Unexpected Inheritance
img img Unexpected Inheritance img Chapter 5 Space in between
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Chapter 6 Finding my path img
Chapter 7 Words in silence img
Chapter 8 Beyond silence img
Chapter 9 The missing piece img
Chapter 10 Bound by Duty img
Chapter 11 Just me img
Chapter 12 Unraveling img
Chapter 13 When forever ends img
Chapter 14 A night of conflicting Desires img
Chapter 15 A mistake I can't undo img
Chapter 16 Unseen Threat img
Chapter 17 My Alliance img
Chapter 18 My Love Unscripted img
Chapter 19 Echoes of Love img
Chapter 20 My Return img
Chapter 21 Brick By Brick img
Chapter 22 Reunion img
Chapter 23 Ashes of Home img
Chapter 24 The Cost of Coming Home img
Chapter 25 Loosing Myself img
Chapter 26 The Ghost that lives in me img
Chapter 27 Us Begins img
Chapter 28 What I couldn't say img
Chapter 29 Before She Disappears Again img
Chapter 30 Three Hearts img
Chapter 31 What I thought we had img
Chapter 32 The goodbye that came so soon img
Chapter 33 The space he left img
Chapter 34 Unforgiven img
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Chapter 5 Space in between

Chapter 5: The Space in Between

Jake's POV

Sebastian dialed Valerie's number while I sat frozen, my breath caught in my throat. The phone rang, each chime tightening the knot in my chest. My palms were slick with sweat, heart pounding like a war drum. I couldn't tell if I was nervous, hopeful, or just terrified.

Just as I was about to give up, I heard her voice-soft, cautious.

"Hello?"

Sebastian handed me the phone. I took a breath, steadying the tremor in my chest. "Valerie. It's me... Jake."

There was a pause. A long one. For a second, I thought she might hang up.

"Jake? Where have you been?" she asked, her voice layered with confusion and a hint of hurt. "I've been trying to reach you for weeks."

I closed my eyes, a wave of guilt and relief crashing over me. "I know. I'm sorry. I should have called- things-things got complicated. My mom called me back home. My dad's business-there's been a lot going on. I've been asked to take over."

"Jake..." Her voice softened, cautious. "I'm sorry about all that. I really am. But why didn't you tell me? You just vanished. I didn't know if you were okay, or if something had happened."

"I was overwhelmed, Val. Everything came down on me at once, and I didn't handle it well. But I'm back now. And I want to make things right. Can we meet? Please."

Another pause.

"Okay," she said at last, quietly. "But... I have something to tell you, too. And it's not easy."

My heartbeat faltered.

"I'm listening," I said gently. "What is it?"

Silence.

"Valerie?"

Still nothing-then a soft thud. The call had disconnected.

Panic seized me. I immediately typed out a message and sent her the address of a small café nearby. Please come. We need to talk. I waited, watching the screen like it might offer reassurance.

---

Valerie's POV;

The next day ;

I cupped my hands around the warm tea, letting the steam brush against my cheeks as I sat quietly in the café Jake had chosen. I had arrived early, too anxious to wait at home. Every time the door opened, my heart jumped.

I sipped slowly, trying to calm the whirlwind inside me. The café buzzed softly with quiet chatter and the clink of cutlery, but I barely heard any of it. My eyes were fixed on the entrance, willing him to walk through it.

Minutes passed. Then more. I checked my phone again. No messages. No missed calls.

I dialed his number, hands trembling. The line rang. Voicemail. Again. I left a message, trying to sound composed, but my voice cracked halfway through.

As time slipped by, the café slowly emptied. The soft hum of jazz faded into something more upbeat-cheerful, unbothered, almost mocking. I forced myself to something- steak- drink- hoping- hoping food would distract me.

But each bite tasted like ash, each sip like disappointment.

I kept glancing toward the door. Faces came and went, none of them were his. Eventually, I stopped pretending and just stared blankly at the entrance, waiting. Hoping. Hurting.

When the staff began clearing tables, I knew it was time to go. I gathered my things and stepped out into the night, the cool breeze brushing my skin like a distant comfort. The scent of night-blooming jasmine filled the air, but even its sweetness couldn't mask the heaviness inside me.

I walked slowly, aimlessly, lost in thought. The lights of my apartment building finally came into view, and a sense of dull relief settled over me.

But as I reached the front door, I hesitated. Something felt off-not physically, but deep inside me. Like the earth had shifted beneath my feet, and I was only just noticing the imbalance.

I opened the door quietly, stepping into the dim hallway. Silence wrapped around me like a cold sheet. I dropped my bag on the couch and sat down, utterly drained, and then my phone rang.

It sat on the coffee table, screen glowing.

I lunged for it, heart racing. Jake. It had to be Jake.

"Hello?" My voice cracked with emotion-part hope, part fear.

But the voice on the other end wasn't his.

"Baby?" came the soft, familiar tone of my father. Concern layered his voice like a balm and a blade.

My breath caught.

He wasn't the person I expected-but maybe he was the one I needed right now.

                         

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