Tavon stared at his phone, barely able to keep his bnce as thetest trending topic exploded online. People were tearing into Salma in thements, the inte a wildfire of anger, and it felt like the ground was slipping out from under him.


    He wobbled and grabbed onto the back of a chair, lowering himself shakily into the seat. His head spun, his whole body felt light and disconnected, as if he could just drift away.


    On his screen was a photo-blood pooled on the pavement, proof that Ashley had jumped. Tavon stared, dazed, the shock hitting him like a bolt from the blue. All the fights, the shouting, the resentment-he''d thought he was done with her, but now that something this terrible had happened, he just felt hollow, like someone had scooped everything out of his chest.


    He looked pale as a ghost. Salma, wondering why he hadn''te back inside, poked her head out of the diner and saw him sitting on a bench,pletely out of


    it.


    She hurried over, concern etched across her face. "Hey, are you okay? Did something happen at the hospital?"


    He blinked, snapping back to himself, and waved her away. "No, no, nothing like that. Come on, let''s eat. After, we''ll head to the hospital-Pattie''s surgery should be wrapping up soon."


    He mmed up about Ashley, quickly locking his phone so Salma wouldn''t catch a glimpse of the headlines.


    Right now, everyone was focused on Pattie''s surgery. Anastasia and the others barely checked their phones, and unless you were actively searching for "Willowbrook Morton Group''s ex-wife suicide," you probably wouldn''t even see the


    news.


    Salma let it go, and the two of them went back inside. The diner smelled like coffee and fried food, but nobody had much of an appetite. They picked at their tes, and after a few mouthfuls, Feiman and Katelyn said they''d walk back to the hospital.


    Tavon lingered at the door, not moving. Salma shot him a look. "What''s up with you? The others already left."


    He forced a smile. "You guys go on. I want to head home and change-these clothes are filthy. Old Dan asked me to grab tea with him, and there''s enough of you at the hospital anyway. I''d just be in the way."


    Salma rolled her eyes and muttered, "Honestly, you''re still thinking of yourself at a time like this," then crossed the street with Flynn, Monica, and the rest.


    As soon as they were gone, Tavon''s smile crumbled. He pulled out his phone and called Sean.


    The line connected. Tavon''s voice was tight. "Sean, how''s your mom?"


    He''d only heard Ashley had jumped-nobody had said for sure if she''d survived. He still held onto a sliver of hope.


    Sean''s voice was t and cold, colder than Tavon had ever heard. "She''s at the hospital. Might as well be dead-she''s a vegetable now." He paused, then added with venom, "Dad, you killed her."


    Before Tavon could say a word, Sean hung up.


    He stood there for a moment, stunned, then hurried to book the next flight back to


    Willowbrook. He needed to get there, to try and contain the fallout.


    Ashley''s note had put all the me on Salma, but Tavon knew that wasn''t true. Salma had always been clear-there was no going back for them. She was just thest straw in a marriage that was already over. Still, he didn''t want Salma to get caught in the crossfire.


    Before getting on the ne, Tavon messaged Herman, filling him in and asking for


    help managing the media storm, hoping to shield Salma from the worst of it.


    Meanwhile, Anastasia was too wrapped up in Pattie''s surgery to notice Tavon hadn''te back.


    The operation finally ended. James came out of the OR, still in scrubs. Anastasia rushed to him, voice trembling, "How''s my girl?"


    Everyone held their breath, hope and fear written on their faces.


    James nodded. "It went better than I expected. Once we take off the bandages, she should be just fine."


    Relief swept through the group. Anastasia slumped against Herman, tears streaming down her face-happy tears.


    Words couldn''t describe what she felt. It was as if the dark cloud that had been


    hanging over them finally broke, letting the sun through.


    Herman hugged her gently, relief softening his features. "Thank you," he said to James, his voice thick.


    James gave them instructions:


    "Pattie will be out soon. You can see her in recovery, but she''s still under anesthesia and won''t be awake for a while. No food for three days, just IV fluids. After that, we''ll slowly start her on broth and soft foods."


    Everyone nodded, grateful and, for the first time in a long while, a little hopeful.