Chapter 44

Jackson's POV

"Hi!" I beamed at Hannah as I opened the door.

"You look good, Jackson!" she chuckled, pulling me into a warm hug.

"You don't look bad either," I smiled, leading her inside to sit while I called Vera. She was going to be thrilled, her best friend showing up unannounced was the kind of surprise she needed.

And I was right.

When I met her in Tim’s room and told her Hannah was here, her eyes lit up with joy.

"I’ll be heading to the office now," I said gently as we walked down the stairs together. "There’s a board meeting that was rescheduled for today, and I can’t afford to cancel it again. Just remembered."

She didn’t respond immediately. Instead, she welcomed Hannah warmly, exchanging hugs and smiles. Only then did she glance my way.

"Is there something wrong at the company?" she asked in a concerned tone. She must have caught the heaviness in my voice.

I went to the kitchen, poured a glass of juice