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?"

head straight back to work, no downtime, no

change anything. He's gone. All I can do now is keep

me wallowing in sadness. He wanted me to bounce back. If he

stress about me. I've got things under control. I already booked my

off guard. She'd expected him to stick around a

Lance nodded.

Calliope pressed. "I can drive you to

mess to deal with. saw some of

belongs to s

then, quieter and more solemn

joking Lance, he seemed older,

he didn't want

up in her

didn't need

days. She'd