Jim couldn't stand Lucinda anymore. She never failed to remind him the reason he'd divorced her. Once upon a time she used to be a sweet woman who laughed freely and lived life with wild abandon. That's why he had fallen in love with her. But after she had a miscarriage, she had become sad, depressed and didn't want to live anymore. They'd suffered that loss together so much so that he thought they would get through it together. They almost did. Until JR. Lucinda hadn't wanted to get pregnant again so they had chosen to adopt. Lucky for them, they had been blessed to find a new born baby and at first everything was okay.

And then she started to see flaws in him. He cried too much or ate too much or he couldn't walk fast enough. As JR grew up, the faults multiplied until Jim couldn't take it anymore. He divorced her and told her she could see him whenever she wanted on the condition she was civil with him. They rarely saw her after that. Once in a while she would pop up, nag them then leave and disappear until next time. Right now was not a good time for her to do her appearing act. The second she stepped foot in his house, he wanted her to turn around and leave. Already she had driven JR away within ten minutes of being there. As if that wasn't enough, Now she was terrorizing his staff by ordering them around to do impossible things. Truth be told he wanted to pull her hair out just to make her shut up. But then again that would just start World War III.

So currently he was hiding out in the study in the hopes that his ex wife would forget his existence. A light knock made him whip his head towards the door. He stared at it as if he could see through it to the person on the other side. He went to turn and ignore whoever it was but the person knocked again. Grumbling he got up from behind the desk and went to open the door. If it was Lucinda he wouldn't hesitate to slam the door in her face. Better yet he was going to open just a crack to make sure it wasn't that infuriating woman. He blinked again confused as to why Zach was there. "Did I forget I had an appointment with the doctor or something?" Zach shook his head smiling then stepped aside to reveal Alexis who was hiding behind him.

"Surprise!" she yelled. Jim stood there dumbfounded for a minute before she pushed the door wider. He stepped aside still shocked to see her there. When he'd last seen Hayley, she had been so mad at him, and with good reason, but he'd thought she was never going to let him see her again. He felt awful about how she had found out his relationship to Jeffrey. And he regretted how he'd handled it and when she was in the hospital he had wanted so much to go and apologize but it wasn't the right time. It was never the right time. Seeing Alexis just proved to him that he wasn't wrong about her. Hayley was a good woman who deserved the world. If only she'd let JR give her that.

"Alexis?"

"Yeah. Mom said I could stay the weekend and that I don't need to eat any vegetables while I'm here." she said flopping down on the sofa in the corner. It was where she always sat whenever she came in.

Snapping out of his shock he thanked Zach then closed the door. He couldn't believe she was really there. Maybe he was dreaming. No. He had to touch her to make sure she was not an apparition. He sat beside her then pulled her onto his lap. "How come you're here? Did you come with your mother?"

"No. She called Zach who brought me here. Why are you acting so weird? Did you give someone else my room?"

Kids. They were in a mansion that was big enough to pass for a hotel and she was concerned about one room. "No my dear. I would never do that. In fact everything is as you left it" he said patting her head. "I missed you so much"

Alexis threw her arms around his neck hugging him. "I missed you too"

"Okay now tell me everything. How are you? Did you grow a few inches taller? I think you did. How is school?"

She giggled. "Slow down. You sound like mom when I come from Vince's house." Jim felt his mood lift up at the sound of her laughing. How he'd missed that laugh.

"Fine. One question at a time. How are you?"

"I'm fine. And before I forget I brought you something" she reached in to her pocket and took out a black square box.

"And what is that?"

She pushed it into his hands. "Open it. Mom and I were just walking around when I saw it and I thought you would like it"

Jim stared at the watch. It was nothing like the collection of Rolex he had upstairs but that didn't matter. He was going to treasure it because she had chosen it with love. Taking off the one he was wearing, he put on his new watch. "I like it. Thank you Alexis" against his white shirt and cashmere it looked odd like something a teenager would wear. Jim decided that among everything he owned, that watch was the most expensive accessory.

"You're welcome. Now....."

"James you've been in there a while. Are you going to come out any time soon?" Lucinda asked opening the door. She stopped midway when she saw Alexis. "Who are you?"

Alexis jumped down and approached Lucinda with her tiny hand outstretched "I'm Alexandra Barret. Call me Alexis." she dropped her hand when Lucinda just stared at her.

"Okay. Off you go to the kitchen and from today onwards you're not allowed in this side of the house." she dismissed her but Alexis didn't move. Lucinda scowled. "Didn't you hear me?"

"Who are you?" Alexis asked jutting one hip out and crossing her arms over her chest

"What a rude child you are." Lucinda moved to touch her but Jim bellowed freezing them both.

"Don't you Dare Lucinda!" he got up from where he was and moved to stand behind Alexis. "Not even one finger on her. You hear me?"

"Oh please don't take that tone with me over a servant. No wonder this house is so disorganized. When are you going to learn James?"

"Alexis my dear why don't you go say hi to Nancy. Don't finish all the cookies. I'll be right there" when she just looked up at him he smiled and nodded at her. Alexis left knowing they were going to talk about adult things they didn't want her to hear about. Jim turned "I will not allow you to mistreat that child." he said through gritted teeth

"Who is she anyway that you're defending her so much? This is your problem. You get attached too easily." Lucinda moved to seat where they had minutes ago running her finger over the coffee table, definitely looking for dirt.

"She's Jeffery's daughter" Jim said. He saw her cease all her movements, then she got up slowly and left. Even if their marriage had been on the rocks, having a child with someone else had hurt her. It was a one night stand and Mabel had been so charming that Jim couldn't resist her charm and innocence. Turns out she was just a great actress who made sure to get pregnant and if that wasn't enough she threw her pregnancy in Lucinda's face every chance she got. As cold hearted as his wife had been, that had still hurt her. Because at the end of the day, she was a woman who had lost her baby and too scared to try again. But Lucinda wouldn't let her anger go. She took it out on everyone. The staff were wise enough to keep their distance but little JR wanted to please his mother. She took out her anger on him filling his head with doubt and fear. He grew up scared that if he wasn't perfect they would return him to the orphanage where he'd end up alone. While Mabel on the other hand filled Jeffery's head with so much hatred towards him. If it was up to him, he would have taken his boys and gone to live in the mountains where those two witches couldn't find them.

But he couldn't do that now. It was too late to correct his mistakes but he wouldn't let anyone cause Alexis harm. He'd used his money and power to make sure Mabel and that deranged man were locked up. He hadn't been shocked to find out that woman would kidnap her own grandchild. He'd seen her once and told her that he would use all his money to make sure she never saw the outside of a prison ever again. He wondered how he had been so easily swayed by such an evil woman. Because of her his son had turned into a madman. No one sane would have done what Jeffrey did to Hayley. Shaking his head Jim dispelled those thoughts. Alexis was there and it only meant one thing. Hayley was getting over her anger and fear. He was sure she would be back soon. All she needed was time.

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JR struggled to stay upright. The sun was blindingly bright and the sunglasses he wore did nothing for him. He'd drank most of the scotch while Nick sat beside him silently. He understood that JR needed to drown his sorrows in alcohol for one day so he'd been a good friend and taken care of him. Sometime during his drunken state they'd cleared their misunderstanding and he'd spent the night crashing on his sofa. JR wasn't even sure how he was going to make it to his room. He felt tired, like someone had drained his strength all night. He stumbled again and Zach rushed to his aid. "I'm fine Zach." he said leaning beside the door. Even as a teenager he'd never had such a raging hangover. Opening the door he relied on his memory rather than sight to go upstairs to his bedroom.

Flopping down on the bed he threw his hand over his eyes and sighed. When was the last time he'd drank so much? Never. He'd been too busy trying to be a good son that by the time he snapped out of it, he was already a grown man. So he'd turned his attention to women. They were a nice distraction but after Hayley he couldn't stomach looking at anyone else. She'd ruined him for other women. He tried to find what similarities they had to Hayley. Did they laugh like her? Or walk like her? Or look at him the way she did? He had hated how his mother kept seeing flaws in him but wasn't he doing the exact same thing with other women? He was exhausted. So much so that when he felt his bed dip with the indication that someone else had occupied it, he didn't have the strength to move and see who it was. "Whoever you are, I suggest you leave"

"You stink JR. Where were you?" Alexis asked from beside him.

"Go away Alexis. My head hurts and it's....." he shot up then regretted the movement when his head spun. Clutching it in his hands he asked "Alexis?"

"Yees."

"What are you doing here?"

"You don't want me here?" she actually looked hurt. JR fell back pulling a pillow to support his head. A thought struck him and he whipped his head towards her.

"Is your mom here too?"

"No. I came with Zach. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine honey. I just have a headache"

"Do you want anything? I could ask Nancy for medicine"

He smiled "No. Come here" she nestled her head on the crook of his arm and he pulled her in. "Tell me everything I've missed. Do you like your new room back at Vincent's house?"

He listened while she rattled off about how much her life was different there. There wasn't anyone to play or talk with except for her mom. The building had a no pets rule so she hadn't taken Alex who by the way had gotten bigger since she last saw him. He liked the sound of her voice. It lulled him into another reality where Hayley would walk in any moment and join them on the bed. They'd spend the day together, cooked up in that room, trading stories, watching movies and falling asleep together. He listened to her voice instead of what she was saying and found himself drifting off to sleep. He thought this dream would be so much better if Hayley made an appearance too. But if not, Alexis made good company too.

When he woke up later, he felt so much better. His headache was gone and a shower would dispel any evidence of last night's alcohol fest. Standing under the warm spray of water, he thought about the dream he just had. It made sense that Alexis would show up since he'd talked to her yesterday. He realized that his dreams would just be that. Dreams. Without Hayley he had no wish to start a family with someone else. Life had been cruel to him on that part. Why give him hope of having his own family then snatch it away like that? He would have been a good husband and father. He knew that. And now he didn't know how to live. It had been two months and it felt like years of torture. After a year would it be better or worse? His childhood fear of being alone was now more evident than before. Cursing he got out of the shower and dressed.

The house was eerily quiet. All Lucinda's fault if he had to guess. He ventured into the kitchen hoping to avoid his mother at all costs. It didn't surprise him that the place was empty too. He figured with his mother around, the staff would never be seen seating idly around. Opening the fridge he wondered how long she planned to stay this time. Without caring he tipped back a bottle of beer and swallowed the whole liquid in one gulp. A cure for a hangover was more alcohol. At least that's what Nick says. Reaching for a second beer, he heard voices and moved to the window to see what happening. The scene in front of him shocked him. The staff were all sitting in a circle with Alexis and Alex in the middle. It wasn't a dream. She's really here. At that moment she looked up and saw him. She motioned for him to join them. JR walked to where they were and realized she was telling them what had happened when she was kidnapped, while they all told her how brave she was. Even knowing deep down that Hayley wasn't there, he couldn't help but look around for her. Maybe if he looked hard enough she'd appear in front of him. She didn't. But thank God for his quick thinking because he had a plan. One that would hopefully let him see her even if it was just for a second.

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Someone's plotting. I wonder what he's up to now 🤔

Anyways. Let's go back to that hot kiss between Vince and Hayley. By a show of hands who's shipping Haycent?