(Jayden)I stand in the Brennan wing of the hospital. I’m going into the smaller unit to meet with Ashlyn’s Mom. Ashlyn is in there as well and I know that her Mom, as her next of kin, has to sign the papers that will let the doctors turn off the life support.This has to be hard for Mrs. Carter. I let myself in the door and went to the living area. I don’t want to interrupt her personal time with Ashlyn in the bedroom. I hear voices, and I guess the medical staff are updating her.I named the baby after Ashlyn’s father, as a small gesture of respect, something that might offer some comfort to Mrs. Carter.But as soon as Mrs. Carter walks into the room, I feel the tension. She’s a tall woman, her posture rigid, with a coldness in her eyes that immediately puts me on edge. She looks perfect, too perfect.The kind of perfect that you know is bought and paid for.“Mrs. Carter,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “Thank you for coming. I wanted you to know that I named the baby after Ashly
(Jayden)The music is pounding, the lights are flashing, and for the first time in what feels like forever, I’m out, trying to enjoy myself.The new club is packed, and Lance is already in his element, a drink in hand, a grin plastered on his face as he chats up every woman within a ten-foot radius.I try to relax, sipping my drink and letting the atmosphere wash over me, but there’s a nagging feeling that I shouldn’t be here. I should be with Henry.“Relax. He’ll be fine with the nurses. You know how good they are with the babies.”“Yeah, but I feel guilty. What if he has a setback?”“He’s been going great all week. The doctor said the best thing you can do is take some you-time. You’ve been there every possible moment.”“I know. I know you are right. But it doesn’t feel right.”“I’m hearing you. But, we’re here now. I’m all dressed up, Cass as well, a little less black and baggy.”“You are looking amazing too” She is. Her slender form in a hugging blue dress is amazing. But she coul
(Jayden)“What the hell, Lance?” I mutter, trying to keep my voice low.Lance, as usual, is completely oblivious to feelings. “What? I thought it’d be a good idea to bring them out, you know, get to know everyone. They’re family now, right?I glare at him, my jaw clenching. “Family? Lance, I handed them shares to keep them and that business out of my life, not to bring them into it.”Lance shrugs, unbothered by my annoyance. “Yeah, but they’re here now. Might as well make the best of it. Those sisters are hot hot hot!”“Do not even go there. I swear Lance…”Before I can finish, Gabriel catches sight of me and waves hesitantly.I force a smile and wave back, feeling Winona’s eyes on me as she approaches. “I don’t know what Lance has done but I know that look between you two.”Lance waves the four of them to come closer. The older sister is looking like she hates it here and the youngest is bopping with the beat and looks excited. The other is somewhere in between, I think.I sigh, runn
(Winona)Saturday morning greets me with a quiet kind of heaviness. I’m back in the penthouse trying to be awake enough to spend some time with Abby after another long night at the hospital.Jayden is still with tiny Henry, and he’ll be home for lunch and a nap later. Ashlyn’s time on life support is almost up, and it’s like a shadow that hangs over every minute of the day. In limbo, almost.But life goes on, as it always does.Lisa is here and she’s in the same dress as last night. She called and asked if I could pick her and Cass up from doing the walk of shame. I was about to leave the hospital anyway.She’s sitting in the living room with a cup of coffee, looking every bit like the best friend I need right now.“How’s Henry?”“Oh, Lisa, he’s so incredibly small. I can’t even believe babies can survive like that.”“I guess the will to survive is a basic instinct. I hope he makes it.”“So do I. I think it will kill us both if he doesn’t. But there are just so many things that can go
(Winona)Sunday morning arrives with a heaviness that’s almost suffocating.Jayden and I went through all the motions of a normal morning with Abby over breakfast. Then we both kissed her goodbye until later. Anne is planning a picnic lunch for them with Aunt Cass. If only I could be there instead of here.I’m standing just outside Ashlyn’s room, and the reality of what’s about to happen is sinking in. Today, Ashlyn’s life support will be turned off, and her chapter in our lives will come to an end.Jayden is beside me, but there’s a distance between us that I haven’t felt in a long time. He’s quiet, his face set in a hard line, eyes fixed on the door in front of us. I reach out, touching his arm gently.“Jayden, are you okay?” I ask.He nods but doesn’t meet my eyes with his. “I’m fine, Winona. It’s just... I need to do this alone.”The words catch me off guard. Alone? Does he really want to face this without me? The doubts from yesterday start creeping back in, whispering in my ear
(Jayden)The room feels like the end of the world. Ashlyn lies there, a shell of the person I once knew. Machines beep, a dull reminder that life still clings to her, but barely. I stand over her, grappling with the storm inside me.Everything is crashing down, but this is where it all ends for her.The nurse stands by the door, her eyes filled with kindness. “Mr. Brennan, we’ll give you some time alone before we switch off,” she says, her voice soft.“Thanks,” I manage to reply, barely recognizing my own voice.The door clicks shut behind her, leaving me alone with Ashlyn. I reach out, taking her hand in mine. It’s cold, unmoving. I close my eyes, letting the memories rush in. The times we laughed, the times we fought, the way she smiled when she thought everything would work out. The way we were together. The times we shared when I was sure our love story would work out.But it didn’t, did it?“Ashlyn,” I start, my voice catching. “I don’t even know where to begin.”I swallow hard,
(Winona)It’s Monday morning, and the penthouse feels unusually quiet. Jayden’s already left to drop Abby at school and then head to the hospital. Anne is heading back to Bobby and Sarah in her rental.I’ve scheduled our time so we can get things done without Anne here until she can move back next month. Bobby and Sarah are coming too and I’m thinking this penthouse may not be the best family home design. But it has to be for a while.With everything else happening, I’m not adding a house move to the mix. My townhouse has been sold. I’ll miss it but I’ll find another when I get time. There’s really nothing holding us here in this city apart from Henry and my work with Phillip.Soon, I can do that from anywhere and travel when needed.Henry will be in the neonatal ward for at least four months. Providing there are no complications, or worse. I push that thought away.Maybe I’ll take a leaf out of Jayden’s book and sell my half of the business to Phillip. But this is not getting anythi
(Winona)I arrive at the office, but my thoughts are still clouded with everything that happened this morning. Cass’s words, her defiance, they all replay in my mind. Is she using again?And if she is, how do I help her without pushing her away?Probably not how I reacted this morning. I sigh. I practically booted her out. I flick her a quick text apologizing and say I hope she will be home when I get home today.Phillip greets me as I step into our shared workspace. He looks up from his desk, a knowing look in his eyes. “You okay? You look a little...tense.” Aside from Jayden and Anne, Phillip knows me the best.We spent a lot of time together, for work and in our personal lives. We’re close work associates again, and friends. I’m building my trust for him back up again. Which is nice.I sigh, sliding into the chair opposite him. “It’s Cass. She didn’t come home last night. Went out with Mia again and walked in looking like she’d been through hell. We had an argument. She said she’s
Readers, I’ve been back through all your comments and it really touches me that so many of you cared about these characters. I want to send a very special shout out to mitzi.goodson and Theresa for your active love of the story all the way and for commenting regularly. I love you guys and I love all the readers #hearteyes# Also I have discovered a mistake in the upload of Chapter 553. Only half the chapter seems to have been uploaded and I have now fixed that. I know you’re asking about if you’ll see these characters again…right now, I’m letting them rest but I hope to update you on them in the future. Right now I’m focusing on my new stories which I know you’ll also love.In the next one, After waking from a 5 month coma, Ava Lancaster watches her beloved daughter die. Ex-husband Zach Lorne, allowed the mother of his first child, cunning Sienna Sinclair to use little Lila as a medical pawn. Consumed by grief, Ava sets their mansion ablaze—clutching Lila’s body while Zach pleads outs
(Winona)Lisa sits on the couch between me and Jayden, her fingers curled around the USB stick.“You don’t have to,” I remind her gently.“I know,” she replies. “But I want to. I can’t move forward if I don’t hear him out.” She hands the drive to Jayden.Jayden leans forward and plugs the drive in. The screen flickers.And then there he is.Lance. Black eye blooming from Jayden’s attack over hall pass week, bruised knuckles, the same crooked grin he always wore.“Lisa,” he says, “I’m so sorry. I wish this could have been different.”I glance at her. She flinches but doesn’t look away.He shakes his head. “No big poetic intro. No music. No tragic montage. Just me.”His smile cracks slightly.“First, I want to say this isn’t your fault. You didn’t fail me. You didn’t love me wrong. In fact, you’re probably the only person who ever loved me right.”Lisa’s breath hitches beside me.“I wasn’t built for longevity, Lisa. You knew that. Hell, I practically had an exit sign blinking over my he
(Winona)Viktor stands with his hands by his side while Jayden finishes up his announcement.I watch on, proud of them both. Not only staunch in business but as friends.“I’ll still be involved on a higher level, but day-to-day, Viktor’s your guy,” Jayden says, firm and confident. “Effective immediately, he’s the new CEO of Nexus Global.”There’s a brief pause before the quiet, respectful claps ripple through the room.Viktor just nods. “Thank you,” he says. No long speech. No dramatic reaction. Just two words. Classic Viktor.Jayden glances my way and walks over.“Proud of him,” I say quietly. “And of you.”“He’s ready,” Jayden replies. “Hell, he’s been ready for a while now. He taught me almost everything I know about Nexus Global.”Viktor lingers by the window, posture steady. Astrid steps up beside him, saying something low. He replies with a brief nod and the smallest of smirks.Jayden leans into me and murmurs, “did you see that?”I arch an eyebrow. “The nod or the smirk?”“Both
(Winona)I see the moment his eyes catch mine in the window behind Astrid. He blinks like he’s seeing a ghost. Too late. I’m already across the restaurant floor, my heels pounding each step out in deliberate warning, the sound sharp against the quiet hum of late-night conversations. Heads turn. I don’t care.His face shifts from confusion to panic as I advance—his mouth parting slightly, eyes darting to Astrid like he’s trying to figure out if he’s imagining this. He’s not. I’m here. I saw everything.I saw the kiss. I saw the closeness after. The lingering smiles, the laughter, and the way Astrid’s hand stayed on his like they were sharing secrets. Like she belongs to him. You don’t need sound to understand body language.That kiss wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a friendly peck on the cheek. It was enough for me to wonder if they’ve been playing me for a fool for weeks. Maybe months.Jayden stands just as I reach the table, knocking his chair back in a clumsy scrape. Astrid rema
(Jayden)Astrid raises her glass, the candlelight catching the rim. “To surviving another quarter without firing anyone major.”“To the rest of us surviving the grueling schedule of the Ice Queen herself.”“You did okay.”“Just okay?”“Better than okay. You have quite the work drive, Jayden. Gus was right to leave Nexus in your hands.”“Not one of you thought that at first. You all hated me. Especially Hugo. I think he still might, actually.”“Oh, you are not so bad, after all.”We clink glasses. The wine’s sharp, dry—like her. The restaurant is dim, ambient, tucked just off the canal. Astrid insisted it was the best late-night spot in Brussels. So far, I can’t argue.The food was incredible, the service seamless, and the company? Easy. A little too easy.This dinner has gone longer than I expected. I expected an answer from Winona to my text. But it hasn’t come. The conversation just flowed so effortlessly tonight.No drama. No awkward silences. No carefully chosen words. Astrid, wh
(Winona)It’s nearly 1 a.m. when I step off the jet into the crisp Brussels air. I haven’t slept. I haven’t eaten properly. My thoughts have been chewing on each other for nine hours straight.I hear my phone notification, but I see Cass and I’m so damn happy. She’s about to launch the rest of her life and I’m excited for her.“It’s so good to see you.” I say as I run towards her and give her a hug.“You look like hell,” she says as she grins and hugs me back.“Oh, thanks for the compliment. You look like death yourself.”“Just finished a12 hour shift, what’s your excuse?”We walk out to the private parking area. Having a private jet is so convenient.“I can only blame stress and paranoia,” I tell her as we put my case in the back seat and get into her car.“Paranoia?”“Yes, about where Jayden and I stand in out marriage lately. I’m not sure I’m what makes him happy. All we do is fight, it seems.”“Okay… ah, so me telling him you’d have been better off never meeting him probably didn’
(Jayden)It’s nearly ten. The office is quiet, except for the soft hum of fluorescent lights above the boardroom. Astrid and I have been going through projections for Q3. Numbers, strategies, deadlines. All things that used to matter more than they do right now. My family call is bothering me. It’s not that Winona had a sudden business trip, that’s expected, it’s just the way we interact lately. Going through the motions. Not speaking up on how we feel in case it triggers an argument. I’m as much to blame.“You missed an adjustment here,” she says, tapping the edge of my laptop.“I didn’t miss it,” I say, not looking up. “I just didn’t apply it yet.”She raises an eyebrow. She knows I’m distracted. I’ve worked with her long enough to recognize the look that says I’m full of shit.“You want my input or just someone to nod along while you pretend to work?” she asks.I lean back in my chair. “You always cut right through it, don’t you?”“Of course.”She’s right. She doesn’t have patie
(Winona)The family call starts like any other.Except this time, I’ve told the kids I’ll be away and lied about where I’m going.Now I have to convince Jayden it’s an unexpected business trip.Bobby’s got a stack of papers next to him, pretending he’s not glancing at them while he listens to Jayden. He’s been working on some design options for the school vegetable garden.He’s become quietly obsessed with getting it right.Sarah is asking about when she can next visit the Nexus office again. Abby’s wearing one of Henry’s bibs and announcing herself as the ‘baby boss’ while trying to feed Henry a cracker he doesn’t want.Henry is slamming his hands on the table, shrieking with defiance, and Kit is doing her best to keep the screen steady while holding him.Chaos. Beautiful, familiar chaos. Welcome to the Brennan zoo.Jayden is calm, smiling, fully engaged. He’s asking Bobby about his team at school, praising his leadership skills. He tells Sarah he misses her drawings and promises to
(Winona)Phillip is at his desk when I walk in, finishing up a call. He looks up and gives me a half smile, casual but watchful.I cross the room but remain standing. “I won’t keep you long. I just… I wanted to let you know I’m stepping down in an active capacity from Vault. Effective immediately.”Phillip’s face shifts from polite curiosity to astonishment. “Wait—stepping down how?”I nod. “I’ll remain the owner. But I’m not going to be overseeing day-to-day management or strategic decisions anymore. I’m handing all of that to you. If you want it. CEO, President, call it what you will—I’m out.”He studies me carefully. “That’s… a big move, Winona. You’ve always been a control fre… ahh, hands-on.”I give him a quick grin. “Nice save.”“I’m talented, what can I say? But you being hands-off, I’m not sure that’s even possible.”“I’ve realized I can’t keep devoting so much energy to business. My family needs me. My kids need me.”“Is this what Jayden asked you to do?” “No. He’s been exc