ri

another investment-it was a piece of my heart, built in memory of my mother and father. While my brothers had free rein to manage our real estate holdings-apar

its; I was chasing so

ut of my thoughts. I looked u

, already guessin

xis, my PA, stepped in with

id, her voice

to tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.," Alexis informed

my shoulder. "I'm heading home. If anything u

. "Of course, sir. H

wasn't heading straight home-not yet. The library had been on my mind

I was before the deals, before the expec

n the backseat of the black SUV, one hand resting on the armrest, the other absently rubbing

the silence of my apartment was heavier than noise. Too many me

from a potential investor, two from contractor

o close. Buildings to dev

ibrary never asked anyth

g to raise three sons the world now called successful. But

ture coming into view. The library stood quietly at t

ded that more than

iar scent of old books and blooming jasmine from the front garden greeted me. The sky had begun to turn gold, strea

ndows. From the outside, it looked almost sacred-exactly how

out, subtle but comforting. The sound of quiet convers

a young father flipping through a picture book with his daughter on his lap. That sight

ame a familiar voi

ver-present smile beneath that graying beard. He moved with calm purpose, always dressed in that

shaking his hand firmly. "E

e it," he said with a twinkle in his eye. "We even had a few first-timers sign up

smile. My mot

stic job," I said, meaning

t this place runs on more than good management

ain, pride swelling

have someone like you keeping th

remember your footsteps, Adria

en I stepped forward, moving deeper into the space I h

this place-it held mine. Memories of my mother sitting at the kitchen table reading aloud, my father sneaking in

ther's favorite. Her handwritten dedication sti

ort in quiet places-may

t were the first. Tonight, th

was now reading to her father, her voice animated, mispronouncing every third

stillness wrap around me before

Poison asked, now b

. "Just needed to see it... to remin

welcome here,"

lied. "That's w

tle thud. The sun had dipped below the buildings now, shadows stretching long acro

ttling back agains

t the glowing windows behind me. The library

ight, that