Ever since Pattie disappeared behind those operating room doors, everyone in the family was on edge.


    The surgery would take about three hours. Three hours of torture, really.


    The hallway outside was silent—the kind of silence that presses in on your ears. Herman and Anastasia just sat and waited, along with everyone else, all of them lined up on the hard bench, not saying a word, just ncing at the clock every so often.


    As lunchtime crept closer, Herman finally broke the silence. "Feiman, Katelyn, maybe you two should go grab something to eat?"


    Feiman shook his head. "I''m fine. Not hungry. Your mom and I will wait a little longer."


    Katelyn sighed. "How can anyone eat at a time like this?"


    Salma chimed in, "I''ll wait too. I just want to see Pattiee out first."


    Tavon stood there, stubborn as ever, arms folded, refusing to budge.


    Anastasia tried to reason with them. "Guys, just sitting here worrying won''t make the surgery end any faster. Go get some lunch,e back-you''ll be in time. Monica, Flynn, can you take Mom and Dad to the cafeteria?"


    But no one moved. Monica piped up, her voice gentle but firm, "Aunties, uncles, you know what they say you can''t go on if you don''t eat. If you just sit here stewing, you''ll only feel worse. The doctors know what they''re doing. Let''s get some food and stay strong for Pattie, okay?"


    Flynn nodded and started gently herding the four elders out.


    With everyone gone, only Anastasia and Herman remained. Herman clutched her


    icy hand, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over her knuckles.


    "It''s going to be okay," he whispered, wrapping his arm around her. He wasn''t sure if he wasforting her or himself.


    With him there, Anastasia''s panic eased-just a little.


    Across the street, Monica and Flynn led the elders into a small diner. No one bothered to look at the menu-Monica ended up ordering for everyone. Flynn poured water, trying to sound upbeat. "Come on, folks, it''s just a vocal cord surgery. Don''t let yourselves worry too much."


    He didn''t really understand how risky it was.


    Tavon was the first to reach for his chopsticks. "Let''s just eat. It''s already


    lunchtime, and we need the energy to wait for Pattie."


    Salma poked at her food, barely eating. Katelyn just sat there, lost in thought. The women looked heartbroken, while the men tried to keep it together.


    Feiman quietly nudged some food toward Katelyn. "Try to eat a little."


    She shook her head. "I just can''t. Isn''t this surgery where they cut open your


    throat? That''s so risky. What if something goes wrong, what if Pattie..." She couldn''t finish the thought.


    Salma''s eyes filled with tears.


    Tavon tried to lighten things up. "Who told you they just slice


    people''s throats open for this? If that


    were true, they''d be butchers, not doctors. Don''t scare Salma even more-she hasn''t slept in days since we found out about the surgery."


    Salma nodded; she''d barely slept at all.


    Katelyn muttered, "I don''t really get it, I was just asking. It''s all Gianna''s fault anyway. How could she do that to a kid? Pattie even called her ''Aunt''..."


    No one said anything. Even Salma just bowed her head.


    The shock from what happened still lingered.


    Just then, Tavon''s phone rang. Sandy''s name shed on the screen.


    He''d barely gotten Ashley settled, and now Sandy was calling-never a good sign. Tavon was always wary of this daughter of his. Sometimes he wondered how he''d ended up


    kid who could cause so much trouble.  s?novel


    He hesitated, then stepped outside to answer. "What is it, Sandy?" His tone was cold.


    Sandy got right to the point, her voice as icy as ever. "Dad, two pieces of bad


    news. First, I''ve filed for bankruptcy. Thepany''s done."


    Tavon had known this might being, but hearing it out loud was a punch to the


    gut. Decades of hard work, gone. His face turned pale.


    He exploded. "You reckless girl! I told you this would happen! Did you really think running a business was that easy? Just set up an online shop and money pours in? If it was that easy, everyone would do it! What you did was just scamming


    people, ruining the Morton family name-our whole legacy, wrecked by you-"


    Before he could finish, Sandy cut him off, her voice even colder: "Second thing. Mom jumped from a building."


    Tavon froze. His first instinct was disbelief. "What are you ying at now? Trying


    to trick me intoing home? Your mom, jump? I don''t buy it."


    "Check the news yourself," Sandy said, and hung up.


    Tavon stood there in shock for a long moment beforeing to his senses. He fumbled for his phone and searched online.


    It was true. Ashley had jumped, leaving behind a bloody note ming Salma for ruining her family and driving her to the edge.


    With that one letter, Salma was thrust into the spotlight-suddenly everyone was talking, and none of it was good.