Aiken's suggestion to walk the grounds of the Lane Mansion came as breakfast was winding down. "It's a beautiful day. Might do you good to get some fresh air and sun," he said, looking between Penelope and me.I considered the idea, my mind weighing the pros and cons. "I'm not sure if I'm up for a bunch of walking, but how about taking the side-by-side?" I proposed, thinking of the all-terrain vehicle parked in the garage. Getting out without exerting myself too much would be a good compromise.Penelope raised an eyebrow, a hint of apprehension in her voice. "No, no, last time I was on that with you, you flipped it." The last time we rode it together, the experience had been more thrilling than safe, a memory that brought both a smile and a wince."I promise, no flips this time," I reassured her. "I'm not exactly in shape for daredevil stunts anyway."She still didn't look convinced.I couldn't help but chuckle at the memory despite the seriousness of her concern. "I promise I won't
I noticed Fisher's car in the driveway as we drove the ATV back to the garage. He was sitting on the porch, and as we approached, his smile widened. It was unmistakably directed at Penelope, and a pang of jealousy shot through me. I couldn't mask it this time as well as I usually did.During the treatment session, Penelope and Fisher were engrossed in a conversation nearby. They were talking animatedly about some new show on Netflix. Fisher was enthusiastic, describing the plot in detail, and Penelope laughed at his comments."Yeah, the twist in the last episode was insane!" Fisher exclaimed."I know, right? I did not see that coming," Penelope replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement.Their easy banter irked me more than I cared to admit. I tried to focus on my breathing treatment, but their voices were a constant distraction.After Fisher finished unhooking the equipment from my treatment, he turned to me with a professional demeanor. "You're doing really well, Wyatt. Are you sta
Rooted to the top of the stairs, I sat there, my head buried in my hands, struggling with the turmoil inside me. I was a tempest of emotions, a blend of fear, frustration, and an unspoken longing that had been simmering beneath the surface for years. The weight of Penelope's words, her presence, and the unresolved tension between us felt like a palpable force, suffocating yet vital. After what felt like an eternity, I heard her footsteps approaching. Her fingers gently brushed through my hair, a soothing gesture that momentarily calmed the storm within me. She sat down beside me, our shoulders barely touching. The silence was heavy, broken only by the echo of my labored breathing against the walls. It was as if time had frozen, suspending us in a moment filled with unspoken questions and pent-up emotions. The frustration within me reached a boiling point, and I let out a low, growling sound, a primal expression of my internal struggle. Standing abruptly, I turned to Penelope and off
I left Penelope momentarily, moving to the bathroom to start filling the bath with warm water, infusing it with a hint of lavender for relaxation. When I returned, she was sitting on the bed, her eyes fixated on the ring adorning her finger. Her expression was one of deep thought, and I could tell she was beginning to overthink everything. I leaned down and kissed her nose gently. "Nope, you can't do that," I said playfully. "Only one of us in this relationship can be panicky, and that's my job." She echoed my words, a hint of wonder in her voice. "This relationship?" I grinned, feeling a surge of happiness at acknowledging what we had. "Okay, now let's get in the bath. I know I smell amazing right now." She burst into laughter. "Yeah, next time, start with the shower first, considering you were already covered in sweat before we started all that." I felt self-conscious at her words, even as she giggled. It was a momentary discomfort, but it lingered in the back of my mind. We he
Aiken's voice at the door pulled me back to reality, his words a reminder of the situation's urgency. "The doctor will be here in about ten minutes. Should I ask him to come back here or...?" I glanced at Penelope, her face still pressed against the towel, blood seeping through its white fabric. "Can you make it to the living room?" I asked, my voice laced with concern. Her reply was laced with dry sarcasm, "Well, if I couldn't, maybe I should be going somewhere else... like a hospital." I winced at her words, my guilt deepening. "I just thought you wouldn't want to deal with all the 'Are you in an abusive relationship' questions," I said, trying to keep my tone light despite the heavy feeling in my chest. Penelope's response was sharp, "Hell, maybe I am." Her words hit me like a punch. "That's not funny," I shot back, the tension between us noticeable. There was a pause before she mumbled, "It's a little funny." I couldn't help but smile despite the situation. "That's my line.
As Penelope lay resting, I realized I needed to address the pressing issue of the money I had at the hospital. I glanced at her, noticing the faintest stir of movement, indicating she wasn't entirely asleep. Clearing my throat softly, I asked in a low, cautious voice, "Penny, do you remember the money I had with me at the hospital? Any idea where it might be now?" "It's in my bag, outside pocket," she had mumbled. Her bag. The same place where her phone was. The thought hit me like a wave. That phone contained the answers to the questions burning in my mind, the endless stream of messages between her and Fisher. Part of me recoiled at the idea of snooping through her personal conversations. Was I really that kind of person? Was I willing to breach her trust just to satisfy my own insecurities? But another, more insidious part of me whispered rationalizations. It would be quick, just a glance to put my mind at ease. Maybe I could squash this gnawing anxiety without ever having to con
The rhythmic pounding of my fists against the bag echoed through the gym, each strike a release of the conflicting emotions swirling within me. Between punches, I turned to Penelope, who lay curled up in the beanbag, her eyes fixed on me. "How long are we going to be here?" I asked, trying to keep my voice light as I continued to shadow box to keep my heart rate up. I hesitated, my hands pausing mid-air, as she responded, "Around six weeks." I felt a protest rising in my throat, but she anticipated it. "Morgan has already taken over everything at the company. He did the second you were put into a coma, as per protocol. He will be here in an hour or so, he needs you to sign a few things. So, no arguments, Wyatt. We're not going back to the city until you're completely healed." I turned back to the bag, absorbing her words. My fists resumed their dance against the leather, a physical manifestation of my internal battle. "I think I'm doing pretty good," I muttered, trying to convinc
After I dressed in pants and a shirt, I paused in front of the mirror in my room. My reflection revealed a body regaining its former definition, resulting from my recent return to physical training. My eyes were drawn to the scar on my torso, a stark reminder of the surgery I had undergone. It had started to fade to a lighter shade, less angry. Strangely, I appreciated it. It symbolized survival, a mark of what I had overcome. Paper in hand, I headed to my office, a technological sanctuary where my mind found peace amid chaos. I flicked on the switches as I entered, and the room flared to life. Monitors glowed into existence, and holographic displays hovered in the air. The screens displayed various data, from financial graphs to global market trends, each vying for my attention. With its advanced tech and real-time data feeds, this room was the nerve center of my empire. It allowed me to process and analyze the overwhelming amount of information needed to steer the company daily.