Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

I watched Logan as he toyed with an apple, grinning at me, "So, how are you planning on dealing with him?"

I sank deeper into the couch, glancing at the grand chandelier hanging in the living room. "No rush. I haven't quite landed on the right scheme yet. But it's gotta be fitting for his style." With a wicked smile, Logan leaned in conspiratorially, "I've got a killer idea."

I sat up straight, eager, "What is it?"

He chuckled, gestured me closer with his finger, and whispered his plan in my ear.

After hearing it, I stared at him in disbelief and asked, "You serious?"

"Absolutely," he said, tossing the apple in the air, grinning.

"That's it. We'll go with your plan," I smirked, feeling this was a good idea.

Just then, Hannah's phone rang. She quickly answered, "Hello? Okay, let's meet tomorrow at 1 PM. Got it."

After hanging up, she turned to me, "Allie, I gotta step out. Jaylan's causing a scene at the villa, blocking the agent viewing."

I stood up immediately, "He's got some nerve, playing the tough guy."

Hannah scoffed, "Looks like he's got nowhere else to go. Never saw him this clingy to the house before the divorce. Now he can't seem to stay away."

"Let's go then, and I'll come with you," I said.

Ronan strode over, "What's up?"

I explained, "Jaylan's at the villa. I need to swing by. Plus, I've got a few questions for him. Don't worry, and I'll be back soon."

I made the situation clear to him.

"Have Larkin tag along," Ronan suggested, glancing at Logan, who immediately dialed Larkin.

He gave me a few more words of caution. I patted his arm reassuringly, "Relax, and I've got this."

Hannah and I headed out, with Larkin already waiting by the car.

Hannah shot him a shy, beautiful smile, which he returned with a glance, unswayed by her charms.

We got into the car and sped off from Serene Garden Homes.

At the villa, after quizzing the guard, I learned that Jaylan had indeed been returning daily.

I held off on entering and called Dalton at CID instead, sharing the clues we found from the incident on Seabreeze Boulevard and informing him that Jaylan was currently inside. I sent him the villa's location and then proceeded inside with Hannah and Larkin.

As we opened the door, a pungent smell of alcohol hit us. The living room was a mess, worse than when I'd last seen it, utterly trashed.

I paused, scanning the room before spotting a figure curled up on the couch, deep in a drunken slumber.

Taking a few steps inside, the sound of my heels must have woken him. He turned his head towards us, his bloodshot eyes squinting, and quickly sobered up. He sat up and tried to smooth out his disheveled hair.

"Babe, what are you doing here?" His voice was laced with guilt as he glanced around at the chaos he'd created.

Hannah snapped at him, "Amnesia now? Babe? You think you deserve that?"

I held his gaze, noting how haggard he looked. I hadn't seen him in half a month, and he'd lost a lot of weight. His hair, which had always been in good shape, was just messy, even though he had just gathered it together.

The silk shirt he had always loved was wrinkled and had a few wine stains. The long sideburns he was so proud of had connected with the stubble underneath, as scruffy as it was going to get.

"I should be asking you that. You're the one who broke into my place. Even if you trashed it, or burned it down, the deed's still in my name. Happy with your handiwork?"

"I was drunk I didn't mean for this to happen It's my fault, leaving you alone in Goldenvale Town, making you homeless," he mumbled, head hung low.

I looked at him, repulsed, "Jaylan, save the deceptive act. I didn't come here for your confession. It's worthless to me. I just have one question for you."