The world around us tried to tear us apart,
But in your love, I found a place for my heart.
The tension between Paxton and Amy had simmered for weeks, and while the cracks in their bond grew wider, Paxton found solace in Joanne's steady presence. The initial wounds caused by Amy's manipulation had left scars, but Joanne's willingness to rebuild trust proved to Paxton that he couldn't let anyone come between them again.
Amy, however, wasn't done.
Her attempts to sabotage them continued, but this time, something had changed. Paxton and Joanne had begun to see through her schemes and lean on each other instead of letting her divide them. It wasn't easy—especially for Paxton, who still felt the weight of balancing his love for Joanne, his loyalty to Amy, and his own doubts. But with every passing day, he was learning how to navigate the complicated web his sister had woven.
Emily had always been sharp, observant, and fiercely independent—a trait that often set her apart in their family. As Paxton's younger sister, she'd spent years watching him fall into Amy's orbit, unquestioningly trusting her judgments. But lately, even Emily couldn't ignore Amy's growing bitterness.
She first noticed it when Amy began excluding Joanne from social gatherings, coming up with flimsy excuses that only highlighted her insecurity. Emily saw right through it. She admired Joanne's grace in handling the snubs, but it was clear that Joanne was hurt.
One evening, Emily cornered Paxton in the kitchen as he was making coffee. She perched on the counter, watching him with a critical eye.
"You're not sleeping well," she said, her tone matter-of-fact.
Paxton shrugged. "Lots on my mind."
"Let me guess: Joanne and Amy?"
His head snapped up. "What do you mean?"
Emily rolled her eyes. "Come on, Pax. I'm not blind. Amy's been acting like she owns you, and Joanne's been caught in the crossfire. If you're going to be with Joanne, you need to figure this out."
"I know that," Paxton said, sighing. "It's just... complicated. Amy's my best friend. She's been there for me through everything."
"Has she, though?" Emily asked pointedly. "Or has she just been controlling you?"
Paxton frowned, but Emily wasn't finished. "Look, I get it. Family and friendship matter. But so does love. And Joanne? She's not the enemy here. She's been patient, Pax. More patient than most people would be. You need to decide what kind of partner you want to be."
Her words stayed with him long after she left the kitchen.
Joanne was slowly finding her footing again. The insecurities Amy had planted in her mind were still there, but with Ethan's encouragement and Paxton's growing support, she was learning to trust herself.
One evening, as she sat with Ethan on their back porch, she admitted her fears.
"I'm scared, Ethan," she said, staring at the stars. "What if Paxton can't stand up to Amy? What if this all falls apart?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed. "You're stronger than you think, Jo. And so is Paxton. He just needs to see that standing up to Amy doesn't mean losing her—it means finding balance."
Joanne sighed. "I just wish she'd stop trying to tear us apart."
"She will," Ethan said confidently. "Because you and Paxton are stronger than she realizes. But you have to believe that too."
Amy wasn't used to losing. She'd always been able to manipulate situations to her advantage, especially when it came to Paxton. But something was different now. No matter what she did, Joanne wasn't backing down—and Paxton wasn't either.
Her frustration boiled over during a group hangout. Amy had orchestrated the gathering, ensuring Joanne would be left out. But to her surprise, Paxton brought Joanne along anyway.
As they sat around the table, Amy couldn't resist taking a jab.
"Joanne, you're awfully quiet tonight," she said with a saccharine smile. "Something wrong?"
Joanne met her gaze evenly. "Nope. Just enjoying the company."
Amy's smile faltered. "Well, I hope you're not feeling out of place. This is more of a close friends thing."
Paxton's hand tightened around Joanne's. "She's with me, Amy," he said firmly. "And she belongs here just as much as anyone else."
The tension was palpable, but Joanne didn't flinch. She squeezed Paxton's hand, silently grateful for his support.
After the awkward evening, Paxton and Joanne went for a walk. The night air was cool, and the quiet allowed them to process what had just happened.
"I'm sorry about Amy," Paxton said, breaking the silence. "I didn't know she'd act like that."
"It's okay," Joanne said softly. "I'm getting used to it."
"But you shouldn't have to," Paxton said, stopping to face her. "You deserve better than that. Better than her."
Joanne looked at him, her expression thoughtful. "You stood up for me tonight. That meant a lot."
"I'll keep standing up for you," he promised. "No matter what."
Joanne smiled, a hint of hope returning to her eyes. "I believe you."
Emily wasn't one to sit idly by when things needed fixing. After witnessing Amy's behavior at the hangout, she decided it was time for a more direct approach.
She found Amy in the student lounge the next day, scrolling through her phone with a scowl.
"We need to talk," Emily said, sitting across from her.
Amy raised an eyebrow. "About what?"
"About Paxton. And Joanne. And you."
Amy's expression hardened. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yes, you do," Emily said firmly. "You've been trying to sabotage their relationship, and it's not okay. Paxton's starting to see it, Amy. You're pushing him away."
Amy's jaw tightened. "I'm trying to protect him."
"No, you're trying to control him," Emily shot back. "And it's going to backfire. If you care about Paxton at all, you need to stop."
Amy didn't respond, but Emily could see the cracks forming in her armor.
Paxton and Joanne continued to grow closer, finding strength in each other as they navigated the challenges Amy threw their way. Joanne began to open up more, sharing pieces of herself that she'd kept hidden. Paxton, in turn, showed her a vulnerability he rarely shared with anyone.
One evening, as they sat on the steps of the library, Joanne looked at Paxton and said, "I used to think I wasn't enough. That I couldn't compete with Amy."
Paxton took her hand. "You don't have to compete with anyone, Jo. You're more than enough for me."
Her heart swelled at his words, and for the first time, she truly believed him.
With Emily's encouragement, Paxton began to find a balance between his relationships. He still cared about Amy, but he no longer let her dictate his decisions. Instead, he focused on being the kind of partner Joanne deserved.
Amy, though still bitter, began to withdraw. Her attempts to interfere lessened, and Paxton felt a sense of relief. For the first time in a long time, he felt like he was in control of his own life.
And as he and Joanne walked hand-in-hand through the campus, he knew they were stronger than ever—together.