(Winona)The next day, I’m feeling better. The visit with Abby was amazing. She even sipped a little milk. She’ll be back home before we know it. Maybe today will be a good day. Phillip is still in bed, resting his sore head, no doubt.Gordon and I are in the private office. He’s sipping a coffee, looking more animated than usual. His eyes gleam with a certain excitement that makes me both hopeful and anxious.“Alright, Gordon,” I say, settling into the chair opposite him. “Spill. How did last night go?”Gordon leans back, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. “Last night was... enlightening, to say the least.”“Yeah, exciting stuff watching men guzzle beer and shots.” I’m still a little surprised still that Gordon and Jayden’s lawyer, Daniel, were involved in this.I mean, I know they’re human, but it strikes me as a little odd, all the same. They are supremely professional men at the top of their game.“The real purpose of me going out with them was to get a read on Jayden and his
(Winona)Later that day, Dr. Green called to say that Abby could come home tomorrow, and her surgery was still scheduled for one month’s time. Mixed feelings wash over me. I can’t believe five months have passed already. So much of that time was blissful in Santa Monica with Jayden and Abby, a bubble of happiness that now feels like a distant dream.But it wasn’t reality. I see that now. The fantasy we lived was just that—a fantasy. Lisa is coming to talk about the weather again. Maybe we can’t talk about anything much, but her being here makes my life slightly bearable. Having lost my freedom to come and go, I realize just how much of life I took for granted. Simple things like a walk in the park or grabbing coffee with a friend seem like luxuries now.On the other hand, I have felt quite safe within these walls. I’m not sure what’s going on in the world of the media, but I’m sure this case is still alive and well, not to mention the tumultuous life of the Brennan billionaires.
(Jayden)I don’t think I’ve avoided going back to my penthouse as much as today, ever. I just don’t want to have to face Ashlyn. But in another way, it’s all I want to do. Just face her and get her away from me. But if I trigger her too much, I risk putting Winona and Abby at more risk.Ashlyn won’t let anything keep her away from taking Winona down. So, it seems anyway. I use my key and go inside. There’s not much noise in here. I walk down to the kitchen, and I see Mother. I look around. No Ashlyn.“Hi.”Mother turns around with a start. “Jayden, you’re home. You gave me a start…”“Sorry. I probably should have messaged given the circumstances.”“The circumstances are still sleeping.”I eye her carefully. “Did you give her something?”“Nothing dangerous. I slipped some sleep medication into her breath freshener. I wasn’t to know she would practically drink that stuff.”“She is obsessed about fresh breath.”“She is in the guest room down the hall. Your old office you converted. It w
(Winona)Phillip and I are sitting talking in the bedroom. I’m not sure I should ask too much about his night out. He wasn’t that late home and of course, he’d stayed sober drinking zero percent beers. But he is still sore and sorry from his wrestling match yesterday.“I may as well have a hangover. I feel just as bad.”“No. I don’t ever want to see you drunk again.”“I’m really sorry I did that to you, Winona. It will never happen again.”As close as I’ve gotten to Phillip again, I know I can never trust him like I used to. He attacked me and I don’t know how far he would have gone if Jayden hadn’t come back that night.“I appreciate you being here for me now. But you must see that I can never just trust you again. But I want us to always be friends. But that’s it.”I’ve taken a lot of time over this. I’ve really searched deep inside myself to see if I could ever love Phillip like that. If I could ever truly forgive and forget. But I know that’s not going to happen and part of me r
(Winona)The next day, I sat in a small, dimly lit room at the police station, my nerves on edge. The walls feel like they’re closing in. I’m here to face my father, Steve Halley, the man who wrecked my childhood and now holds the key to my future. My hands tremble as I try to steady my breathing, determined to see this through. This is my chance to clear my name and get Ashlyn put away for a very long time. To get some sort of normalcy back again for us. Ashlyn is getting picked up and detained for questioning now so I need to get this done.The door creaks open, and my heart skips a beat. I’m not even wearing the wire yet, maybe it’s Gordon. But it’s not Gordon or my father who walks in. It’s Jayden. I stand up but stay behind the table. The sight of him stirs a whirlwind of emotions. Anger, hurt, love—they all mix together, making it hard to breathe.“Why are you here? To break my heart all over again?”He closes the door behind him, his expression serious. “Winona, I need to
(Jayden)I sit in the room next to where Winona is, anxiety clawing at my insides. Gordon and Daniel, our lawyers, stand beside me, their faces etched with concern. A couple of commanding officers are here too, their presence adding an air of gravity to the situation. We see Winona on the screen, her expression a mix of determination and fear.Steve insisted he talk to her alone and in private. Winona sits in the small, sterile room, her back straight, her face a mask of steely resolve. My heart aches for her. She’s been through so much, and now she has to face the man she hates more than anyone in the world. Steve Halley, her father.The door to the interview room opens, and Steve shuffles in, his wrists and ankles shackled. An officer escorts him, attaches his shackles to the bolted-down seat, and leaves again. Steve’s stare, cold and calculating, lands on Winona, and a slow, sinister smile spreads across his face. I grip the edge of the table in front of me, anger boiling insid
(Winona)What’s going on? They’ve taken Steve off again and I don’t know if he’s said enough yet. But the officers said nothing, just that it was over.I’m being led out of the police interview room. My mind is racing, a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Do they have enough on him? Did I do enough? Every second with him in there was torture.His smug face, the way he taunted me—it’s all burned into my mind. But did we get what we needed? My head is aching, the uncertainty gnawing at me. Whatever is happening now must be important. Maybe the Judge decided something else, and the trial is going ahead sooner than Abby’s operation in three weeks.Gordon is waiting in the hallway. His presence a comfort. “What’s happening?” I ask, my voice more panicked than I intended. The anxiety bubbling inside me is threatening to overflow.Gordon walks beside me, his expression grave. “Winona, I need to tell you something,” he says, his voice low and cautious, as if preparing me for another blow.“
(Ashlyn)I will my hands not to shake as I hold the gun and my mind is clear. This is the only way to end this once and for all. Winona stands there with Gordon Brown and Jayden, and all I can think about is how she’s ruined everything.Jayden should be mine. He was always supposed to be mine. This is all her fault. Jayden should be here beside me. Worried about me.I take a deep breath, steadying myself. The gun feels good in my hand. I don’t care what happens after this. If I can’t have Jayden, she won’t have him either. She won’t have anything but death. I’m done with the games, the lies. This ends now.Winona’s eyes widen when she sees me. For a split second, our eyes lock, and I see her fear. Good. She should be afraid. She’s taken everything from me. I hate her.Without another thought, I pull the trigger.The gunshot cracks through the air, making my ears ring, and everything happens in slow motion yet it’s micro-seconds. I see Jayden move, throwing himself in front of Winona
(Jayden)Henry is in his highchair, making a complete mess of himself with mustard and ketchup. Bobby and Sarah are locked in a dramatic debate over whether onions belong on hot dogs, while Abby is curled up between us singing the song on the movie. Winona leans over to me, her body warm against mine.I tighten my arm around her. “We’re okay? Yes?” She hesitates. “Yes, we’re just fine. Sorry I get in my head so much with feelings.” “Sorry I don’t get in mine enough with your feelings.”She smiles back at me and I’m glad we just get each other these days. “But what about sleep? Are you getting enough?” I’m really asking if Winona is still having the nightmares about the baby crying…“Mostly.”“So you still having them, huh?”“It’s been better with Vault to focus on. Staying busy.”“If you need to get to the point of exhaustion before you can sleep soundly, that isn’t good long term.”She leans over and kisses me. “I’m okay. I promise. It’s getting better. Let’s not ruin the fun ni
(Jayden)Henry shrieks in delight as the bucket tips over, drenching him in a torrent of water that would terrify most kids his age. His little hands slap the wet surface, his laugh infectious as Sarah and Abby cheer him on. “I told you he’d love it,” Bobby calls from the climbing ropes, shaking his head as he swings across to the next section. “He’s used to the hose at home.”“I’m not sure you and your little brother are safe together.” I laugh and Bobby climbs higher. This is a fantastic kids park, it has everything and not just for kids. Winona and I have given them a run for their money today.Kit chuckles beside me. “Gotta admit, the kid’s fearless.” “No argument there,” I say, keeping a watchful eye on Henry as he wobbles through the shallow splash area, River close behind. It’s been a perfect day—the kind we don’t get nearly enough of. No meetings, no deadlines, no PR disasters. Just us. The family. All playing and having loads of fun. The film crew is here, but they’ve don
(Winona)Sofia’s voice cues the next topic. “You’ve both had demanding careers. How do you make sure the kids come first?” I shift, pushing my sunglasses up onto my head. “We make it work by making sure that when we are together, we are fully present. No distractions.” Jayden smirks. “Well, most of the time. There’s always the occasional emergency.” “Business emergencies are one thing. But the kids know they’re our priority. They always come first,” I say.Bobby speaks up. “We have a family video call every night, before bed. We never miss it. No matter where we are.” I nod. “That’s right. And this is our first family trip but not our last. The kids have chores. Bobby gets out in the garden and he’s great at landscape design. We just find ways to drown out the negative white noise with positive family energy.”The day finally comes to an end and cameras capture it all. The smiles, the laughter, the easy dynamic we’ve spent years building. I’m proud of us. Sofia was right. This was
(Winona)The sun blazes down, the sky a perfect, uninterrupted blue as we step onto the deck of the yacht. Dubai’s skyline looms behind us, glass towers gleaming in the heat, the water an impossible shade of turquoise. The cameras are already set up, discreet but ever-present. A carefully curated glimpse into the life of a family that—on paper—has it all. Jayden shakes hands with the producer, exchanging pleasantries, while I shift Henry on my hip, forcing a smile. I see Sofia Fernandez, Nexus Global’s Head of Public Relations. I’m a little relieved to see a familiar face and someone I bonded with in Brussels. Then behind her I see Astrid Koenig. I stiffen slightly at the blank expression but that’s just Astrid. Sofia comes straight in with a huge smile and hug for me.As I hug her back, I see Astrid approach Jayden. She’s not a hugger but she does touch his hand and eyeball him while giving a definite nod. He smiles back like he’s not trying to smile. I can tell she likes him.A w
(Winona)Dubai is breathtaking. The resort is pure indulgence—pristine beaches, towering glass buildings, the smell of salt and luxury in the air. The kids are all fed and crashed in bed and Jayden has arranged a late dinner for us.Dinner is set on the resort rooftop, candles flickering against the warm night breeze, the city stretching out beneath us in a blanket of gold lights.Jayden reaches for my hand across the table. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Us, here. Without work hanging over our heads. Our family all together. I’ve missed the kids so much.”I smile, but it’s not quite real. I’m trying to forget earlier. “The kids?”“And you as well, that goes without saying.”“Does it?”He studies me. “You okay?”“Not really. But I will be. It’s been hectic and I so looked forward to being here,” I say, “ without the media.”“I can guarantee you there’s no media or cameras clicking tonight. I made sure we had absolute privacy.” “We may as well get to the first of the herd of elephants in the r
(Winona)The airport is a swirling mass of bodies, luggage, and barely controlled chaos. Some flights have been cancelled because of the weather, and I just hope ours is not one of them.I refused the private jet as I want the kids to see how the majority of people travel. We’re still business class but even that lounge is backed up right now.Sarah is not one for big crowds, so she’s on edge. I’m trying to stay calm to show her it’s okay and we can cope with this.“When will we get there?” she asks for the tenth time. Bobby groans loudly beside me. “Sarah, we’re not even on the plane yet. Stop asking dumb questions.” “Don’t be mean,” I chide, shifting Henry higher on my hip. He’s already getting restless, his little hands grabbing at my necklace. I just hope he doesn’t need another diaper change anytime soon.River chuckles, adjusting her backpack. “Gonna be a long flight, I think.” Kit smirks. “Oh yeah. Definitely. But it’s just energy in here. The kids pick up on it.” Sarah pou
(Mia)The ink is barely dry on the new contract, Ana has let half her shares come to me, another step closer to control of Brennan Industries. I should feel satisfied.Instead, my skin crawls. Because I know what’s coming. I try to ignore the feeling of dread as I step into the underground parking garage, but it’s useless. The moment I see them—two of his men, stationed by a sleek black sedan—I know. I school my features, walking toward them with measured steps. They don’t speak, just open the door. I slide inside, the door clicks shut, and he is sitting across from me. Don Alejandro, watching me with the patience of a man who has spent his entire life winning wars that no one even knew he started. He doesn’t speak right away. Just lets the silence press down on me like a vice, his eyes sharp, assessing. Then, finally, he sighs. “You have been busy, mi princesa.” I don’t flinch. “Securing my future.” His head tilts slightly, amusement flickering in his gaze. He lets the silence
(Winona)Henry’s screams are relentless. His face is red, tiny fists flailing as he buries his head into my shoulder, but nothing I do settles him. His little body is warm, his exhaustion radiating into mine. So much for a relaxing Saturday at home with only one business call.Bobby is circling the kitchen, pushing the stroller towards me like a man on a mission. “This usually works,” he offers.We lay Henry in there and it doesn’t help. Bobby pushes him towards the kitchen door to head outside. But Henry isn’t settling, and I can tell he won’t. I call Bobby back. No point us both being deafened.At least Sarah and Abbey are happy outside, shrieking in delight over whatever game they’ve invented. Kit and River are off for the day, finally getting some time to set up their home. Anne’s out of state. I’m alone. Henry wails louder, his little face blotchy with frustration, arms flailing as I take him from Bobby’s arms.“Alright, baby. What is it?” I bounce him gently, pressing his da
(Lisa)The office is too big. Too polished. Too… corporate. I drop into the massive leather chair behind my desk and glare at the sheer size of the space. The floor-to-ceiling windows offer a sweeping view of the city, the kind of view people kill for.It’s ridiculous. How is this my life now? Howe is there any money left for the actual charities when I have an office like this. It seems top heavy. Something I’d like to change. I’m not sure Logan will agree.A week ago, I wasn’t even sure I could do this. Now, here I am—CEO, handling meetings, locking in funding, making things happen. And for the first time in my life, I’m actually working for something.Not just existing, floating from party to party, living off old money and good genes. I should feel on top of the world. I do, in many ways.But exhaustion drags at my bones. I’m not sure this is sustainable for me. Or maybe I will get used to it. I don’t know.My body isn’t my own anymore, and I know why. But I won’t say it. Won