasn't exaggerating. The candy shop she'd frequented had been the same, in the same spot, throughout her grade school, high school, and even after college. But now, she couldn't even locate her favorite coffee shop. Where in the world was Mr. Shawn and his family? Their coffee shop had been her heaven and their coffee her kryptonite. They were the only ones that made coffee savory enough to make even an insomniac forget the harm of too much caffeine ingestion and just enjoy the goodness and richness of coffee. Luckily for her, despite the transformation, her scattered brain, and her zilch sense of direction, she was adjusting quicker than she expected. Thank goodness! But one thing in LA that hadn't
DORIS PUSHED the buzzer to the Evan's Mansion, waiting patiently for someone to get it. She could be written down as the most unfilial daughter in the history of unfilial daughters. She officially earned it. She felt guilty how she'd never reached out to her father all those years. Not even once. She wouldn't even blame him if he released wolves and lions on her. She punched the buzzer again. Twice. Why was no one answering? They'd probably seen them from the surveillance camera. She glanced at her son who was rocking on his feet, fidgeting with excitement and impatience to see his grandfather for the first time. At that moment, the door swung open and the grinning face of Nanny Nancy whom she'd missed so much, greeted them at the entrance. "Nanny Nancy!" Doris screeched, falling into the older woman's outspread arms with enthusiasm. Nanny Nancy was nothing but her true mother. She was the only one who had made her feel what motherly love was all about
BRAD WAS in his home office when the door flew open and Nora came skipping in on her flip-flops. A broad grin stretched across Nora's lips, her brown eyes sparkling with glee. "Hi, Dad," she said. "I hope I'm not bothering you?" Brad returned her smile. "Well, you're already here, ain't you?" He joshed softly. "What do you want, sweetie?" "Oh! I was wondering if we could invite Doris and Max for dinner?" She asked sweetly. It'd been quite a while since he last seen his daughter this cheerful on a regular. It was barely three weeks since Doris and Max had arrived but she was so in love with her little brother just as much as he was with her. Nora and Max were inseparable, like two halves of a whole. When they were together, it was as if the rest of the world faded away, and nothing else mattered. They were more than siblings. They were best friends, soulmates, and confidants, sharing every moment of their lives with each other. However, Nora had to go to s
IT WAS TIME! Time to set her revenge plan in motion! And number one on her list of how to defrost a frost lord's stone-cold heart was. . . GET HIS ATTENTION! Getting her revenge was what she could think about now and there was no perfect way to execute her plan without melting Brad's heart first. And melting his heart was about the toughest thing to accomplish in the world right next to climbing Mount Everest. Which was why she needed to get closer to him, pretend to be interested in his interests, and force her way through that icy wall. Doris had utilized the past few weeks to assemble significant information—in fact, all kinds of information, that she could get her hands on about Brad. Which included his work, recreation, daily activities— name it. The goal was to feign enthusiasm for what he liked or did on a regular as an excuse to spend more time with him. But honestly, there wasn't much this man had an interest in. She'd made a list of his daily routine whi
"I STILL don't get why I have to get dragged here every Saturday when I have to be working?" Brad grumbled as his father, Zachary Bruce, tossed him a golf club. "Because if you don't, you'll find yourself in a never-ending stream of blind dates to go on. EVERYDAY!" His mother, Angela Bruce, responded matter-of-factly from behind him. When he turned to face her, a wicked grin stretched her ruby-red lips. "You know I don't bluff. You haven't forgotten how it was the last time, right?" Oh, how could he forget? His mother was the number one advocate of finding him a wife and her granddaughter, a mother. She'd set him up on a plethora of blind dates to which he'd begged, grovellingly, for her to stop. Eventually, she agreed to do so, on the condition that he would follow her instructions from then on which included joining the family's golf-playing ritual every Saturday. For the reason he was willing to escape his mother's matchmaking schemes and going on blind dates was a
THE WARM autumn breeze blew through the air, carrying with it the scent of adventure, and as Doris breathed it in, she felt a spark of something new ignite within her. Her eyes glowed with a wild light, and a smirk played on her lips as if she had a secret that the world could never know. She walked with a purpose toward The Bruces, her movements radiating confidence and determination. The curve of her plumped lips morphed into a smile from the heat she noticed burning in Brad's green eyes. He looked hot in that golf attire, by the way. Sizzling, charring, extra-hot! She thought. Like, how was it even possible a t-shirt and pants looked as sexy as—if not more sexy than—a well-tailored suit on a man? This man was sculpted differently. "Brad?!" Doris blinked as if she was shocked to see him there. And then, she turned her attention to the rest of The Bruces. "Hello!" "Hello," They vocalized in harmony. Grins spread on each of their faces as they gave Brad meaningf