Chapter 16
The airport in Finland was unusually quiet that morning as Jared and Jackson returned home–not to triumph, not with smiles, but with something heavy clinging to their shoulders.§
Regret. Their trip had ended days ago, but they had delayed returning. They knew what waited for them back home. Nothing. The apartment had already been sold.
When the taxi dropped them off, they stood on the curb in silence, staring up at the now–occupied unit. Lights on. Curtains drawn. Strangers inside.\
No trace of Maureen. Just like that, it was real. She was gone.
They ended up in a bar not far from their old neighborhood, the same place they used to sneak into when they were too young and too stupid. They sat at the farthest booth, two whiskey glasses in, nursing their third.
“She always ordered iced tea,” Jackson muttered, his voice rough. “Even in winter.”
Jared huffed. “Remember that one time she brought her own lemon slices? Said bar lemons were ‘suspicious.”
They chuckled. For a second, it felt like the past–safe, warm.
“I remember when we first met her,” Jackson said quietly. “She was terrified of dogs. I pulled her behind me when that stray came running, and she thought I was a superhero.”[
“She cried,” Jared added, laughing softly. “Then she gave you half her sandwich.”
“She gave you the other half.“\
A long pause.
“She was always giving.“>
Another silence followed. Until Jared’s phone buzzed.
He glanced down, and all color drained from his face. “It’s from the Reid company. A formal notice.”
Jackson leaned in.\
Jared read aloud, voice tightening: “Effective immediately, the Reid family–particularly Maureen Reid–has cut all business and personal ties with Jared Stone and Jackson Stone. Your names have been removed from all internal projects, boards, and
external references.“[
It was signed and sealed. No warning.
No loophole./
It was over. The weight of it dropped on them like a brick wall.
Jared shot to his feet. “No. No, this isn’t happening.”
Jackson’s chair screeched back. “We’re going to see her. Tonight. I don’t care what it takes.“}
They stormed out of the bar, already pulling out their phones to book flights. Everything else became background noise. Back at the hotel, Audrey was curled up on the bed, scrolling through her phone.
When they entered, throwing open their suitcases, she blinked in confusion ”
“What’s going on?” she asked. “Are you guys moving again? Another hotel?”
Jared barely looked at her. “We’re going back.“\
“Back? Where?”
“Home.”
“To bring Maureen back, Jackson said firmly. “No matter what it takes.“}
Audrey sat up, stunned, “What for? She left! She’s married–or pretending to be. Why do you even care anymore?”
“Because we screwed up, Jared snapped. “We chose the wrong person. We let her go.”
Audrey stood. “And what about me?”
“There’s no ‘you‘ in this,” Jackson said coldly. “There never was.”
Her face twisted. “I was always there. When she abandoned you–“\
“She didn’t abandon us!” Jared yelled, voice breaking. “She finally stood up for herself. And we were the reason she had to!” Audrey’s face flushed red. “No! No, I didn’t do anything wrong!”
Jared grabbed his bag and threw it on the bed. “You’re coming with us.“W
“What? No–I’m not going back there to get blamed!”
But Jared wasn’t listening. He pulled her by the wrist.
“Stop!” she shouted, struggling. “I said no!“\
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“Enough pretending,” Jackson said flatly. “You owe her, too.”
Audrey tried to pull away. “Let go! You’re hurting me-!”
She tripped.<
Fell hard against the corner of the nightstand.
She hit the floor, a sharp yelp escaping her lips.
The silence that followed was thunderous. She looked up at them, her hand trembling at the small cut on her arm. Her lip quivered. Tears welled fast.}
And then she began to cry.&
Loud, deliberate sobs. Just like before.
But this time… Neither of them moved.
They didn’t kneel beside her. They didn’t rush to cradle her or whisper comfort.
They turned.\
Jared zipped up his suitcase without a word. Jackson grabbed his jacket from the chair.
Audrey sobbed harder, hoping–expecting–they would turn around.
They didn’t.
And as they walked out the door, she stayed on the floor, clutching her own arms, for the first time realizing… This was what Maureen must have felt.
Alone.&
Discarded.
Unseen.
And this time, no one was coming back for her.
