63. Chapter 62
J enna
Jenna stood in the dimly lit hallway, her arms folded as she looked at Troy.
He was still in the sitting room when Dylan had walked off, his mind tangled in the tension of the boy's anger.
But when he turned and met Jenna's gaze, something cold settled in his stomach.
He knew she had overheard the conversation.
"I think it's time we had that talk," she said.
Troy exhaled slowly, pressing his thumb against his temple. He felt the weight of her words, the finality in her tone. A tight, uneasy silence settled between them before Jenna spoke again.
"I haven't been acting very mature recently, have I?" Her voice was softer now, almost reflective. "And I just realized... Dylan is following my lead. Dani, though... she's on your side."
She hesitated, then sighed. " I am allowing Dylan to treat you the same way Max and Lilly have treated me. And I don't like who I've been becoming."
Troy didn't know how to respond to that. He rubbed a hand down his face, trying to force clarity into his thoughts, but before he could say anything, Jenna tilted her head, watching him carefully.
"Why didn't you come to Sasha's funeral?" she asked, "Why were you always against her?"
Troy let out a slow breath and walked past her, settling onto the couch. He clasped his hands together, leaning forward as he tried to gather his thoughts. For a long time, he had never spoken about it-not to Jenna, not even to himself.
"I was never against her," he said finally.
"Not at first. When I met you, Jenna... for the first time in my life, everything felt quiet.
Being with you was effortless. It was like my mind, which was always running a thousand calculations, finally found a pause button.
And I didn't want to share that. I didn't want to taint it with the world I came from.
You were the brightest star in my sky, and I never wanted anything to dim that.
Though I never told you, you were my first lover-just as I was yours. ""
Jenna gaped, completely taken aback by his confession. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no words came. She stared at him, searching his face as if trying to reconcile his words with the man she had known for so long. He continued before she could interrupt.
"I didn't have any money, not at that time.
And I had only just graduated. I knew my parents wouldn't approve of you.
It wasn't because of who you were-it was because they disapproved of anyone who wasn't handpicked by them.
" He scoffed, shaking his head. "I should've told you.
I should've been honest about why I kept you separate.
But Grant-he was my adviser back then. And he kept giving me advice: 'Play it cool.
" "Act like she's not the only option.”. I did not know what I was doing."
Jenna's breath caught. "That's why you said your father wanted you to marry Lila."
Troy nodded; his jaw tight. "I thought it was the smart move at the time. But looking back... it was the worst thing I could have done."
Jenna swallowed hard but said nothing .
"And when you told me you were pregnant... I shut down." His voice was quieter now, raw. "I wasn't thinking straight. I panicked. But after I calmed down, I realized something, this would bind you to me. And I wanted that. So, I started planning how to present it to my family."
Jenna's expression hardened slightly. "By the time you came back, I had moved in with Sasha."
He nodded. "And when I went to see you, Sasha wouldn't even let me near you. She told me she would make sure you saw how useless I was. That she and you were sisters and survivors, and you didn't need me." He exhaled sharply. "You never heard that conversation."
Jenna shook her head slowly. "No. I didn't."
"It stuck to my mind, what she said. I know Sasha was trying to protect you," Troy admitted. "But it felt like she was trying to erase me. And I didn't handle it well. I thought she would convince you to leave me."
Silence stretched between them. Then, hesitantly, Troy reached into his wallet and pulled out a small, worn envelope. He carefully opened it, letting the rings slide onto the palm of his hand. They both watched as the tiny diamond twinkled in the low light.
"It cleaned me out to buy it back then," he said quietly. "Would you take it back?"
Jenna looked at the rings but didn't touch them. "Not yet."
He swallowed hard and nodded, accepting the answer even as it stung. He put them back in his wallet.
"What about Lila?" she asked next.
Troy ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.
"Lila was Mack's little sister. She always tagged along when we were kids.
When she applied for the project manager's job, hiring her seemed logical.
She was brilliant-she had the experience we needed.
" He rubbed his hands together. "She shared my interests and talked coherently about things most people didn't even know existed.
Like optimization algorithms in neural networks, microprocessor design intricacies, niche tech concepts that most people nod along to without understanding.
I liked that she got it." He hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck.
"I thought she admired my brain, and I was flattered.
It felt good to be understood in that way, and I let myself believe that was all it was. "
Jenna snorted. "Nope, she just wanted to get into your pants."
A small, reluctant chuckle escaped him. "Yeah. I get that now."
Jenna shook her head, a ghost of amusement flickering across her face. "You didn't realize how much she disrespected me."
Troy's expression darkened. "No. I didn't." He hesitated before continuing.
"During dinners with my family and friends, I tend to.
.. switch off. And when I say switch off, I really switch off.
I focus on the conversations that make sense to me, and I tune out the rest. I didn't realize that was encouraging their attitude.
I didn't see that it was making the kids think I didn't respect you.
" He clenched his fists. "You handled them so well, I guess. .. I've been sleeping on my job."
Jenna's lips pressed into a thin line, but she didn't argue.
Troy took a steadying breath. "I can't change the past. I can't change how awful my parents were to you. But all I can say is... I will not let it happen again. If you trust me this one last time."
Jenna studied him for a long moment. "Tell me about your childhood," she said. "How your parents dealt with you being autistic. "
Troy exhaled slowly, rubbing his palms together, a familiar self-soothing motion.
"They didn't handle it," he admitted. "They tolerated it.
I was the 'odd one'-too blunt, too rigid, too obsessed with things that didn't matter to them.
My mother wanted to fix me. My father wanted to mould me.
But I never fit into either of their expectations. "
He hesitated before continuing, his fingers tapping against his knee.
"I remember once, when I was about nine, I wanted a dog.
Mack had a golden retriever-Scout. He was the friendliest, happiest dog I'd ever seen.
I loved how Mack always had him by his side, like they understood each other without words.
I begged my parents for a dog for months.
I even made a list of reasons why it would be good for me, how it could help me with routines and emotions. My tutor helped with that."
Jenna watched him carefully. "What did they say?"
Troy huffed a quiet, humourless laugh. "My mother told me I was too obsessed, that I didn't understand what it took to care for another living thing.
My father said dogs were a distraction, and that I should focus on things that actually mattered.
Then, just to drive the point home, they got me a stuffed dog and told me to 'pretend.
'" He swallowed, his jaw tightening. "It was one of the first times I realized how little they understood me. "
Jenna's expression softened, but she said nothing, letting the moment settle before she finally murmured, "I'm sorry, Troy."," she said.
He swallowed. "I learned to mask early. To suppress the way I processed things. The way I saw the world. And maybe that's why I missed so much with you. "
Jenna didn't look away. "You see the world differently, Troy.
I am beginning to understand a little." She hesitated, then took a slow breath.
"I have to admit, I felt a little envious of the bond Lilly and Max had with you.
I couldn't understand why I felt left behind.
" She sighed, shaking her head. "But that was partially my fault.
I never told you how I felt, just expected you to understand.
And now, I realize that must have been very difficult for you to do. "
Troy's expression softened as he took in her words. "That was never my intention," he said quietly. "I always wished my mother was more like you. And yes, if you don’t clearly tell me, a lot gets lost in translation."
He met her gaze. "So... will you give me a chance to prove I can do better?"
Jenna inhaled deeply, holding his gaze for a long, silent moment. Then, finally, she answered, "We'll see."