Mark sat in silence on the patio of his penthouse, the wind brushing lightly against his face as the distant city buzzed below. His eyes were distant, bloodshot, and tired as if sleep had become a forgotten luxury.
The doorbell rang.
Paul peeked out. "Sir… it's your sister." Mark stood instantly. "Tiwa? She stepped in slowly, her arms crossed tightly as if bracing herself for an emotional blow. Her eyes were filled with guilt and exhaustion.
"Mark…"
He moved forward, expecting a hug, but she only looked at him scanning the broken pieces of a man she barely recognized.
"You look like you've been hit by a train," she said quietly. I feel worse," Mark replied with a dry chuckle. Tiwa finally embraced him. She gripped his shirt tightly, inhaling deeply like she was grounding herself with the scent of her own brother. "I've been meaning to come but… I was ashamed."
"Why?"
Because Aurora is my friend too. And I didn't even know what to say to her when everything exploded. I keep thinking she'll hate me because I'm your sister . For not doing enough."
Mark led her to the couch. "You didn't know the full story, Tiwa. Hell, I didn't even know it." She looked at him, pain evident in her gaze. "But you shot Jake, Mark. That's still something I can't ignore. And she's hurting so much. I heard she's been staying at the Riverson Mansion … with Zayn around her now."
Mark's jaw tensed. "Yeah. Him."
She needs healing. You're not giving her that." I gave her everything I had," he snapped. "And I still lost her." Tiwa softened. "Then maybe it's time to stop trying to win her back… and start trying to fix yourself."
Later that afternoon, Mark drove out to a private golf lounge on the outskirts of the city, where Leo, Jeff, and Leo's son Martin were waiting. Leo tossed a club toward Mark. "Let's see if the famous Wilson fire still works under pressure."
Mark caught the club, attempting a smirk. "No promises. "Uncle Mark!" little Martin shouted, running up to him. Mark smiled genuinely for the first time in weeks and lifted the boy into his arms. "You've grown taller since the last time I saw you."
"I'm four now. Daddy says I can be a billionaire like you if I eat all my vegetables."
Everyone burst into laughter. They played a few rounds, mostly using the game as an excuse to talk and decompress. Jeff poured drinks while Leo leaned over the railing with Mark.
"Bro, Alicia is breathing fire," Leo muttered.
Mark raised a brow. "What now?" She's been drilling me non-stop. 'Do you think Mark killed Jake? Do you think he's killed others? Are you even safe around him?'" Leo mimicked in Alicia's dramatic tone, then burst into laughter.
Mark chuckled but sighed. "Wouldn't blame her. I've lost the benefit of the doubt." Jeff joined them. "You didn't kill Jake. Charles did. You just… fired the shot that started the chain."
Leo nodded. "Still, you gotta clean this mess up. For you, for Aurora." Mark looked down at Martin, who was happily hitting a ball into the grass and running after it. "I miss what I had. I miss her." Leo clapped him on the back. "Then fight for her the right way. Not with spies and secrets. With truth."
Mark's eyes darkened slightly. "It might already be too late." Jeff poured another drink. "Well then, we'll still be here. When everything else falls apart, family's what you've got left."
Mark's eyes glistened as he looked at his two closest friends and the little boy chasing butterflies on the green. For one moment, just one, the weight on his chest loosened.