Through every argument, through every doubt,
Our hearts stayed connected, even when words fell out.
Amy's frustration had reached its peak. Paxton had always been her best friend, her closest confidant, but now Joanne seemed to occupy that space. And while Paxton's recent confrontations had rattled her, Amy wasn't about to back down. She saw Joanne as a threat to the life she'd known—a threat she needed to neutralize.
That's how she found herself crafting one last scheme, one she was sure would drive a wedge between them. A subtle but cutting remark here, a misinterpreted conversation there—Amy knew just how to sow discord.
The opportunity came one sunny afternoon when Paxton invited Joanne over to talk. Amy positioned herself near the patio door, pretending to scroll through her phone while listening intently to their conversation.
"I'm tired, Pax," Joanne said, her voice laced with exhaustion. "I feel like I'm fighting a battle I never signed up for."
"You're not alone in this, Jo," Paxton said, reaching for her hand.
Amy smirked, stepping out onto the patio. "Oh, sorry to interrupt. I didn't realize you were busy," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "But Joanne, I think it's brave of you to still come around after everything that's been said about you."
Joanne's eyes narrowed. "What are you talking about?"
Amy feigned surprise. "Oh, you don't know? People have been talking about how you're just with Paxton for attention. I mean, I didn't believe it, of course, but..."
"That's enough, Amy," Paxton snapped.
But Joanne had already pulled away, standing up with her arms crossed. "Is that what you think, Paxton? That I'm just here for attention?"
Paxton's face turned red. "No, of course not! I didn't even know—"
"Exactly," Joanne interrupted. "You didn't know because you don't pay attention to what's happening around you. Your sister has been trying to destroy us from the start, and you've just let it happen."
Joanne's words hit Paxton like a slap. He stood up, his frustration boiling over. "That's not fair, Jo. I've been trying to fix this. I've defended you."
"Have you?" Joanne challenged, her voice rising. "Because it feels like every time I turn around, Amy's spreading more lies, and you're just... standing there."
"That's not true," Paxton said, but the uncertainty in his voice betrayed him.
Joanne shook her head, her voice trembling. "You don't see me, Paxton. Not really. You're so caught up in your family's drama that you can't even see what's right in front of you."
Paxton's hands balled into fists at his sides. "That's not fair. You know how complicated this is."
Joanne took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "I do. But that doesn't mean I have to put up with it. I deserve better than this."
Amy, who had been standing silently in the corner, decided to interject. "Maybe you should leave, Joanne. If you're so unhappy, why are you even here?"
Joanne turned to Amy, her eyes blazing. "You're right. Maybe I shouldn't be here."
And with that, she walked out, leaving Paxton standing in stunned silence.
Joanne didn't go far. She found herself at her brother Ethan's apartment, her emotions threatening to overwhelm her. Ethan opened the door to find Joanne pacing his living room, her face flushed with anger.
"Jo?" he asked, stepping inside. "What's going on?"
Joanne whirled around, her voice shaky. "Paxton. His sister. All of it. I can't do this anymore."
Ethan frowned, sitting on the edge of the couch. "Start from the beginning."
As Joanne recounted the argument, Ethan listened carefully, his jaw tightening. He had always been wary of Paxton, not because he disliked him but because he saw the chaos Amy brought into their relationship.
"You've been dealing with this for how long?" Ethan asked when she finished.
"Too long," Joanne admitted. "But I love him, Ethan. I just... I don't know if that's enough."
Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Love is important, but so is respect. If Paxton can't stand up to Amy, you have to ask yourself if he's really the kind of person you want to be with."
Joanne looked at him, her eyes filling with tears. "He's not a bad person. He's just... lost."
"Then maybe it's time he found his way," Ethan said firmly. "And maybe he needs to lose you to realize what he's losing."
Meanwhile, Emily had been watching the events unfold from the sidelines. She had overheard bits of the argument and seen the devastation on Paxton's face after Joanne left. It was clear to her that Amy was at the center of the conflict, but Emily didn't know how to approach her brother.
Later that evening, she found Paxton sitting alone in the living room, staring at the floor. She sat down next to him, her small frame barely making a dent in the couch.
"Hey," she said softly. "Rough day?"
Paxton let out a humorless laugh. "That's an understatement."
Emily hesitated before speaking. "I heard what happened. With Joanne. And Amy."
Paxton sighed, leaning back against the couch. "I don't know what to do, Em. Joanne's right. I've let Amy get away with too much."
Emily nodded slowly. "You have. But it's not too late to fix it."
Paxton looked at her, his eyes filled with doubt. "How? Amy's always been... Amy. She's stubborn and manipulative, but she's still my sister."
"And Joanne is the person you care about," Emily said gently. "You have to decide who you're going to stand up for, Pax. Because right now, you're losing both of them."
The next day, Ethan decided it was time to step in. He wasn't one to meddle, but Joanne's pain was enough to spur him into action. He found Paxton at the park, sitting on a bench and staring into the distance.
"Paxton," Ethan said, his voice firm.
Paxton looked up, surprised to see him. "Ethan? What are you doing here?"
"We need to talk," Ethan said, sitting down next to him. "About Joanne. And about you."
Paxton sighed. "Let me guess—you're here to tell me I'm not good enough for her."
"No," Ethan said. "I'm here to tell you that if you love my sister, you need to stop letting your sister destroy her."
Paxton frowned, his shoulders tensing. "It's not that simple."
"It is," Ethan said bluntly. "Amy is toxic, Paxton. She's manipulative, and she's using you to hurt Joanne. If you can't see that, then you don't deserve Joanne."
Paxton's jaw clenched. "You don't understand. Amy's been through a lot. She's... complicated."
"We're all complicated," Ethan said. "But that doesn't excuse her behavior. You need to wake up before it's too late."
Ethan's words stuck with Paxton as he made his way home. He couldn't ignore the truth any longer: Amy's actions were hurting everyone he cared about, including himself.
That evening, he found Amy in the kitchen, scrolling through her phone. She looked up when he entered, her expression wary.
"We need to talk," Paxton said, his voice steady.
Amy set her phone down, crossing her arms. "About what?"
"About Joanne. About you," Paxton said, sitting down across from her. "I can't do this anymore, Amy. I can't keep defending you when you're the one causing all the problems."
Amy's face hardened. "So now it's all my fault?"
"I'm not saying that," Paxton said. "But you've been cruel to Joanne, spreading lies, stirring up trouble. Why, Amy? What do you get out of this?"
Amy looked away, her jaw tightening. "I just... I don't trust her, okay? I don't want to lose you."
"You're not going to lose me," Paxton said gently. "But if you keep this up, you'll lose my respect. And you'll lose the chance to have any kind of relationship with Joanne."
Amy didn't respond, but Paxton could see the conflict in her eyes. For the first time, he felt like she was starting to understand the damage she had caused.
The next day, Paxton reached out to Joanne, asking to meet. She was hesitant but agreed. They met at the park, where it had all begun.
"I'm sorry," Paxton said as soon as she arrived. "For everything. For not standing up for you sooner."
Joanne crossed her arms, her expression guarded. "Words are easy, Paxton. Actions are what matter."
"I know," he said. "And I'm ready to prove it. Amy won't come between us again. I won't let her."
Joanne studied him for a long moment before nodding. "Okay. But this is your last chance, Pax. I can't keep doing this."
Paxton nodded, determination in his eyes. "I won't let you down."
As they walked through the park, side by side, Paxton felt a sense of hope he hadn't felt in weeks. It wouldn't be easy, but for Joanne, he was willing to fight—for their relationship and for a future free of the shadows Amy had cast.