Page 102 of All That She Needs

"Yes... They're so in love." He answered quietly.

One thing about Jake—he never sugarcoated anything. He always told it like it was.

I rubbed my hands over my face with a sigh and stood up. "I'm gonna go," I said to him. "I won't be here for the next three weeks. Going away with my kids." I usually came to Jake's bar every Tuesday and Thursday night, and I always let him know if I planned to show up on any other night, just to avoid running into any ofthem.

"Okay, have fun."

I breezed past Amelia on my way to the front door, giving her a slight nod and ignoring her as she called my name.

Jake was right. I could never replace Asha. She was one of a kind, a gem that stood out in a sea of ordinary, unmatched and irreplaceable. No matter how many years passed, no matter how many women came and went, nothing could measure up to what I had with her. She was the exception, the one that made everything else feel insignificant.

The cold air hit me as soon as I stepped outside. I uncurled the collar of my coat, pulled my scarf tighter around my neck, and started walking. Unlike most nights, the streets were quiet, almost deserted. I made my way around the bar to the back parking lot, got into my car, and started the engine. But I didn't drive right away. Instead, I sat there in silence, my head resting on the headrest, and pulled my phone from my coat.

And opened my Instagram.

There were only two people I followed on my account: Chloe and Kayden. It was my way of staying connected to their lives. Chloe was always active, posting almost every day, while Kayden only updated twice or three times a month.

I chose Chloe's profile and scrolled back, going through posts from previous years.

I didn't know how many times I had seen this picture, but every time, the pain was just as sharp. Still, I couldn't stop looking at it. There was one where Asha was standing alone, looking so beautiful in her white wedding gown. The fabric flowed effortlessly around her, as if it had been poured onto her, molding perfectly to her form. Her hair was styled just right, soft curls cascading around her face, framing her exquisite features. She looked ethereal, and she was stunningly glowing.

And she looked so happy.

Sighing, my heart softened as I looked at her face, a deep longing settling in. I couldn't help but remember our own wedding, all those years ago. She was just as beautiful now as she was then. Time had only been kind to her, leaving no trace of wear. If anything, she seemed to have grown even more radiant with age.

Then, I chose the video of her with Kayden, Chloe, and Dennis, who had been Asha's Man of Honor. They were all laughing together, caught in a moment of pure joy. Asha's head was tipped back, her laughter so genuine and carefree. Every time I saw this, my eyes would start to sting. I missed that laugh—the sound of it, the warmth it brought. It had always been one of my favorite things about her, and now, it felt like something I would never hear again.

I scrolled up to the more recent years, stopping at the photos of Asha at herBloom & Grow Gardens. Seeing her standing there, smiling proudly, my heart swelled with pride. I knew how much hard work she'd poured into building it, and to make such a big change in her life, to take that leap of faith and turn her passion into something tangible—it took a level of bravery I'd always admired in her. She had built somethingbeautiful from scratch, and I couldn't help but feel a deep respect for how far she'd come.

And it would always be the biggest regret of my life that it wasn't me who was there to support her.

The more recent months of Chloe's feed were filled with countless pictures of her blue-eyed little sister, Rosalie. Born through a surrogate, Asha's doctors had advised against carrying the pregnancy herself due to the high risks involved. It was clear how deeply Chloe adored her. Kayden, too, would often gush whenever he talked about the baby.

I wondered when my heart would stop hurting, when the guilt and regret would finally fade. Probably never. It felt like something I'd have to carry with me for the rest of my life.

Sighing once more, deeper this time, I put down my phone on the center console and started to drive.

I had moved out of the apartment and built a house not far from the Blackthorne Head Office, choosing the location mainly for the lake behind it. I made sure to claim enough land to build Kayden an outdoor basketball court so he could have his own space to play during the weekends he stayed with me. He loved it, and honestly, I think I loved it even more. Seeing him happy was worth everything.

Normally, I'd take the highway to get home, but tonight, I chose the city route. I wasn't in a hurry and wanted to take a longer drive, letting the sights of the city keep me company for a little while. There wasn't that much traffic as it was already 8 p.m., and I drove leisurely, listening to nothing besides my own breathing.

While driving, I realized I needed to pick up a few things from the grocery store, so I decided to stop. The store was quiet, with only a handful of people wandering around.

I grabbed a cart and moved through the aisles, picking up what I needed—essentials for the house and a few of Chloe's and Kayden's favorite snacks for when they came over. I lingered longer than usual in the fruit section, sorting through the apples and picking out a few ripe oranges. The soft rustling of produce and the faint hum of the store's background music were the only sounds until I felt the unmistakable presence of someone hovering behind me. It felt like there was a distinct pressure in the air, as if they were waiting for me to notice.

And when I turned around, what I saw made my heartbeat skip a beat.

Vanessa greeted me with a hesitant "Hi..." and offered a small, almost uncertain smile.

"Hi..." I mumbled, still stunned by her presence.

She took a step closer, and I felt my entire body tense in response. "How are you?" She asked.

"Good," I swallowed. "I've been good."

She nodded, offering a small smile, and that's when it hit me. She was wearing the grocery store's uniform, her name stitched neatly on the left side of her chest. She worked here. I couldn't help but wonder if the incident had made it difficult for her to find a corporate job again. But as I stood there, I realized something else too—despite everything, she had found a way to support herself. It wasn't the corporate world she'd once been part of, but it was still good, honest work. She had managed to get back on her feet.

"Yeah, I work here now," she said, her voice a little sheepish as she noticed my gaze linger on her uniform. "It's different, but somehow, I like it. The people here are nice." She shrugged, as if to downplay the change, but there was a quiet sadness in her voice.

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