RHYS
The air around the estate was thick with the late afternoon heat as I walked towards the lake, seeking a moment of solitude. The weight of the past few days, filled with family drama had been exhausting. As I walked, my thoughts drifted to how much had changed since my mother had married Mr. Chaz. It felt like a lifetime ago, though it had only been a couple decades.
Back then, my brothers and I were still grappling with the aftermath of our own father’s death, and Mother didn't want us thrust into handling his business. And when we had taken the reigns, it had been a nightmare for her. The Alcatraz brothers weren’t exactly known for their responsible streak, but we’d managed to keep things afloat. Chaz, for all his eccentricities, had been a stabilizing presence—or at least, that’
