A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

Chapter 825

"Aren't you the genius? There's nothing you can't do, only things you don't want to!"

Calliope grinned up at him. "Seriously, these pancakes are amazing. You could open a diner, you know!"

Lance managed a fleeting smile, the sadness on his face gone in a blink, and finally started eating in earnest.

Calliope kept up a bit of small talk, hoping to ease the awkward quiet.

Lance didn't say much. He ate slowly, pushing his food around more than actually eating it. It was obvious he didn't have much appetite, but he was making the effort. Because he knew that if he didn't, Hudson would have been upset. Hudson had made him promise to take care of himself, and that meant he had to try.

After breakfast, Lance set his fork down. "Callie, I know you've got a lot to deal with. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I need to get back and sort out some things for the company anyway."

He glanced around the kitchen, his voice quiet but steady. "You know, the company was his whole world. He built it from scratch, like raising a kid, really. Now that he's gone, it's up to me to look after it."

He attempted a reassuring smile. "Really, don't worry. I've been bracing myself for this. Hudson made sure everything was set up for me. I'll follow his wishes, keep the company running, look after the house, all of it."

Calliope eyed him, concern written all over her face. "Are you sure you don't want to rest? Just for a bit?"

to work, no downtime, no

his head. “Resting won't change anything. He's gone. All I can do

sadness. He wanted me to bounce back. If he knew I was just

I've got things under control. I already booked my

She'd

Lance nodded.

pressed. "I can drive you to the

they accuse you of something else? You've got your own mess to deal with. saw some of the stuff fonline. But don't worry, I know you can

belongs to s

her then, quieter and more solemn than she'd ever seen him.

joking Lance, he seemed older,

he didn't

in her drama,

she didn't need

family's nonsense could wait a few days. She'd deal with it