t in critica

New York like dry leaves catching fire. Every major news station, ev

s might never rem

of the grand leather chair in the sitting room, sipping freshly brewed tea. Her eyes did

in Ezra's name. Her heartbeat quickened not from concern, but from excitement. With Ezra finally out of the way, she would step in ful

and allowed herself

ed the living room slowly, her shoes m

chest, but the confidence she usually

nst boardroom storms. But now, with him in a hospital bed, the

everything co

ooming fear that the company, Bennett Industries, might slip through her fingers. Investors would

e in her life, Zo

haos, Jordan

n his hand moved slowly over the roof of the black SUV, but his mind wasn't really on the t

as a man to imp

only person who ever gave hi

othingness. Given him a

last window, he hear

oice rang out like a

d and st

make sure this entire house is clean. And go into my room, pick the clothes I dropped

e. He didn't trus

********

Ezra's bed. His face was pale, his lips dry. Tubes ran across hi

Esther sat stiffly at the edge of the chair

aze swept the room. When he didn

o sit with him. Jordan who brought soup in a flask. Jordan who asked if

ra's li

s Jordan?"

Her back st

he replied, quickly forcing a smil

ness in his gaze returned, even if jus

eat him like the human being that he is. That boy means more t

ble something under her breat

tepped i

e room, then landed

rrounded by tubes. Not fighting for breath. His th

leaving the chores unfinished, but she held back. Some

it up the mom

that shocked everyone, he pushed himself

e nurse cried,

ly at Jordan with a kind of fire no one expecte

Esther and Zoe off with a ti

argue, but one stern look from Ezra sile

. His heart beating

iven him everything. And now h

ched for

e. "I don't know how long I have. But there's

's eye

say tha

mpany, this legacy. I've poured everything into it. But the only person

od still,

le asset I have. When I'm gone... I want it all to be y

ept for the rhythmic beep