wake up. Groaning, she patted the space under her pillow for her phone ...were she left it the night before with her hand and dragged it toward herself

d, quickly getting her phone from the pillow to look at the screen for the caller ID but was greeted by the words unknown number

let you know that your puppy is okay and ready to come back home" Lilliana sighed in r

at the time on the top of the screen before saying "....10:30??" She dis

tine. She stopped in front of her mirror and pushed her hair back with a headbelt. She grabbed her toothbrush from inside one of the drawers, applied a t

the water. Wrapping a towel around her wet body, she slipped her feet in their comfortable sleepers before making her way to her walk-in closet. She put on a pair of blue denim short

e stairs into the kitchen, looking for something to eat while she waited for her cab to arrive. On impulse, she opened the o

ng to the fridge to get the milk. She grabbed a bowl from the ones drying on the dish rack and walked around the kitchen counter to sit

as waiting outside. She got up and walked to the sink. Opening the faucet, she quickly

e Uber. The driver gave her a polite nod and star

epped out of the car. She made her way inside the hospital and said "he

e left side of her chest smiled politely a

ked the puppy's name in her computer before l

o sit down in the nearest empty chair in their waiting room. Her wait wasn't th

owner's open arms. Recognizing its name, the puppy's ears pecked up i

as an emotional support dog, on her therapist's recommendation ...her father gifted it to her right after her mother died to help her deal with her trauma. Chuckling softly, s

R TH

n the stairs in a red one piece swimsuit and a pair of sunglasses, a towel loosely hanging on her forearm and a book in her hand while the other was wr

d it over the plastic chair, picked Snowflake up to put her on the chair and gave her the rubber bone toy before making herself comfortable. She laid on her back under the beach umbrella while her feet soaked in the sun and grabbed the b

river's door opened and her father stepped out of the car but to her surprise, he wasn't alone. He walked around the car a

her feet back in her flip-flops before hurrying back inside the house through the sliding door. Stepping into their living room, Li

Belinda ...Belinda Lambert and you must be Jay's daughter Lilliana, I've heard a lot about you" and yet I know nothing about you, t

hand a firm shake before letting it go. Seeing the woman up close she couldn't help but take in he

g out her hand to give Snowflake a scratch behind her ear

ing the human language, the puppy let out a bark to greet

ana asked, seeing as the

hen up," Belinda informed si

ld I bring you something to drink?? Water, tea, coffee or maybe some juice??" ma

ank you" Belinda

took out all the necessary ingredients to make it and put all them over the kitchen counter. She grabbed a butter knife, a packet of rolls and proc

he girl was pouring pineapple juice in a glas

??" She asked, nodding in

of the water. Lilliana hummed, holding the sandwich between her fingers and took a bite. Chewing on the p

take over the company ...I invited her to discuss that" insinuating the professionalism of their meeting before throwing the now empt

ter, putting everything in the sink before leaving the k

chairs and, stopping at the edge of the pool, took off her sunglasses before jumping into the blue water. She swam around for some time before deciding it was enough and hiked herself out of the water. She grabbed h

ed by the girl. She was so engrossed in the story that she didn't even hear when her father was calling out her name. Step

r hand close before looking up at her father "huh?? Do y

ow, what are you reading??" On reflex the girl pre

novel with scenes she very much liked to keep to herself only. Not even he

empty glass along with him. Lilliana sighed, looking around the poolside. 9nly then realising just how dark it had become a

ng table for dinner. Only to find out Belinda hadn't left yet, and as if to make matters worse was sitting on her father's right hand side in her mother's chair. Not wanting to cause a scene and embarra

comfortingly and planted a soft peck on the man's lips before lowering her body in the backseat of the car and left in it. Jackson turned around to walk back insi

or opened. Damon stepped out still in his work clothes and walked around the car toward Jac

g outside on the balcony next to his fri

time to deal with the situation that was Jackson breaking the news of his relationship to his daughter, but seein

und in the glass before bringing it up to his lips and took a sip. Jackson sighed, turning away

stars were the souls of every person that leaves this world behind. He couldn't help but wonder if she was looking down at them at that moment,

n't know how she's going to react, she's

anaged to move on from his wife's uncalled for death but Unlike him, Lilliana only looked fine on the outside. She still avoided talking

kson's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze in understanding. He was there, he saw how his friend suffered stuck between his own pain

e happy finding out about her father's relationship from a stranger rather than from her father instead" he sa