(Jayden)I’ve come home from work not a moment too soon. I step into this pristine mansion and immediately feel the tension in the air. Henry is crying.From the look on the tutor’s face as she gathers her things, it’s been a long day.“Mr. Brennan,” the tutor says, her tone polite but weary. “The girls have been adjusting fairly well, although they do need to understand discipline, but Bobby… Well, he’s been more interested in the kitten than lessons. I’ve barely seen him all day.”I sigh, taking Henry from his carer’s arms and bouncing him gently. His cries are escalating, and I know it’s time for a bottle. “Thank you for today. We all need some time. I’ll talk to him.”She nods, offering a smile before leaving.Henry’s carer offers her goodbyes, and I thank her too.I move into the sitting room, where the girls are flipping through books, but they look worn out. I quickly grab a bottle from the small fridge I had set up in the sitting room and heat it in the microwave oven next to
(Jayden)Bobby is looking at me with such hope in his eyes, and I can’t say no. “Alright,” I say quietly. “Let’s go.”Henry settles off to sleep as we walk. It’s a good distance, but finally we head around to the back yard area.Winona wasn’t wrong. It’s huge in here. Like a private forested area, beyond the cleared spaces.“I did this today,” Bobby says, pointing towards two huge flower beds. “I cleared them out for Mom. I thought she’d like it.”I blink, surprised and honestly, amazed. “You did all this?” There’s a massive pile of weeds stockpiled at the side. “Mom and the girls are going to love it. Look at the butterflies and bees.”The brightly colored flowers beam back at us with insects buzzing about. It’s beautiful.Bobby nods, a hint of pride creeping into his voice. “Yeah. And there’s more. Look.”He leads me to a brick wood-burning grill near the back of the cottage, which really isn’t anything like a cottage. The grill is old but in good shape, and Bobby’s clearly been wor
(Winona)As Viktor drives me home from Nexus Global, I can’t help but feel a strange mixture of satisfaction and exhaustion. It’s been a long day, but surprisingly, a good one.Connecting with Sofia was something I wasn’t expecting, and it’s left me with more to think about than I’d planned.We pull up to the huge mansion and Jayden’s standing by the front entrance, pushing Henry’s pram back and forth. He smiles when he sees me, that warm, easy grin that always makes me feel like everything is going to be okay.I step out of the car, making my way over to him. “Hey,” I say, leaning in to kiss him lightly. “You’re waiting for me?”“Of course. How was it with Sofia?” Jayden asks, his voice genuinely curious as he peers down at Henry, still asleep in the pram.I bend down and kiss Henry’s cheek.“She’s sharp. Really sharp. I actually learned a lot from her today.” I let out a small laugh, shaking my head. “She’s damn good at her job. I can see why she’s where she is.”Jayden nods, his ex
(Winona)The backyard is alive with laughter and chatter as the grill sizzles away. Jayden stands at the helm, flipping burgers, hot dogs, and skewers of vegetables, while Bobby and the girls dart around, helping where they can.It’s a beautiful scene—warm, welcoming. The large fire is burning well and there are many gathered around it. Some sitting on the many stumps provided as seats and some just standing near the warmth.Everyone is smiling and chatting. I’d gotten some of the bottles of rosé from the main house cellar brought down. Not everyone likes beer.Viktor walks over, holding a beer, his usual stoic expression softened. “I think you’ve won them over,” he says in his deep, accented voice, gesturing toward the staff who are now mingling and laughing, clearly enjoying the meal.“Bobby has really outdone himself. I never would have expected it of him.”“Kids can surprise you if you don’t limit them.”I glance around, taking it all in. The chefs have been cooking alongside Jayd
(Winona)Hugo hesitates, but under the weight of everyone’s expectations, he finally sits down, the beer still in hand. He takes a sip, and I swear I see him wince. He swallows like it has razor blades in it.The whole scene is comical—Hugo, ever the formal assistant, sitting here with us, trying to look like this isn’t the most uncomfortable situation he’s been in.Everyone else raises their glasses and goes back to their conversations. I separate a little from the women and stay close to Jayden for now.Jayden chuckles softly. “Now that you’re settled, how are the plans coming along for the welcome party I promised Abby and Winona?”Hugo stiffens again, clearing his throat. “The welcome party, monsieur?”Jayden raises an eyebrow. “You do remember the family party I promised Abby over the phone at my welcome dinner, right? I asked you to look into organizing it.”Hugo’s face pales slightly. “I… may have overlooked that particular detail. There were pressing matters concerning the Lon
(Winona)I stand in the cottage, staring at my phone. My mind is a whirlwind, and the words that woman said, the steadiness of her dark gaze, replays in my head. Pregnant. No way.I hit Lisa’s speed dial and the video call button. She picks up after a couple of rings, her face popping up on the screen. She’s in her kitchen, coffee mug in hand, looking at me with wide eyes.“Oh no, what happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she says, skipping the small talk as usual.“I wish it was that simple,” I reply, trying to laugh it off, but even I can hear the unease in my voice. “A ghost would be perfect right now.”Lisa raises an eyebrow, taking a sip of her coffee. “Uh-oh. Spill. What’s going on? Did Jayden do something? Or is it the whole Belgian experience finally hitting you? But it’s not the chocolate, right? That stuff is as amazing as they say it is?”I shake my head. “No, it’s not Jayden. He’s actually been great. And the chocolate is amazing, yes. It’s something else… someth
(Winona)My heart pounds, and for a second, I can’t speak. I look away from the screen, my stomach knotting up, thoughts swirling in my mind. Hall pass week was wild on two occasions.Yes, there were condoms to start with. But can I be one hundred percent sure after that? No. No, I can’t.“Lisa…” My voice trembles as I force the words out. “I don’t know. I don’t think I did have unprotected sex, apart from with Jayden. But there’s always a chance even with contraceptives…”The silence on the other end stretches, heavy and suffocating. I watch Lisa’s face as she processes what I’ve just said, her brow furrowing.She knows me too well, knows when I’m not telling her everything. But how can I even begin to explain this mess? I barely understand it myself. This might get way more complicated. This may tear apart my family for good.Lisa finally breaks the silence, her tone firm and serious. “Winona, you need to find out. If there’s even the slightest chance you’re pregnant, you need to kn
(Winona)I walk back to the main house. The kids are in lessons now, but I have to go check out schools this afternoon. Sure, check out schools I may never need. I could be a single mom back in the USA anytime soon.I need to get a pregnancy test while I’m out and keep that hidden.This is so ridiculous. I’m not pregnant. I can’t get pregnant.I practiced safe sex on hall pass week. Now I wish I’d never insisted on hall pass week. What a crazy-ass idea. But I did do it safely. There were condoms.But condoms break. Condoms slip. And everything got out of control fast. It was chaotic, messy, and in the back of my mind, I know there’s always a chance these things fail. That’s just the ugly truth.Maybe I can’t remember every detail now, but surely I insisted on double checking at the time…But still… the odds are in my favor, aren’t they? It has to be Jayden’s. We’ve been together so much recently, and it would make sense that if I was pregnant, it would be his baby. It has to be. Right
(Cass)It’s fine. Really.I mean, they’re paying me double the normal chef rate to do this, and honestly, after everything I’ve been through, I am lucky to be here. But as I dump another stack into the industrial washer and catch my reflection in the steel, I can’t help but feel I’m clutching at straws.A letter doesn’t mean instant success, I have a long road to get there.By the time the shift ends, my arms ache, and my stomach growls so loudly it’s probably scaring the mice away.The head chef mutters something about “grit” and “paying dues” when he finally waves me off for the night. They are all butt-hurt over me getting paid more than half of them.Whatever. I’ve always been good at keeping my head down and proving people wrong.The night air hits me like a slap as I step out of the estate’s main building. The path to the cottage is dark, and my legs feel like lead with every step. All I want is to collapse on the couch, shove some food in my face, and sleep for a year.But the
(Judy)I’ve spent all day with Jayden at Nexus London offices today. After Winona leaving yesterday, and celebratory drinks with Jayden last night, I’m hopeful. Viktor not being here is a blessing. I can’t make a move with him always watching.This Grayson investigation is almost wrapped up and Jayden will relaunch Nexus London under a new banner. He’s done well. I’m very proud of him. Do I trust him? Probably not.But then, I had nothing to do with who she slept with and Lance turning up in Brussels unannounced. All I did was get the photos to Jayden. He deserves to know the truth. It’s not fair they played him like a fool like that.It’s a bit too soon to safely say I have Jayden back. But I’m certainly closer than I was with a no-contact order. Now I only need my grandchildren, after-all they are heirs to Nexus Global and they will need to be prepped for that role.Jayden needs more time to really be back under my wing again. I’m not sure if he and Winona are really separated, but
(Winona)The hotel lobby is warm and welcoming, its soft lighting a balm after the long flight. The kids buzz with excitement as they spot a familiar face waiting for us by the concierge desk.“Nanny Anne!” Abby squeals, bolting toward her. Puppy dangles from one hand.Anne crouches down, her arms open wide. “There’s my little ones!”Abby crashes into her, followed closely by Bobby and Sarah. They hug tightly. Even Henry lets out a delighted squeal from Lisa’s arms, his little legs kicking in excitement.Anne looks up at me, her face beaming. “Oh, Winona. It’s so good to see you all safe.”“It’s good to see you too,” I say, my voice thick with relief. The worry I’ve been carrying since we left Brussels eases slightly. Anne has always been our rock, and knowing she’ll be here for the next few days makes everything feel a bit more manageable.Lisa hands Henry over to Anne, who hugs him close. “Look at you, Henry. You’ve grown so much!”“Can you believe it?” Lisa says with a laugh. “He’s
(Jayden)The dimly lit bar in the private London club is quiet, the hum of low conversation and the occasional clink of glassware blending into the background.Judy sits across from me, her posture regal, her lips curling into a satisfied smile as she lifts her glass of aged scotch. “To freedom,” she says, raising her glass. “To freedom,” I echo, clinking my glass against hers. The burn of the whiskey is soothing. I lean back, feigning the relaxed confidence she expects from me. “You look better already,” Judy says, her eyes studying me intently. “You’re finally stepping into your potential, Jayden. It suits you.” “I’m finally seeing things clearly,” I reply, letting a small smirk tug at my lips. “Winona and her chaos? Gone. It’s liberating.” She laughs lightly, a sound that grates against my nerves. “I always knew you’d come around eventually. You deserve better than that mess of a woman.” “Maybe you’re right,” I say, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. “The kids, though… I’
(Cass)The chill of the air doesn’t bother me as I storm toward the cottage. My boots hit the gravel hard, and I clench my fists against the rising wave of emotions threatening to spill over.I know I did the wrong thing, but I’ve also come out the other end. I don’t need to hear judgment from anyone. My life has taken a turn for the better and nothing is going to take that from me.Viktor’s condescending tone still rings in my ears. Who the hell does he think he is? And Jayden—he’s acting like I’m the screw-up of the century. As if he hasn’t held that title long term.I hear the car door slam behind me and glance over my shoulder. Jayden’s long strides eat up the distance between us. “Cass, wait,” he calls out, his voice calmer than I expect.I don’t slow down. “What now? Come to lecture me some more?”“No,” he says, catching up and matching my pace. “I want to apologize.”I stop abruptly, turning to face him. “Apologize? Seriously?”“Yes.” His eyes meet mine, steady and sincere. “I
(Jayden) I take a moment to gather myself, wiping away the lingering traces of tears. The kids are gone. Winona is gone.“I’m going to miss them.” Cass glances up, her expression softening for a split second before she smirks. “Don’t go all sentimental on me now, Jayden.” She punches me lightly on the arm, but I grab her wrist before she can pull away. “Enough,” I snap, my tone sharp. Her eyes widen, but I don’t let go. “We’re going to talk. Now.” “Talk about what?” she mutters, trying to sound defiant, but I can see the cracks in her armor. “Everything,” I say flatly. “Not here. Come on.” I stand and motion for her to follow me. Reluctantly, she gets up, slinging her bag over her shoulder. I lead her out of the lounge and through the quiet airport corridors to the private exit where Viktor waits by the car.He’s leaning against the side, his sharp eyes scanning the area like a hawk. “Cass, meet Viktor,” I say, opening the car door. Her eyes narrow as she looks him up and down
(Winona)The private first-class lounge is quiet except for the staff. We bought out all of first-class seats for privacy and space to move around. With my entourage of medics, nanny and security, we need all the space we can get.The kids sit on the plush chairs, their legs swinging as they clutch their backpacks. Abby has her favorite stuffed puppy tucked under her arm, its floppy ears trailing as she drags it along the floor. She hasn’t let go of it since we left the cottage. I know this is hard on them. Even with the secret we are all keeping, leaving is going to be incredibly hard. We may be back to Brussels sometime but I don’t know if we’ll be back with the same family dynamic we started to build here.Jayden is striding along the floor towards the private lounge door. He’s dressed impeccably, as always, his broad shoulders rigid. He’s trying to hold it together, I can tell, and I know this isn’t easy for him.“Daddy!” Abby squeals, breaking the silence as she rushes toward h
(Winona)Chef Valois closes his office door with a deliberate click, gesturing for us to sit in the sleek chairs facing his massive desk. Cass sits down, clutching the letter like it might disappear. I take a seat beside her. “Let me explain why this is extraordinary,” Valois begins, leaning forward. “Henrik LaSalle doesn’t recommend people. Period. Not even his sous chefs. For him to write this...” He points to the letter. “...means you’ve done something remarkable.” Cass raises an eyebrow. “All I did was critique his soup.” Valois lets out a sharp laugh, shaking his head. “Critique his soup? Not possible.” Cass shrugs. “The waitress wouldn’t tell him, so I went in the kitchen and did it myself. Then he made me work my ass off. But he made the changes to every soup he sent after that. That’s all.” Valois stares at her like she’s just declared she wrestled a bear and won.“Henrik LaSalle is notoriously impossible to please. Do you know how many chefs have tried to earn his approv
(Cass)Henry’s little giggles fill the room as I kneel on the floor, arms wide open. “Come here, you big guy!” I say, trying to keep my voice steady, but damn, my throat feels tight seeing how much he’s grown.He crawls over, with his big grin. He remembers me, and that makes me feel good. I know it’s only been a few months but he’s only an infant.I scoop him up, hugging him close as his baby scent fills my nose. It’s like a mix of milk and sunshine, and it nearly wrecks me.“Look at you, Henry,” I whisper. “You’re so big now.”He grabs my hair with his tiny hands, giggling. His face is brighter than I remember, more expressive. It’s like I’ve missed a lifetime in just a few months.Winona leans back, crossing her arms. “So, what’s your plan now that you’re here?”I shrug, leaning against the couch. “Find work. Maybe I’ll need a car when I get work. I have this.” I pull out the envelope Thierry gave me and place it on the table.“What’s that?” Winona asks, picking it up but not openi