Avery Kane Deveraux paced the kitchen, her nerves fraying with each step. The mysterious text on Shawn’s phone had been gnawing at her for days. She tried to ignore it, to trust him, but the tension between them was becoming unbearable.
When Shawn walked through the door that evening, carrying takeout bags and flashing his usual easy smile, Avery couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Shawn,” she said, her voice steadier than she expected, “we need to talk.”
His smile faltered as he set the bags on the counter. “That doesn’t sound good. What’s going on?”
Avery hesitated, searching his face for any sign of dishonesty. “I saw a text on your phone the other day. From an unknown number. It said, ‘We need to talk before it’s too late.’ Who was it from?”
Shawn’s green eyes widened slightly, and for a moment, he looked caught off guard. But then he sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“It’s not what you think,” he said, his voice calm but tinged with discomfort.
“Then tell me,” Avery pressed.
“It was from my father,” Shawn admitted, leaning against the counter. “My estranged father.”
Avery’s confusion deepened. “Your father? I thought you didn’t have any contact with him.”
“I haven’t,” Shawn said, his voice growing heavier. “Not since I was sixteen. He walked out on my mom and me when things got tough—took off without a word. I haven’t seen or heard from him in over a decade. But now, out of nowhere, he’s texting me, saying he wants to reconnect before the wedding.”
Avery’s heart softened at the vulnerability in his tone. She stepped closer, placing a hand on his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want to bring it up,” Shawn said, meeting her gaze. “I wasn’t sure if I even wanted to respond. He’s caused so much damage, Avery. I don’t know if I can trust him, and I didn’t want to drag you into it.”
Avery took a deep breath, her own tension easing slightly. “I get that. But maybe this is your chance to get some closure. If he wants to reconnect, maybe it’s worth hearing him out.”
Shawn frowned, clearly torn. “You really think so?”
She nodded. “If there’s even a chance it could bring you some peace, it’s worth a try. I’ll support whatever you decide.”
“Thank you,” Shawn said, his voice softening as he pulled her into a hug. “I’ll think about it.”
The next day, Avery met Janice for coffee at their usual spot downtown. Despite the tension with Shawn, Avery felt lighter after their conversation. She shared the details with Janice, who listened intently.
“Well, that explains why he’s been acting weird,” Janice said, sipping her latte. “Family drama will do that to you.”
“Yeah,” Avery agreed. “But there’s something else I’ve been meaning to tell you.”
Janice raised an eyebrow. “Let me guess—work stuff?”
Avery nodded, lowering her voice. “The private investigator found something. The sabotage isn’t just about Kane Enterprises—it might be tied to my personal life.”
Janice’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“I don’t know yet,” Avery admitted. “But apparently, there’s a connection between whoever’s targeting the company and someone close to me.”
“That’s… unsettling,” Janice said, leaning back in her chair. “You think it could be related to Shawn?”
“I don’t know,” Avery said, her voice strained. “But I can’t rule anything out.”
Janice leaned forward, her expression serious. “Aves, you’ve got to dig deeper. If someone’s using your personal life to sabotage you, they’re playing dirty. And you can’t let them win.”
“I know,” Avery said, her resolve hardening. “I just hope I’m wrong.”
That evening, Shawn decided to take Avery’s advice and meet with his father. They agreed on a quiet café far from the city center, a neutral space where emotions could run high without an audience.
Avery waited anxiously at home, her phone clutched in her hand. When Shawn finally called, his voice sounded strained.
“How did it go?” Avery asked cautiously.
“Better than I expected at first,” Shawn said. “He apologized for everything—for leaving, for not being there when I needed him. He said he’s been trying to reach out for years but didn’t know how.”
“And do you believe him?”
“I think I want to,” Shawn admitted. “But then he dropped something on me that I didn’t see coming.”
“What do you mean?” Avery asked, her heart racing.
Shawn hesitated before speaking. “He told me there’s something about our family—something he’s been keeping secret all these years. And it could affect us. Our future.”
Avery’s breath caught. “What kind of secret?”
“I don’t know yet,” Shawn said. “He said he’d explain everything when we meet again tomorrow.”