(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
(Judy)Sitting behind my desk, I take a long, measured look at Gabriel. He’s calm, collected, dressed sharp in a tailored suit that makes him look every bit the professional he wants me to believe he is.But I’ve been around too long, seen too much, to take anyone at face value anymore. Especially not Greg’s long-lost son.“Let’s get straight to the point,” I say, folding my hands on the desk. “You’ve got shares now, but what exactly are you planning to do with them? Surely you have some kind of ambition.”Gabriel meets my gaze, his expression steady. “I want to help, but I can’t legally manage any businesses here without a green card. I can own shares, have a joint venture or even fund a start-up but not work in the U.S. until the green card is through.”“Have you got a green card application in?”“I do.”I narrow my eyes. “So, what’s your plan? Just sit on those shares while the rest of us do the heavy lifting?”Gabriel smiles. “Not at all. I’ve already been in touch with an immigra
(Winona)After dinner, the house falls into that familiar quiet. Abby’s already tucked into bed. Jayden’s sitting across from me in his den, sipping on his usual port nightcap.By the way he’s eyeing me, he knows something’s on my mind.I lean back in my chair, running my fingers through my hair. “So… I’ve been thinking.”Jayden raises an eyebrow, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Should I be worried?”I roll my eyes but can’t help but grin. “Depends.”He chuckles softly, setting his port glass down. “Alright, hit me. What’s on your mind?”I take a deep breath, deciding to just dive in. “It’s about the no contact order with Judy. I’ve been wondering if you’ve reconsidered letting Abby see her—supervised, of course. I’d be there. And… There's also the matter of Phillip and me having Brennan Industries as a client. I don’t want it to cause any issues for my business.”Jayden’s expression shifts, the playfulness gone. He leans forward, elbows resting on the table, his ga