(Winona)This place is stunning. Truly. But it’s not made for kids. Not in the slightest.Everywhere I look, staff are bustling around, preparing everything as if royalty are about to arrive. I glance at Jayden, watching as someone pours him a drink.He’s trying to hide it, but I can see a bit of embarrassment on his face. Not enough to stop it, though. He’s sitting in an armchair, with a staff member standing by waiting for the next instruction.“This is... a lot,” I murmur as I lean in closer.He shrugs. “It’s their job, Winona. I can’t just sack them.”“I get that,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “But they’re doing everything. How are the kids supposed to learn anything here if someone’s doing every little thing for them?”“They can still learn. Just... we’ll work it out,” Jayden tries to reassure me. “Look, I know it’s overwhelming right now, but let’s just give it a few days, okay? We’ll figure out a routine that works for everyone.”I’m not convinced. I can already tell
(Winona)I mean who has a Picasso in their living room?I’m pacing, trying to keep my voice calm, but frustration is making it hard.“I just don’t get why you thought kids would be okay here,” I say, gesturing at the fragile antiques and museum-level furniture. “You should have made other arrangements.”Jayden crosses his arms, looking as frustrated as I feel. “I wanted to share this with you first. I didn’t even know that cottage existed. And now you want us to refurbish a place that’s been abandoned for thirty years?”“Yes, because it’s the only option that makes sense!” I snap back. “We can’t raise the kids here, tiptoeing around a bunch of things that are priceless. They’re already on edge, Jayden.”“I get that, but my schedule is packed. I’ve got work piling up.”Just as he finishes, his phone buzzes. He glances at the screen, and I see the tension in his shoulders tighten. “It’s Sofia,” he swipes to answer the video call.Sofia’s voice comes through, clipped but with that annoyi
(Winona)The moment we step into the backyard, I feel a shift. It’s not a yard. It’s like a private wooded area with beautiful clearings. The air smells fresher here, I swear.I grab Henry from his pram and carry him the rest of the way. The other kids are already ahead of us, their laughter carrying through the overgrown garden. I follow behind, taking it all in. I just love it.“How much land is in the backyard?” It seems to go on forever.“Ten hectares I believe.”“It’s as much a backyard as this house is a cottage.”Viktor smiles at me. “That’s Gus.”Out in the open clearing, the first thing I notice is the tree. It’s massive, towering over the garden, with thick branches stretching wide. Hanging from one of those branches are not one, but two wooden swings, swaying gently in the breeze.Both are weathered.“Look, Mommy! Swings!” Sarah calls out, her face lighting up as she rushes toward them, Abby right behind her.“Wait for Viktor to check them first,” I call out, my mom mode k
(Winona)The sun’s setting as we make our way back to Gus’s mansion. Viktor walks beside me, his quiet presence seeming to keep the kids in check as they walk just in front.I push Henry in his pram. Maybe they are all worn out after-all.Bobby is walking behind us, carefully carrying the kitten he found. It’s curled up in his arms, purring contently. I can tell he’s already attached, and that’s probably going to be a problem.Jayden has never been a fan of pets. I’m not sure how this will go.The mansion looms ahead, grand and overwhelming. I hope Jayden will be back soon.I glance over at Viktor. “I’m still not comfortable with how far apart everything is in the house. The kids’ rooms are nowhere near us. What if they need something in the middle of the night?”He nods, understanding. “The staff will be very watchful, and there are monitors you can turn on in each room. You’ll be able to hear them, even if they’re far away.”“That helps,” I admit. But the truth is, I don’t like it.
(Jayden)The kitten fiasco really threw off my mood. I know I overreacted, and Bobby’s reaction hit me harder than I expected. I was too harsh before checking in with how he’s feeling.Between moving the kids to Brussels, this mansion, push backs with the Nexus Global team, the staff everywhere here—I need to settle it all down.It’s been a huge change for all of us, but I guess I didn’t realize how much it would affect the kids. Especially Bobby. I don’t want to undo all of Anne’s good work with him. It’s been months of reprogramming with her.I can’t expect that all his trauma is over with now. I know better than anyone, it’s a constant effort to not let the demons back in every day. I need to stand with Bobby each day and demonstrate how it’s done, not just tell him.It’s not like she let him have his own way all the time either, but I think this is one of those times where we choose our battles carefully.As I sit in the main sitting room, the responsibility settles heavily on my
(Jayden)Winona steps back into the room after checking the older kids in bed. She looks a little more at ease. She has the monitor screen in her hand.“The monitors work well,” she says, sitting down beside me. “But I don’t know… It feels so impersonal. I’d rather be more hands-on with the kids.”I nod, knowing exactly what she means. “It’s a big house. Everything’s spread out. Feels like we’re miles away but moving into a guest wing isn’t practical for the first night.”“I know,” she says, glancing down at Henry, who’s starting to doze off in his bassinet. “But Henry will sleep in our room tonight. There’s a cot and I’ll leave him in the bassinet. I don’t care how good the monitors are. I want him close.”I smile at that. “Of course. Can’t leave him up to his own devices.”She leans back against the couch, letting out a small sigh. “I think the family house will be so much better. I can’t wait to get started making it livable.”“I mean, the staff here could have it done in no time.”
(Judy)The courier should’ve delivered what I need by now. I glance at my watch.It’s been a long game, planting seeds of doubt in Jayden’s mind, and it’s about to pay off. Winona might think she’s made her way back into his heart, but love doesn’t survive betrayal—especially not Jayden’s brand of jealousy.I tap my fingers impatiently on the desk, looking out over the city skyline. Winona. That self-righteous little snake. She’s always acted like she’s better than me, like she’s won.I’ll never forget the look on her face when she first found out about Ashlyn and Jayden. The way her eyes filled with tears. The way she looked at me as though she had any right to be angry. She knew she’d lost.She doesn’t know what real power is. She doesn’t know what it means to protect your family at all costs. Jayden is my son. He’ll always be mine.I sit up straight as there’s a knock at the door.“Come in,” I say, keeping my voice smooth and composed, though my insides buzz in anticipation.My ass
(Judy)The next morning, I’m already at my desk, tea in hand, reviewing the photos again. The images are intimate, just on the edge of scandalous. There’s enough innuendo, enough skin, enough suggestion to make Jayden question everything.This is going to be delicious. I can feel it. The downfall of Winona Nolan is inevitable. She’s no Brennan, never will be.A smile tugs at my lips. It’s a victory I’ve been planning forever. I want Jayden shattered—emotionally wrecked and vulnerable.I’ll remind him that it was always me who stood by him, me who knew what was best for him. Winona is just a con, a fleeting bad phase in his life. I am permanent. I will always be here.The thing about Jayden is, he’s too trusting of her. He thinks just because she’s in his life now, she’ll always be loyal. But I know people. I know how weak they are, how easy they are to manipulate when you know what buttons to press.And Winona? She’s the weakest of them all, throwing herself at men like Phillip and