Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Both of us looked up at the same time, our gaze drawn to the clamor coming from the Dawson residence.

Hannah, ever the instigator, didn't hesitate to fling open the car door and hop out, and I found myself following suit.

The neighbors, who had been idly chatting below, scattered like birds at the sound of a gunshot, craning their necks to see the source of the commotion.

I hung back, leaning nonchalantly against the car, a smirk playing on my lips. This was the opening act of the Dawson father-son showdown, and I was all for the free entertainment.

The crowd swelled, people whispering and chuckling, pointing up at the chaotic display.

Soon enough, Hannah came bouncing back, grinning ear to ear, "You won't believe it, they chucked out a vibrator." she reported, laughing, "The neighbors are going nuts over it, snapping pics." Suddenly, another object was hurled from the window, and the onlookers scattered to avoid getting hit.

The shouting from above grew more intense, the words more peppered with expletives that made even the most seasoned eavesdroppers blush.

Then, down came a high heel, arcing gracefully through the air before landing among the crowd. I recognized it immediately. It was the same pair Fannie had been wearing when she stormed upstairs. I couldn't help but chuckle at the chaos, motioning to Hannah, "Let's roll. Stop wasting time here."

She flashed me a mischievous grin and hurriedly slid back into the car.

Despite the commotion, no one paid us any mind. Some of them knew me, and it would be quite an awkward scene if they spotted me in the midst of this spectacle.

As Hannah buckled up, she couldn't help but laugh, "Allie, you really know when to add fuel to the fire, don't you"

I secured my own seatbelt, teasing back, "That's a golden opportunity to stir the pot. I couldn't pass it up."

Just as we were about to drive off, Jaylan emerged from the building, his cool demeanor slightly cracked, but still not giving the gawking crowd the satisfaction of his attention. Hands in his pockets, he swaggered past the crowd, heading for the exit without so much as a sideways glance.

The crowd parted again, this time for Farley retrieving Fannie's solitary high heel, his face a portrait of dejection as he shuffled back into the building.

We left the Dawson neighborhood behind, and Hannah couldn't stop giggling, "Oh man, that was priceless. You really know how to get a fire going. This is far from over."

I replied with a nonchalant tone, "Just the beginning, trust me. The real show is yet to come."

"I bet. Fannie's a pot stirrer," Hannah said, practically bouncing in her seat, "Especially with your nudge, she's bound to put on a performance."

She turned to me, her eyes alight with mischief, "I should get Quincy to sneak a camera in there."

I raised an eyebrow in disbelief, "Is that even possible?"

Hannah's smile turned smug. "Piece of cake. Just you wait."

I warned her, "Don't make a habit of this kind of thing," but then I relented, "Though, for this one time, it might be worth it. I'm curious to see if Fannie will live up to my expectations. I did tell her that I'm rooting for her.""

Hannah erupted into laughter again.

Once she composed herself, she grew serious, "We should keep an eye on Jaylan. He didn't get his payday and he won't let it go that easily."

"I think Irving might be onto something. Jaylan could very well own property in Australia," I mused, "Earlier, I prodded him about Azure Enchantress." Hannah leaned in eagerly, "What did he say?"

"He tried to play it cool, but he got flustered when I mentioned Zora's last words about him and AzureEnchantress. He slipped up, said he never met her," I recounted, mimicking Jaylan's reaction to Hannah. "Never met her? So what's the dirty secret between them?" Hannah pondered, her expression grave, "Azure Enchantress is a mystery. We've hit dead ends, but all signs point to her."

"One thing's for sure," I said, "Jerome's the one who connected Jaylan with Azure Enchantress. His own brother led him to ruin. Jaylan called her a crazy, greedy woman, claiming she was after his money without even showing her face."

"Who is AzureEnchantress, really?" Hannah murmured, lost in thought.

"Don't forget about the High-rollers Hangout group," I reminded her, "There's more at play here, and it's not just Azure Enchantress pulling the strings."