CHAPTER 4

When finally the waiting room emptied, Jenna stepped outside. Early afternoon sunlight danced on the cobblestones, and with each step she sensed both the burden of waiting and a glimmer of hope.

She remembered all the times her siblings had mocked her and Dad's soft correction. Behind their mockery was love and hope, hope that one day she would find a balance between being the next CEO and living a full life.

That evening, when she returned home, her apartment was quiet. A big contrast to the hospital buzz.

Jenna sat on her office couch and stared at a family photo hung on the wall. In it, Dad stood tall with Snow and them all kids, their faces a mix of hope and aspiration.

What will my picture look like? Am I destined only to manage the company, or can I even find a life filled with love and bonding?

She closed her eyes and let the thought dangle, a mix of obligation and desire, hope and yearning for a better one.

Tomorrow, work again. But tonight, she indulged in being weak.

Change is inevitable. Ready or not, the next chapter in their family's book is being written.

Jenna clung to the memory of Piper's tiny hand and Dad's gentle insistence that there is something more to life than business.

Can she really have a future where she not only runs the Cult, but also finds her own happiness? A future where equilibrium is not just theory?

For now, she held onto that notion as she drifted off to sleep, certain of one thing. She'll inherit the family business, and she'll do whatever it takes to obtain it.

"How did this happen?" Jenna panted, frustration and disbelief mingling as she brushed her hair back harshly.

She was standing in the midst of the ruin of her beloved shop, her heart pounding in her head.

Deborah, Rebecca, and Jenna stood there in stunned silence. Water-soaked dresses dangled loosely off their racks, delicate fabrics ruined beyond repair. The immaculate carpet now lived only as a soggy mess mixed with trash, and the walls were smeared and cracked, evidence of burst pipes.

"This is a nightmare," Rebecca's whispered words were barely above the ever-present hum of industrial fans trying to evaporate the destruction.

Outside, firefighters worked desperately to salvage as much as possible.

She could not stand the look of it, so Jenna turned her gaze away.

A lump in her throat was ready to explode with grief and anger churned within her.

This store was the realization of her dream, the result of years of fighting, working long hours, and every ounce of heart she had. And now… it's all gone.

Deborah stepped forward and laid a light hand on Jenna's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Jenna. This is hard."

"How am I supposed to get over this?" Jenna rubbed her temples as if the pain could be rubbed away. "We had pre-orders lined up for months. This store was my whole net worth. I put all of my savings into it."

She fought not to sob as she scanned the entire scene wet, with firefighters already finishing cleanup. She narrowed away, fighting to maintain herself in check as the scope struck her.

A fireman emerged from the wreckage, holding the soggy body of a wedding dress Jenna had been commissioned to create.

Her heart missed a beat upon seeing it. "Oh god."

Rebecca came to Jenna’s side, joining Deborah as they formed a protective circle around her.

"Don’t worry, Jenna. We’re going to figure this out," Rebecca said, though there was so much uncertainty in her voice.

How? Jenna wanted to ask, but she forced herself to swallow the desperation. This shop was her dream, and now it’s gone, everyone expects her to be strong. She cannot let them see her break down.

She throat cleared. "How often does something like this even happen?"

She examined the damage once more. Rebecca frowned. "Honestly, burst pipes in an office building? It happens more than you'd think. There was nothing we could have done to prevent it. I'll wager the construction crew cut corners on materials."

"Great fortune I receive," Jenna grumbled, tearing her nails through her hair. "Is insurance going to cover any of this?"

Rebecca smiled sympathetically. "Sorry. Accidents aren't insured, only theft is."

The magnitude of the loss sank in. Thousands of hours of labor, hundreds of thousands of dollars disappeared in an instant.

Failure was a burden that choked Jenna.

She was finished. Finished.

She had nothing and no way to start over.

She was snapped back into the horrific reality by a soft cough.

She turned around to see a firefighter in uniform at the front of the group with a clipboard.

"Captain Seth, fire department," he replied, surveying the area. "I wished to give you an update on our assessment."

"Please do," Jenna's tone was tinged with frantic urgency.

He consulted his clipboard before replying. "The good news is that there doesn't seem to be any structural damage. Walls, foundation, and main supports are fine. The bad news is that the interior of the building is devastated. Water damage is extensive, and the floors will have to be completely replaced."

Jenna swallowed hard. "What about the electrical system? Is it functioning all right?"

"We checked the wiring. It appears untouched by the flooding. But I would highly recommend that you have an electrician check it out very carefully before you open again."

Deborah gazed at Jenna, her expression guarded but hopeful. "Look, Jenna? It's not as bad as it could have been. We can fix this."

Deborah, always the optimist. But Jenna wasn't so sure she felt exactly the same right now.

Jenna drew her eyes away from the destruction. "Thanks."

Following Captain Seth's departure, Jenna stepped inside the building cautiously.

The once-shiny wooden floorboards were puffed and buckled, cloudy water droplets suspended in every corner. The air stank of dampness and a faint, mouldy scent. Even the mirrors were fogged.

She tracked her finger along the condensation, as if trying to wipe away the image of her shattered dreams.

Deborah came up behind her. "Come on, Jenna. Don't get depressed about this."

"Can you not now?" Jenna shook her head.

Her phone rang. She pulled it out and read a text message from Mom.

Dinner at my place tonight, don't forget.

A sigh of relief escaped Jenna as she typed out a quick reply.

Can't make it, stuck at the shop tonight.

She stashed the phone and rolled up her sleeves. "Well, time to get to work."

Mopping up trash from her destroyed shop wasn't how she'd envisioned spending the evening, but it was all that she could manage. And she had to manage it, or she'd fall apart and she had no way of knowing if she'd ever be able to reassemble herself.

"I'll help you," Deborah offered immediately. "You could use all the help available."

Hour after hour, they were elbow-deep in piles of ruined dresses, scooping up whatever morsel could be salvaged.

Rebecca burst in with phone to her ear. "Thanks, Mrs. John. I appreciate your compliance."

Jenna spun around, one eyebrow raised.

Mrs. John had been among their biggest customers. "What did she say? Did you tell her what had happened?"

"She's the last customer I called, to inform her and start the refund," Rebecca replied, compressing her lips. "Everybody's been understanding, given the circumstances."

Jenna was frozen in place, loss weighing in on her as she watched a pile of expensive fabric fall from her hand. It was as if watching years of love and hard work vanish before her.

"Thanks, Rebecca," Jenna forced a pale, tired smile. "I don't know what I'd do if it weren't for you."

"We're in this together, Jenna. We'll get through it. Do you want help separating the clothes?"