Julia

Darby and Emerald returned home, with Emerald staying with Charlie. When their parents asked what happened, they stayed tight-lipped about the reason. Jace and I visited Emerald and noticed the fingerprints around her neck. Emerald refused to talk about what happened with Braydon. We didn't push her.

Dallas stayed behind with Braydon to keep the coach and his stupid daughter from Braydon. Neither left Dallas's apartment and refused to play. Dallas managed to get Jayden to prescribe Braydon the proper meds. It would take time for the medication to take effect.

Uncle Grayson managed to get an injunction on the contract and file a lawsuit against the coach and the coach's daughter. Since Bradley and Hazel received the paperwork for the emergency conservatorship, Uncle Grayson and Jayden were flying to Dallas and Braydon to bring both home. They had to make arrangements to travel with Uncle Grayson and Jayden.

Jace and the others finished the renovations on the house after working long hours. I helped him pick out furniture and decorate it. He figured I would move in one day—not today, but next year. It'll give my dad time to adjust to the fact that I'm not three years old anymore.

Casp still hung out with Charlie as friends since he couldn't date until he turned eighteen. Odin wouldn't budge even though Casp tried to give him all the reasons Odin should. My cousin was brilliant, but he was not that smart. Come on. Charlie is five years older than him. He can wait a few months before he stakes his claim on her.

Emerald moved in with Charlie and found a job at Dyson's nursery. She still hasn't said much and keeps to herself.

I visited Darby to check on her since Dallas was helping Braydon. Jas still refuses to talk about Dallas but hangs out with our crazy cousins while arguing with Casp. I never expected this past year to get as crazy as it did, but I don't regret it. I got Jace out of the deal.

*******
Jace

I brewed a cup of coffee in my kitchen, dressed in only a pair of blue jeans, when the doorbell rang. I poured a cup of coffee before answering the door to find Jules standing on my porch. My lips curled upward as I stepped aside for her.

Jules kissed me before heading to the kitchen for coffee. I chuckled and closed the front door. I trailed her, sipping my coffee.

After pouring coffee into a cup, she added creamer and sugar. " Have your parents left yet?"

I leaned against the counter with my ankles crossed while drinking my coffee. "Yeah. They left this morning."

"What do you think will happen?"

"Hopefully, Braydon will get the right help."

"Do you think Emerald will forgive him?"

"I hope so. Braydon isn't himself." I set my cup down and gripped the counter. "I don't want people to treat my brother like he's a monster."

Jules set her cup down, moved to me, and wrapped her arms around my waist. "No one thinks Braydon is a monster. We don't know the full extent of what happened. It's not fair to judge someone based on little
Information."

"That's the problem. People caused unnecessary damage. You should trust your doctors. What if they're the ones who betray you?"

"Then we learn to find the right people to trust."

I looked down at Jules before slipping my arms around her and hugging her. I learned with Jules that she has the biggest heart around. She will look at a situation with compassion before deciding. I got so damn lucky with her.

One day, I would replace her promise ring with a wedding ring.

********
Bradley

Hazel, Grayson, Jayden, and I checked in when we arrived at the airport. I had called Dallas to tell him we were coming to bring him and Braydon home. If people thought we were only bringing Braydon home, they were wrong. We would never leave one child behind. We promised them when we adopted them.

Eventually, we boarded our plane and found our seats. We reviewed the plans before we arrived.

"A helicopter will be waiting to take Braydon and me to the hospital," Jayden told us.

"What if they won't let us leave with the boys?" Hazel asked with knitted brows.

"They don't have a choice. I already placed a phone call to the local police department and informed them of the paperwork. Once a judge issues the order, no one can stop it," Grayson said.

"I can't thank you enough for your help," I told Grayson and Jayden.

"Bradley, no one has the right to abuse someone. It doesn't matter if it's a child or an adult. This was the grossest abuse in the worst form." Jayden shook his head in disbelief.

No kidding. A so-called professional therapist preyed on our son with help. Not only did they prey on Braydon, but they betrayed him and our family. It's the worst kind of betrayal to endure.

Hazel and I promised our boys we would always help them. We intended to keep our word. Once we unravel the mess that occurred, we will help Braydon navigate his way back to Emerald. A mental illness isn't the ending. It's the beginning.

Don't worry, Dallas and Braydon. Help is on the way.

Bradley and Hazel are arriving with the help of two Harper cousins. Braydon and Emerald will have a tough road to unravel everything that happened. Jace and Julia will lend a helping hand to help them navigate their way back to each other. 

Get ready because Braydon's book is a doozy.

See you in his book.