41. Chapter 40
T roy
Olivia had no intention of seeing Troy Bradshaw.
When his assistant had called to schedule a meeting, she had flatly refused. She had no patience for whatever excuses he was prepared to offer. Jenna had been through enough and Olivia had no interest in playing referee to his guilt.
But Troy was relentless.
When he arrived unannounced at her office, she nearly had security escort him out. When he refused , she leaned against her desk, arms crossed, expression like steel.
"You are a goddamn menace, Bradshaw," she snapped, tossing a stack of papers onto the desk. "I told you to at least keep your personal disasters out of the press, and now look at this circus."
Troy exhaled sharply. "I didn't plan for this."
"No, but she did," Olivia said, leaning back in her chair. "Lila played you like a damn violin. And now Jenna is paying the price. Again."
Troy felt his stomach twist. "I need to talk to her."
Olivia scoffed. "You think she'll be taking your calls after this?"
"I don't care. It’s not true. It was a setup," Troy said, as he started pacing restlessly. "I'm not letting this be how it ends."
"She deserves better than to have her pride trampled on in public," Olivia shot back. "At least let the divorce go through before you go crawling back. "
Troy turned, his expression dark. "There's not going to be a divorce."
Olivia's brows shot up. "Excuse me?"
"I'm not signing anything until I see her. Face to face."
Olivia let out a slow breath, studying him. "And what if she refuses?"
Troy's jaw tightened. "Then I'll find another way."
Olivia shook her head, muttering under her breath. "You really are an idiot."
Troy crossed his arms. "Maybe. But I'm not walking away without a conversation."
Olivia's gaze sharpened. "And what are you going to say, exactly? That you didn't mean to humiliate her? That you just *accidentally* let Lila manipulate you into the perfect scandal? That your entire family has treated her like an outsider for decades, and now you suddenly care?"
Troy's hands curled into fists. "There are things she doesn’t know. Things she deserves to know. I’m going to tell her the truth."
Olivia let out a bitter laugh. "And you think anything you say is going fix this?"
"I don't know," Troy admitted, voice hard. "But I know I can't let her think I just replaced her. I won't."
Olivia slammed the folder shut. "And what's your plan, Bradshaw? Storm into her new life and demand she listen? Because I promise you, Jenna is done being ordered around. Why haven't you reached out to her yet? Why didn't you attend Sasha's funeral? "
Troy let out a sharp breath. "I was just trying to respect Jenna’s wishes. She didn't want to see me. But I know where she is. And I don't care how long it takes, Olivia. I will see her. Or else."
Olivia's eyes narrowed. "Or else what?"
"Or else I'll show up at her door, at wherever the hell she's staying until she gives me five goddamn minutes."
Olivia scoffed, shaking her head. "And what, exactly, do you think she's doing? Sitting around, pining for you?"
Silence filled the space between them.
"Please, Olivia, there are things I need to say to her. At the very least, she deserves the whole truth. There must be something left in her for me."
Then Olivia let out a short, humourless laugh. "Oh, Troy." She shook her head, amusement creeping into her voice. "You really don't know her at all, do you?"
Troy frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Olivia just leaned back, tapping her fingers against the desk. "If you want your meeting, I'll see what I can do. But don't come crying to me when you realize just how much Jenna doesn't need you."
As he walked into his house, his phone vibrated.
He debated letting it ring, but then he picked up.
"What?"
"You don't get to be short with me, Dad," Lilly snapped. "Not after the mess you've made."
Troy exhaled. "Is this going to be another lecture?"
"No. It's about Mom," she said sharply. "I called her. I tried to explain everything. She wouldn't listen. "
Troy shut his eyes, his grip tightening on the glass. "What did she say?"
"That she's done." Lilly's voice cracked slightly. "I think she meant it."
A lump settled in his throat. "You think I don't know that?"
"She won't even hear me out, Dad." Lilly hesitated. "I don't know if she ever will."
A deep, weary sigh came from the other end of the line. Another voice, quieter, hesitant.
**Max.**
"She doesn't answer my calls either," Max muttered. "I don't blame her. I was awful to her."
Troy tensed. "And you suddenly care?"
Max's voice was different this time. Regretful. "I've always cared. I just never told her."
Troy didn't respond. He stared at the amber liquid in his glass, the silence between them thick with things left unsaid.
Max cleared his throat. "She was always there, you know? When I needed something, when I screwed up, when something did not work out-Mom was there. I never thought about what she got in return."
Troy gritted his teeth. "She got us. Her family."
Max let out a quiet, humourless laugh. "Did she?" His voice was quiet but cutting. "Because if she did, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
Lilly exhaled sharply. "She's not the same Mom anymore. She's changed. And not because of Lila or the divorce or the scandal. "
Troy's jaw clenched. "That doesn't mean I'm giving up."
Max sighed. "You never did know when to quit, did you? "
Silence stretched between them, heavier this time.
Lilly spoke again, softer now. "She's not waiting for you, Dad. She's moved on. She's stronger than we ever gave her credit for."
Troy exhaled sharply. "I guess I'll find that out for myself."
Lilly sighed. "Just don't expect the Mom you remember."
Troy took a sip of his drink, the burn doing nothing to ease the weight in his chest.
"Yeah," he murmured. "I got that memo."