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Maybe he thought he might get a chance at the contract—enough of our staff deserted us after I was sentenced that the business nearly folded—or maybe it was just a jealous revenge tactic. Teach me a lesson for pissing in what he no doubt thinks is his backyard.
“Julian’s a weak man. Led by money and status. He’s selfish. Al said he cheated on his mother all the time and didn’t even attempt to hide it. He would take his girlfriends on weekends away and leave her at home with Al when he was small. But despite it all, his mom just wanted them to be happy, and to have a good relationship. She passed away a few years ago, and that’s when he started working with his dad. He thought it would bring them closer.”
I nod, tension radiating across my forehead as Jasmin wipes at the fresh tears spilling from her eyes.
“I never meant to lie to you. Or hurt you. I didn’t want to feel like I did. But I couldn’t help it. I felt a connection to him I can’t explain. It’s weird. I just felt linked to him somehow. He really is nothing like his dad. I think you’d like him, Dax.” She sniffs as I shake my head and curse under my breath. “I think you would. He reminds me of you, a little.”
I pop a brow and snap my eyes to hers, still trying to process her words.
“He works hard, and he cares a lot about people. He even….” She looks to the ceiling. “He even helped me out. With the estate.”
“He what?” I lurch forward in my seat, my pulse rocketing as Jasmin shakes her head sadly. “You let him come here?” I point to the floor, sucking in a harsh breath as I tear my eyes away from her. They land on the fish tank, and I force myself to concentrate on the tiny bubbles from the filter until the thundering of my pulse in my ears eases.
“Me and Logan… We tried. But it was too much. Staff were leaving daily. We barely kept it going. If we hadn’t kept the contract for Aunt Iris’s Blend, we would have lost it all. Al helped us lower costs. He found ways we could simplify things. Save money without compromising on quality.”
“Knight in shining armor,” I grumble. “Did Lo—?”
“Logan didn’t know. He thought the ideas were mine.”
I nod. At least that’s something. My friend didn’t lie to me. Only my sister.
Fuck.
“Being apart from you was… it was hard. Al kept me standing when I thought I would break. The trial… he lost his father for good that day. He can’t condone what Julian did. What he did to you. To me. All because of greed.” Jasmin’s voice shakes as she draws in a shuddery breath. “If I could change things, then I would have told you sooner. I know that would have been the right thing to do. But I saw how much you hated Julian. I didn’t want you to hate me too.”
“I couldneverhate you.” I hold her gaze as she wipes away more tears and gives me a small smile.
I drop my head into my hands and rake them through my hair. “I’m sorry for yelling at you earlier. I should never have done that.”
“It’s okay.”
I look up into her forgiving eyes. Her tears have stopped, and she’s looking at me with hope in them.
It sears at my heart like a hot poker.
She used to look at me like that when we were younger. When both our parents were gone, and I was all she had.
She used to look at me with hope then. Hope and belief that I wouldn’t let her down.
I let her down once, being taken away. I won’t do it again.
“It’s not okay. It’s not.” I blow out a breath, my eyes finding the fish tank again, before looking back at her. “Your happiness is everything to me. I love you.”
“I know you do. I love you too.” She smiles at me, and my heart throbs painfully.
“You said you love him?”
“I do.” She searches my eyes, waiting. But I don’t know how to respond. So I don’t. I just nod mutely. “You know what that feels like, Dax. To love someone who comes into your life unexpectedly.”
My mouth goes dry as I stare at her.
“We don’t choose love when it’s convenient, or when we think we’re ready. It finds us,” she continues.
I drag in a rough breath as Jasmin gets up and comes to sit next to me, wrapping her arms around me.
“I know you understand.”
I lean back into the sofa and wrap her in my arms, closing my eyes as we hold each other.
