Judy, Judy, Judy…she’s something isn’t she? But she’ll get her come-uppance one day…or will she? There’s over 400 chapters to find out, but this story will come to an end. More characters to come, more drama, more surprises… There’s only one way to find out who they really are deep down and how it all will end….
(Jayden)“Mother! Wow, this is great news.” I’m genuinely happy that she’s a match. Maybe this can go some way to mending bridges between her and Winona.“Son, yes. It really is.”“So, Abby can go for her next op Monday, as soon as your mother gives her blood donation… oh, that’s if you agree to it, Judy. I’d hate to presume…” Winona adds.Why does she have to say something like that? Is she just trying to make an argument?“Of course she’ll donate. What are you saying? Do you really think Mother would refuse?” I snap back.“Of course not. I just meant she may be busy today.” Winona says and I know she’s just saying that to cover for how she feels about Mother. “I think it’s about time you stopped all the petty hatred thing. The past is the past, Winona. Get over it. Mother has really been trying lately.”“Yes, I agree. It’s time to let bygones be bygones.” Winona says and her voice brightens up. “Look, I want to throw a combined birthday and welcome home party for Abby in three week
(Ashlyn)Lance has arrived just before Judy and I are going to head downtown. She’s all smiles and hugs. I’m not sure I trust her, but I’m not ruining the day I’ve dreamed of. Ever since I laid eyes on Jayden Brennan, I’ve loved him. Watching his infatuation and obsession with Winona was hard, but it worked out in the end. For me. I answer the door when the chime rings.“Ashlyn.”“Lance, come in.” I’m trying to avoid his direct stare.His presence makes my stomach twist with unease. He pulls me out the door by the arm, his grip firm and unyielding. “You’re pregnant?”“That’s right. Jayden and I are having a baby.” I try to keep my voice steady, but there’s a tremor I can’t quite hide. My hands tremble slightly, and I clench them into fists to steady myself.“Are you sure?” Lance’s eyes narrow, scrutinizing me with an intensity that makes my stomach churn.“Of course I’m sure I’m pregnant.” I meet his gaze, willing myself to remain calm, but my pulse quickens under his penetrating st
(Winona)“So, you think we can go home by her birthday in three weeks?” I ask Dr. Green because I don’t want to do anything that might set Abby’s recovery back. “I wanted to throw her a little party.”“The defect in the heart wall is okay for now. As she grows, and her heart grows, it will need constant adjustments. Hopefully we can get her to a point where there will be no further deterioration meaning a heart transplant won’t be needed.”“I understand.”“This is going to mean operations and adjustments for much of her childhood. I think a birthday party might be just the thing to keep her spirits up. Don’t overdo it though. She needs a lot of peace and quiet. But don’t keep her cooped up inside. Get her out in the fresh air and sun as much as possible. Let her be a kid.”“I certainly will. Thank you, Doctor Green. I owe her life to you.”“I’m just part of it. She’s a lucky kid to have such a dedicated support system.”With that happy news, he leaves. “Hey. I just saw the doctor lea
(Jayden)“Abby turns three today. She’s out of the hospital and I’m finally ready to meet her.” Mother smiles back at me. “It’s very exciting. You could’ve met her before this.”“I know, but she’s had such a lot to contend with. I want to be sure she’s ready. That I’m ready.”“I think she’ll be ready. She didn’t miss a beat when she opened her eyes and saw me.”“Wait, you actually met her? How was it?” I’m surprised Mother didn’t tell me this.“I did, and if you’re asking if there’s any doubt she’s yours. There isn’t. She could be the spit out of your mouth at that age. So, you’re sure you’re ready?”I nod. “Therapy has really helped me get a handle on things and deal with my memories objectively. The couple sessions have also made Ashlyn and I stronger. I can tell we are gaining a new level of trust for each other.”“Great to hear.”“Plus, I’m well aware that once I go into Abby’s life as her biological father, I can’t then change my mind.”“Have you had second thoughts about that?”
(Winona)Anne made a unicorn cake and it looks stunning on the table and Phillip has managed to fill all the snack bowls, make sure the place is fresh and dust free, and is standing here with a coffee in hand for me. My lounge area has been transformed to party central.My hands feel jittery as I take it from him. “This room looks fabulous. Abby will just love it. I hope she’s well enough to sit on her throne and open her presents with us.” I’d hired her a golden velvet throne for the day.“I’m sure she will. You know how she loves unwrapping gifts.” Anne says with a big smile.I laugh. “Yes, and then she’ll play with all the boxes they come in instead of the toys.”“I know. I got her the biggest boxed one I could find for that reason,” Phillip adds in.“That bike with the handle for us to push her along will be perfect for walks. She’ll feel like she’s really riding, and we can take over when she gets tired,” I agree.“She needs fresh air and sun to help her recover, we’ll make sure
(Winona)“Hey there, sweety. I have a surprise for you.” My voice is light and cheerful, but my heart races with anticipation.She smiles at me, her eyes wide with curiosity. “Is it a present?”“Not really, but there will be lots of gifts later.” I kneel beside her, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face.“Okay.”“You remember my friend Jayden we talked about?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual.She nods, her eyes brightening with excitement.“He’s here to meet you and say happy birthday.”Her eyes light up, and she bounces slightly in her seat. “Yay!”“Do you want to come out?” I ask, my heart pounding in my chest.She nods eagerly.“Let’s take you in your pushchair, so you don’t get tired out too soon.” I lift her gently and settle her into the pushchair, making sure she’s comfortable.“Ok, Mommy.” Her voice is soft and trusting, and it breaks my heart a little.Maybe I should have let Jayden come in here for a more private first moment. Anyway, I get her comfortable and pus
(Winona)I’m not sure I’m ready. I thought I would be. “Let’s get this day over with first.” I extract myself from his arms and pick up some oven trays full of party favorites to heat. The oven’s warmth is a stark contrast to the cold pit in my stomach.“Of course.” Phillip gets some cheese and fruit platters from the fridge. “I’ll go put these on the table.” He smiles, trying to ease the tension, but I can sense the unease between us.“Thanks.” Then I hesitate. “Phillip?”“Yes?” He turns back to look at me, concern in his eyes, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.“Play it cool out there.” I bite my lip, the worry gnawing at me.Memories of Jayden and our time together flash through my mind. His sexy smile, the way his eyes crinkled when he laughed, how safe I felt in his arms. I shake the thoughts away, focusing on the present.“I will.” Phillip’s voice is reassuring, but I can still see the tension in his posture. “Abby may say some things. Kids don’t understand adult stuff. But this
(Winona)“Winona,” Jayden’s voice is filled with emotion. “Thank you for today. It means a lot to me.”I look across at him, tears welling in my eyes. “It means a lot to Abby too. She deserves to know her father.”He steps closer, brushing a tear from my cheek. “I wish it could be different.”I swallow hard, the memories and emotions threaten to overwhelm me. “We need to focus on Abby now. She’s what’s important and your new baby is coming.”I resist the urge to press myself to his chest. “Jayden, I know we shared something that’s once in a lifetime. But it was a lifetime ago. I need a peaceful existence. I can have that if you’re with Ashlyn and your mother is happy.”He nods, his hand lingers on my cheek for a moment before he pulls away. “You’re right.”As he walks out of the kitchen, I watch him go, my heart aching with a mix of love and loss. I know I have to move on, but part of me will always remember the way things were, the way they could have been.***The party has wound d
(Lisa)The sound of kids laughing and fighting all at once is a special kind of chaos. Not loud enough to make me need earplugs but constant enough to make me question why anyone willingly signs up for this parenting gig. I’m sitting at the farmhouse kitchen table, nursing a mug of herbal tea—because Winona says it’s for relaxation, apparently—while Winona navigates the madness with calm efficiency. Tastes like I’m drinking fresh-cut grass. Eww.“Sarah, put the scissors down before someone loses an eyebrow!” Winona shouts from the stove, where she’s flipping breakfast pancakes with one hand and holding Henry on her hip with the other. Jayden strolls in, looking half-asleep but still managing to make kissing her cheek seem like the most romantic move in the world. He grabs Henry and tosses him in the air, making the toddler squeal with laughter. “Morning,” Jayden says to me, his voice a deep rumble that doesn’t match the little boy giggling in his arms. “You sleep okay?” “Like the
(Jayden)I rub my thumb over her knuckles. “We’ll make it work. We always do.” I want that to be the truth. More than anything. She nods, but I can tell something else is bothering her. “I won’t spend more than one night away from the kids while you’re gone,” she says, like she’s trying to convince herself more than me. I smile, though I know that promise is going to be harder to keep than she thinks. “I appreciate that. But Winona... you have to be prepared for when you have to choose business over family sometimes. It’s going to happen, and it’s not going to feel great.” Her shoulders stiffen slightly. “I can balance it, Jayden. I’ve been doing it already.” I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “I know you have, but it’s going to get harder. Board meetings, investors, expansion plans—they don’t wait for soccer practice or bedtime stories.” She crosses her arms, and there it is—that little flash of defensiveness I knew would come. “I know that. I’m not naive. But I’m not ab
(Jayden)Winona stands at the kitchen counter, scrolling through her phone while absently stirring her tea. Her brows furrow slightly, lips pursed in that way that tells me she’s already a million miles into business mode. I used to love that look when we were at Brennan Industries together. Seems a lifetime ago now.I lean against the doorframe, watching her for a moment before stepping closer. “Thinking about ditching me for a board meeting already?” I tease, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. She huffs a soft laugh, but it’s distracted. “Actually, I was going to ask you some advice.” She sits at the dining table. I grab my coffee and settle across from her. “Shoot.” Winona finally looks up, her eyes searching mine. “I have a couple of big events next week—the board meeting, a dinner with potential investors, and now a charity gala just popped up. It’s a lot, Jayden. I can’t blow off the board or the investors…” “You can’t blow off any of them. Charities are networking an
(Winona)Pulling into the farmhouse driveway, I spot Cass sitting on the porch steps, her duffel bag at her feet. She looks up when Lisa and I step out of the car, a smirk already forming. She gives us a wolf-whistle.“Look at you two,” she calls out. “Business queens in the flesh.” Lisa tugs at her blazer. “Trust me, I’m getting changed right away. What a fucking disaster.” I roll my eyes and stride up to Cass, pulling her into a tight hug. She smells like vanilla and cigarette smoke, a weird combination that somehow suits her. “I’ve missed you, brat sister,” I murmur, holding her for a beat longer than necessary because I know why she’s here and it’s already breaking my heart. Cass pulls back with a grin. “Miss you too, boss sister. Seriously, what’s with the corporate look? You two getting ready to take over the world or what?” “Something like that,” I say, smoothing my blazer. “But I’ll let Lisa fill you in when she’s ready. So, I guess you’re here to say goodbye?” Cass nod
(Winona)Lisa stares out the window, chewing on the corner of her nail—something she only does when she’s about two seconds away from a full-on meltdown.The highway stretches out ahead, I can’t stop thinking about Logan Bennett. Lance’s twin. A walking, talking ghost we never knew existed. I can only imagine how rocked Lisa must feel.I grip the steering wheel. “You good?” Lisa lets out a short laugh, but it’s hollow. “Define ‘good.’ Because if it means questioning my entire reality while also wanting to throw myself into traffic, then yeah. I’m fucking great.” I glance at her. “You’re not throwing yourself into anything except maybe a bath later with a gallon of wine.” “I think any alcohol now might result in me making myself obnoxious. You know how I get.” Lisa stares out her window again.Then she continues talking. “I seriously thought I was hallucinating, Winona. Like, actual delusions. One minute I’m faking my way through this business gig, the next I’m staring at Lance—exc
(Lisa)The lights are too bright, the sheets too crisp, and everything feels weird. I blink slowly, my head pounding. My mouth tastes like I’ve been chewing cotton balls for breakfast. Where the hell am I? Then it hits me. The office. The meeting. Lance. I sit up too fast, and the room spins like I’m on some twisted carnival ride. I feel something in my arm and see an IV. There are monitors and things stuck on me.Shit, I’m in a hospital.A groan slips out before I can stop it, and suddenly there’s a nurse by my side, her face all sympathy and no-nonsense professionalism. “Easy now,” she says, pressing a cool hand to my wrist. “You fainted, remember? You weren’t responsive for a while. But the drip has done its job.” Fainted? Right. That’s what normal people do when they think they’ve seen their dead ex-lover casually standing in a boardroom like it’s just another Tuesday. “Okay... fainted,” I mumble, rubbing my temples. “Great. That’s just... fantastic.” The nurse offers me a
(Jayden)The kids are sprawled across the living room floor, their energy buzzing like they’ve downed three bags of sugar each. Henry’s babbling as he stacks blocks, while Abbey and Sarah argue about whether they should play schools or princesses. Bobby is pretending not to care, phone in hand. Anne is at the shops.It’s noisy and busy, just like normal. I think of Winona and Lisa. I wonder how they are going with the meeting? I pat my pocket, then the other side.“Guys, I left my phone outside on the bench. Try not to kill each other and watch Henry while I go and grab it.”They all look at me and nod and keep doing what they are doing. Henry seems taken with his blocks, so I whip out through the kitchen and out the back door.I see I’ve missed a call and she’s left a message. I scoop up my phone and head back inside to listen to the message. I won’t call back yet, they may be in the meeting still.I hurry back in and check out the kids. No one has moved. Great. I listen to the mes
(Mia)Gus walks through the living room slowly, his gaze flicking over the ornate furnishings, the heavy curtains, the marble-topped tables.His fingers trail along the edge of a sideboard, and for a moment, he looks lost in thought. “You okay?” He glances at me. “It’s strange being here without her and having all her stuff still here. I’ll see that it’s all collected. There’s some valuable pieces here.” “Judy’s gone,” I say bluntly, shrugging my shoulders. “You’ll have to get used to it. This place is part of Brennan Industries now, I believe.” His mouth tightens, and he doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns his attention to the window, looking out at the street below. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and honestly, I don’t care.Gus being here isn’t my concern—what he wants is. I know he says he’s here to pick up Mama, but that doesn’t fool me.“You didn’t come here to reminisce,” I say. “What do you want?” He turns back to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I want to know where y
(Winona)Lisa’s body is sprawled awkwardly on the sleek office floor, and my heart nearly stops as I drop to my knees beside her.“I’m Logan Bennett.” The sound of Logan’s voice, Lance’s voice, steady but sharp, slices through the haze of my panic.I glance up at him. Neater haircut, lesser designer suit, but that is Lance Collins right there.What the actual fuck is going on? No wonder she collapsed.“I’m calling 911,” he says, his phone already to his ear. “St James Hospital is close.”“Lisa!” I whisper, shaking her gently. Her skin feels clammy, her breathing shallow but steady. “Come on, Lis, wake up.” I turn her over to the recovery position. She is breathing but she isn’t waking up.Logan lowers his phone. “Paramedics are on the way.” His gaze flickers between Lisa and me, worry etched into his expression. “Is she…?”“She’s breathing,” I say. “But she’s not waking up.”Logan crouches down, his movements deliberate and calm, and for a moment, his presence reminds me so much of La