(Winona)Another girl who looks Abby’s age approaches with a friendly smile.“This is Lotte. Lotte, this is Abby, she is six like you.”“Want to see the sandbox?” Lotte asks, her voice sweet and inviting. Abby hesitates for a moment and looks up at me.“Go ahead, darling. I’ll just be inside with Klara.” Abby smiles and then lets go of my hand to follow Lotte around the side of the house.Bobby hangs back, his eyes scanning the scene until the teenage girl with a tablet walks over. “Hey,” she says with a friendly smile. “I’m Katalin. Come and meet my brother, he’s working on another invention.” She rolls her eyes and smiles.Bobby just follows her like a puppy dog.“I think he’d follow her to Mars if she asked.” I grin. “I can’t blame him.”“Katalin has that effect on boys. But don’t worry, she doesn’t let that go to her head. It’s her business first for her.”“Business?”“Yes. She’s our social media and marketing design guru.”“Oh wow! How old is she?”“Sixteen. She’ll be keen to pi
(Winona)“All my remedies are grown here. I have a hothouse as well,” Klara explains, her voice filled with pride. “I can’t wait until my cottage garden looks like this.” I feel a pang of longing as I take in the lush, vibrant plants. It’s a picture of calm and beauty, something I’ve always dreamed of having. Klara smiles knowingly. “It takes time and a lot of patience. But I can show you how to work with what you have.” We make our way to the first shed, which is a striking contrast to the rustic surroundings. It’s pristine white, with large windows letting in natural light, and the scent of herbs and fresh dairy fills the air.“Ilona and Agnes, also twins, handle most of the produce and the dairy,” Klara explains. “They make the cheeses, the jams, pickles, that sort of thing.” The young women wave at us, their hands busy as they pour jam into jars and stir large pots. I marvel at the efficiency of their operation, how seamlessly everything seems to work here. The stainless-stee
(Winona)Viktor and Klara take the kids back to the farmhouse for afternoon snacks. Abby clings to my hand, reluctant to go at first, but Klara promises there’s fresh-baked bread, butter and honey waiting.Sarah and Ava run off giggling, and Bobby trails behind Katalin, trying to look uninterested but failing miserably.Jayden watches Bobby with a grin. “Um, do I need to have the talk with him?”“He sure is smitten. But I think we’re safe at the moment.”I watch them disappear, my heart hammering. It’s just me and Jayden now, and I know what I have to do. “I have something I need to say.”Jayden stands there, eyes fixed on me, waiting. I take a deep breath and reach into my pocket, my fingers closing around the folded piece of paper.“Here,” I say, holding it out to him. My voice is steadier than I feel. “Read this.”He steps closer, taking the paper from my hand. His eyes searching mine for some understanding. He unfolds it, his eyes scanning the words. I can see the moment it hits h
(Jayden)Winona stands in front of me, and my mind is still reeling from the shock. A baby. Our baby. It’s hard to wrap my head around it, and I’m fighting through a storm of emotions: disbelief, fear, and the tiniest flicker of hope.“Twelve weeks,” I say, my voice rough and unsteady. “How long have you actually known for sure?”She takes a deep breath. “I did a test after you left for London. Look, obviously you aren’t the first to know. Viktor helped and then Klara. Lisa knew, and Lance overheard us talking about it.”“Fuck. Half the world knew before me. Have you suspected before now?”“Because I needed to be sure,” she repeats. “I needed to know everything before I told you, and I didn’t want to do that over the phone. Then you and Lance kind of derailed that.”“That alone could have brought on a miscarriage. How are you feeling?” I ask, desperation and worry bubbling up. “Are you okay? Shit.”“I’m okay. Klara’s been a huge help, making sure I stay calm and monitoring my blood pr
(Winona) “Keeping you and the baby safe is the thing that matters,” he says, his voice low but firm. “But taking Judy out of our lives is also a priority.”“True. But all we can do is divide and conquer. Me fighting Judy beside you is going to put extra stress on this pregnancy.”“If you and the kids head back to the States,” he says. “Back to the life you know, where it’s familiar, at least until we’ve dealt with Judy. That could work in the short term. With you over there, and her here, you’ll feel safer.”“I thought the same, but flying is a risk, anyway. And I really love what we’ve been building here with the kids. Then seeing what Klara has achieved, that’s like all my dreams come true.”“I get it, but Brussels will still be here,” he says. “What if we found a way that wouldn’t be so stressful on you or the baby? Maybe a cruise ship home.”He looks completely serious about this.“It’d be longer, but it’d give you time to relax, avoid the pressure and altitude of flying, and it
(Cass)The first few nights were rough—I stayed in the smallest, cheapest hostels I could find, the kind where you barely feel safe enough to close your eyes. The money I had quickly dwindled away, gone on overpriced vending machine snacks and cramped rooms.Desperation and the reality of being broke in a foreign country hit hard, but I didn’t let it break me. Instead, I started traveling by train, hopping from one small country town to another, offering to wash dishes or clean tables in exchange for a meal or a warm place to sleep.Getting just enough money to get me to my next destination, edging ever close to Brussels. It might be a luxury, but it’s me. I’m doing it. I’m being independent and I like it.It isn’t glamorous, but it’s kept me going. I travel as far as the money I have will get me and try to keep a little for some food.Upside, I’ve lost some pounds, and I’ve tried so many new foods I didn’t even know existed. Downside, language barrier is a struggle and it’s been two
(Cass)“If he speaks English, I’ll just go tell him myself. Thank you so much for translating.”The man smiles and nods.I make my way towards the kitchen door. The waitress steps in front of me, shaking her head.I smile and pat her arm. “It’s okay, this will only take a minute.” I step around her and push the door open, stepping around her and into the kitchen.The place is chaos: steam rising from pans, knives chopping at lightning speed, and a tall, broad-shouldered chef barking orders that sound like gunshots in French.I know his type, old-school chefs that think abuse and overworking people is how to get the best out of them. But he doesn’t intimidate me. I know what I need to do.“Excuse me!” I call out, and the noise screeches to a halt. The chef spins around, his eyes narrowing dangerously.“What the hell you in my kitchen for?” he barks, his accent thick, but his English clear and cutting.I swallow but hold my ground. “I had your vegetable soup. It was amazing, but I thoug
(Jayden)Henry is nestled in my arms, I’ve missed him so much. He’s grown more, and it hasn’t even been that long since I’ve been in London.We’re sitting in the farmhouse kitchen. Viktor leans against the countertop, arms folded, his expression calm but serious. Winona sits beside me, her fingers wrapped around a steaming mug of herbal tea that Klara made for her.She takes a sip, and I can tell she’s nervous.Klara steps forward, her gaze flicking between us. “This pregnancy is high-risk, even more so than before,” she says, her voice steady and calm.“Winona needs minimal stress, regular monitoring, and a stable environment. Any disruptions could be dangerous,”she adds.I cradle Henry closer, my heart pounding with fear for Winona and our unborn child.My mind races. It’s fragile. Another miracle. “What do we need to do to keep you both safe?”Winona takes a breath, her voice trembling slightly. “Klara and the doctors say it’s about keeping a normal routine, keeping my blood pressu
(Winona)I don’t call ahead. I don’t give Mia a chance to prepare.I walk into Brennan Industries like I own the place, straight past the receptionist, ignoring the protests as I push open Mia’s office door and shut it behind me. Mia looks up sharply, her entire body stiffening. “Winona, what the hell?” Her English has nuances of her Cuban accent but less than the rest of her family.I step forward, keeping my voice steady. “We need to talk.” Her eyes narrow. “Then schedule a meeting like a normal person.” “I don’t have time for games, Mia.” I plant my hands on her desk. “Tell me the truth. Are you in contact with Don Alejandro?” Mia lets out a sharp breath, closing her laptop with more force than necessary. “Are you serious right now?” “Deadly.” She scoffs, shaking her head. “I have nothing to do with him. It’s also none of your business what I do.” “Right,” I say flatly. “But I don’t trust you. I don’t trust Gabriel and I’m not even sure I trust your mother. You better not be
(Winona)The call is done. Vault is set for the launch. I should feel good. It’s all about to happen for me. The biggest night of my life so far. And Jayden won’t be there to share it with me. I know he must have a good reason, but it still makes me a little sad. A major milestone missed. But we’ll have others.I go to step back into the room and stop. Jayden and Astrid are still talking, their voices low, steady. Sofia isn’t there. Astrid is smiling and laughing. I’ve never seen that before. She’s into him, I know she is. But I also know she won’t overstep. Won’t do anything that would throw Nexus Global out of whack.Is that the only reason why, though? I watch them relaxed and enjoying a conversation. It feels ages since Jayden and I have been so relaxed in each other’s company. But we do have the stresses of the family dynamic.The kids are undoubtedly our main priority. Are we just trying too hard for the rest?He and Astrid are joking about something.It’s not romantic. No
(Jayden)Winona’s phone buzzes against the table. She glances at the screen, mutters something, and pushes up from her seat. “Vault,” she says looking at me, already heading out to the terrace. I nod at Winona and give her a smile.“Jayden, the media shoot will go a long way to help turn public perception. Sorry we had to blow up your family time…” Sofia says with a smile. “But can I just say, those kids are adorable, and you guys really seem to have your shit sorted as a family.”“At least we have that perception down solid.” I grin at her. “Trust me, it feels the exact opposite sometimes. I appreciate you saying that, Sofia. We’ve worked hard to keep it real for the kids.”“And sacrificed a lot,” Astrid states.“There’s been a lot of changes, for sure. All worth it.”“Maybe we should do a segment on the kids. I know you adopted Bobby and Sarah… and Winona adopted Henry?”“Are you trying to get me killed? There’s no way Winona will ever go for an exposé on our kids, and neither wou
(Winona)The kids are out cold, completely wrecked from a full day of running, climbing, eating junk food, and making a mess of the suite. River and Kit have been off-duty since we got back from our day until we fly out tomorrow night.My muscles are really feeling sore right now. I make mental note to get more strength training sessions in. Maybe I better get out of the gym and do more outdoor activities. I loved the rock-climbing wall.I place the green salad on the table next to the warmed flatbreads. Jayden and I are hosting Astrid and Sofia for a late dinner. A bit of a debrief on the media situation and a friendly catch up outside of work. I’m looking forward to it but also a little nervous about being in close proximity to Astrid.She is very straightforward, and she doesn’t flinch at stating things how they are. Something I always appreciated about her even though at first it was a little jarring. So far, so good though. Jayden places the char-grilled meats and vegetable pl
(Jayden)Henry is in his highchair, making a complete mess of himself with mustard and ketchup. Bobby and Sarah are locked in a dramatic debate over whether onions belong on hot dogs, while Abby is curled up between us singing the song on the movie. Winona leans over to me, her body warm against mine.I tighten my arm around her. “We’re okay? Yes?” She hesitates. “Yes, we’re just fine. Sorry I get in my head so much with feelings.” “Sorry I don’t get in mine enough with your feelings.”She smiles back at me and I’m glad we just get each other these days. “But what about sleep? Are you getting enough?” I’m really asking if Winona is still having the nightmares about the baby crying…“Mostly.”“So you still having them, huh?”“It’s been better with Vault to focus on. Staying busy.”“If you need to get to the point of exhaustion before you can sleep soundly, that isn’t good long term.”She leans over and kisses me. “I’m okay. I promise. It’s getting better. Let’s not ruin the fun ni
(Jayden)Henry shrieks in delight as the bucket tips over, drenching him in a torrent of water that would terrify most kids his age. His little hands slap the wet surface, his laugh infectious as Sarah and Abby cheer him on. “I told you he’d love it,” Bobby calls from the climbing ropes, shaking his head as he swings across to the next section. “He’s used to the hose at home.”“I’m not sure you and your little brother are safe together.” I laugh and Bobby climbs higher. This is a fantastic kids park, it has everything and not just for kids. Winona and I have given them a run for their money today.Kit chuckles beside me. “Gotta admit, the kid’s fearless.” “No argument there,” I say, keeping a watchful eye on Henry as he wobbles through the shallow splash area, River close behind. It’s been a perfect day—the kind we don’t get nearly enough of. No meetings, no deadlines, no PR disasters. Just us. The family. All playing and having loads of fun. The film crew is here, but they’ve don
(Winona)Sofia’s voice cues the next topic. “You’ve both had demanding careers. How do you make sure the kids come first?” I shift, pushing my sunglasses up onto my head. “We make it work by making sure that when we are together, we are fully present. No distractions.” Jayden smirks. “Well, most of the time. There’s always the occasional emergency.” “Business emergencies are one thing. But the kids know they’re our priority. They always come first,” I say.Bobby speaks up. “We have a family video call every night, before bed. We never miss it. No matter where we are.” I nod. “That’s right. And this is our first family trip but not our last. The kids have chores. Bobby gets out in the garden and he’s great at landscape design. We just find ways to drown out the negative white noise with positive family energy.”The day finally comes to an end and cameras capture it all. The smiles, the laughter, the easy dynamic we’ve spent years building. I’m proud of us. Sofia was right. This was
(Winona)The sun blazes down, the sky a perfect, uninterrupted blue as we step onto the deck of the yacht. Dubai’s skyline looms behind us, glass towers gleaming in the heat, the water an impossible shade of turquoise. The cameras are already set up, discreet but ever-present. A carefully curated glimpse into the life of a family that—on paper—has it all. Jayden shakes hands with the producer, exchanging pleasantries, while I shift Henry on my hip, forcing a smile. I see Sofia Fernandez, Nexus Global’s Head of Public Relations. I’m a little relieved to see a familiar face and someone I bonded with in Brussels. Then behind her I see Astrid Koenig. I stiffen slightly at the blank expression but that’s just Astrid. Sofia comes straight in with a huge smile and hug for me.As I hug her back, I see Astrid approach Jayden. She’s not a hugger but she does touch his hand and eyeball him while giving a definite nod. He smiles back like he’s not trying to smile. I can tell she likes him.A w
(Winona)Dubai is breathtaking. The resort is pure indulgence—pristine beaches, towering glass buildings, the smell of salt and luxury in the air. The kids are all fed and crashed in bed and Jayden has arranged a late dinner for us.Dinner is set on the resort rooftop, candles flickering against the warm night breeze, the city stretching out beneath us in a blanket of gold lights.Jayden reaches for my hand across the table. “It’s nice, isn’t it? Us, here. Without work hanging over our heads. Our family all together. I’ve missed the kids so much.”I smile, but it’s not quite real. I’m trying to forget earlier. “The kids?”“And you as well, that goes without saying.”“Does it?”He studies me. “You okay?”“Not really. But I will be. It’s been hectic and I so looked forward to being here,” I say, “ without the media.”“I can guarantee you there’s no media or cameras clicking tonight. I made sure we had absolute privacy.” “We may as well get to the first of the herd of elephants in the r