When Love Breaks by Jack

Then, with a nonchalant stretch, he gulped down the last of his coffee, slammed the mug on the table, and declared, “Well, Ms. Webster, you’d better keep that backdoor open for me. If things go south, I’m coming back to crash with you.”

“Uncle!” Off to the side, Ike, who was sipping on his hot chocolate, gave him a reproachful look, pouting, “Don’t you have work today?”

Gregory’s face softened momentarily before shooting Ike a sharp glance, “Little brat, tired of me already?”

Ike huffed, “When you’re here, Jane’s all yours!”

And with that, Gregory was effectively chased out.

After seeing Gregory into the elevator, the little tyke clambered up to me, planting a wet kiss on my cheek, “Jane, who do you love more, me or Uncle?”

I couldn’t help but laugh, “I love you, of course.”

But I love your uncle more. I thought.

…

The night was serene, and the top-tier RiverCity Club basked in its tranquility amidst a bustling neighborhood. Membership was exclusive, and a card could set you back a sum in the six figures.

just for entry rights; everything else was

drew a stark line between the classes, leaving the average Joe to

dressed as one of the club’s waitresses, nodding in approval yet double-checking, “You remember

“I do.”

yet there was a chill in her demeanor,

words, to

Mr. Ferguson takes a liking, you’ll want for nothing. But fail, and well, you know the stakes.” The woman’s hands

single-parent home, her mom was all she had,

mom’s condition

days to tears, but money didn’t grow

to seduce the man rumored to shake

allure to a man of such caliber, surrounded by

confident, urging her

a tray, she knocked and entered the dimly lit private room Alaric had

seeing faces, she could tell

mere presence, so commanding and sharp, made it clear

“Just

“Okay.”

spoke, Steven paused, sharply

so did Bryant,