When Love Breaks by Jack

The room was thick with tension, eyes darting around in disbelief, some mouths gaping wide open in shock.

After all, Gregory and Bryant were giants in their own right, titans that commanded respect and fear in equal measure. It was clear to everyone present: the Harvey family was in deep trouble.

Judie was visibly shaken, glancing between Gregory and Bryant like they were the grim reapers themselves. Barely able to muster the courage, she turned to me, her face pale as a ghost, desperation clear in her voice, “Ms. Webster…I’m so sorry!! I shouldn’t have judged a book by its cover, I shouldn’t have insulted you… Can you, maybe, slap me instead? Would that work?”

Her voice was close to breaking, all pretenses of dignity lost, “I truly realize my mistake. Please, I’m begging you, ask Mr. Ford and Mr. Ferguson to spare my family… I came here hoping to partner with Ms. Taylor, but instead, I’ve doomed us. My dad will kill me!!”

And I knew she wasn’t exaggerating.

In families like hers, where privilege and power were handed down, a heavy price was expected in return. Failing to be an asset, and instead dragging the family name through the mud, well, the consequences were unimaginable.

Gregory glanced at me, perhaps sensing my soft spot, and then smirked at Judie, “Ms. Harvey, trying to guilt-trip my fiancée, really? Did you think someone as ruthless as me would settle for anyone less formidable?”

I was taken aback. Was that really necessary?!

Sure, people say birds of a feather flock together, but opposites attract too, right?

Judie, realizing her fate was sealed, was trembling.

Her phone rang, and the look on her face upon seeing the caller ID was one of sheer terror, “Hello, Dad…”

“Get back here now!”

Larkin Harvey had already filled him in, his voice booming with fury through

“What, you’re going to bankrupt the Myers family next? I’m

she wasn’t. Gregory and Bryant, for all their might, weren’t

biting, “You’ve been a disgrace to the Myers family for over twenty years, no better than

her

“Ms. Myers, is it?”

security approached, “Ms. Taylor has asked you to leave immediately. Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to call

gaze shifted to Dorothy, now

she hissed, “Watch your back, Jane. My mom says she has ways to deat with you. Don’t think you

time you have now.”

stunned, but by the time I

leave, a sense of unease settled

Myers was

could she possibly

furrowed his brow, “What

“Nothing important.”

a

chip already weighing heavily on him, there no need