(Jayden)Winona is staring at me like a deer in the headlights.“Do we want to know the gender? Do you?” I ask her gently.“I… I’m not sure. It makes this baby even more real than the heartbeat. If anything happens…”I take her hand now wanting to help her emotional turmoil. I can’t imagine how hard growing a baby inside you is if you then lose that baby. But I don’t want her to regret anything if that does happen.“The baby is real.”“I know that.”“This is your choice. I’ll support you. Under the circumstances, maybe knowing, naming and connecting with the baby is something you’d be thankful for, if the worst happens.”She stares at me and I can see the wheels turning in her head. “So, celebrate the baby now and focus on the positive…?”“If we lose the baby are you going to feel better or worse if you never made that connection? Maybe you don’t even have to decide right now.”“Oh, the ultrasound isn’t needed for the gender. That is already stated in the prenatal blood testing when y
(Jayden)“Jayden,” she greets warmly as I approach the table. “You look well.” “Thanks, Mother,” I reply with a smile, leaning in to kiss her cheek. “You look as perfect as ever. Still setting the standard.” She beams at the compliment, her eyes studying me closely. “Flattery, Jayden? You must want something.” I laugh lightly as I take my seat. “Do I need a reason to compliment you? You’re my mother. It’s been too long.” Her expression softens slightly, but I can tell her mind is working overtime. Judy doesn’t take things at face value. The waiter appears, pouring wine for us both.“I took the liberty of ordering ahead. Like old times. This wine I discovered on my travels here. It’s excellent.”I lift the glass, swirling it absently. “To new beginnings,” I say, raising it toward her. Judy’s lips curl into a satisfied smile, and she clinks her glass against mine. “To new beginnings.” “You’re settling into London nicely, I hope?” she asks, taking a delicate sip of wine. “It’s be
(Cass)The lobby of Nexus Global is even more intimidating than I expected. It’s all glass, steel, and people who look like they belong on the cover of a magazine—or maybe the board of a billion-dollar corporation.My black boots click against the polished marble floors as I stride to the front desk, my confidence an armor against the stares I’ve already started to attract. Like no one’s seen tatts and piercings in Brussels before.The receptionist barely glances at me. She’s a perfect match for the surroundings—sleek hair, immaculate makeup, and a suit that probably costs more than my rent back home.“May I help you?” she asks, her tone sharp and dismissive.“I’m here to see Jayden Brennan,” I say, keeping my voice steady.“Do you have an appointment?” Her fingers hover over the keyboard, but she doesn’t make a move to type anything.“No, but I’m family,” I reply.She gives me a once-over, taking in my tattoos, piercings, and black-on-black outfit. Her lips tighten. “I’m sorry, but M
(Winona)I’ve spent the last hour booking flights, organizing the kids’ documents, and triple-checking every detail. The tickets are locked in—direct to the States, first class, in three days.I figure we just get it done instead of stopping and starting. After Jayden’s texts last night, the sooner the better. His concern over Judy’s obsession with getting Abby and Henry off me, aren’t misplaced. Judy has always wanted Abby to herself and Jayden.No doubt that extends to Henry, being Jayden’s blood. She and Ashlyn tried to make me look unfit to be a mother. Almost happened too. For a while Abby lived with her. I cannot let that happen again.In the states I have the no-contact order in place. Here, is a different story. If I was in doubt about traveling before, I’m not now. Dr. Klein has said sooner rather than later for the baby and Dr. Green has echoed that in an email.Anyway, the flights are booked and I’ll have top medics with me.The doorbell rings, pulling me from my thoughts.
(Winona)Once the initial shock of Cass’s arrival wears off, we settle in the living room with mugs of tea. It feels surreal to have her here after worrying, wondering where she was and what she was going through. But now that she’s sitting across from me, her usual confidence muted, I know there’s more to this visit than just a surprise reunion. I study her quietly as she stirs her tea, the spoon clinking against the ceramic mug. She’s always been a mix of chaos and charm, but today, there’s a somber edge. And she’s so thin, like she hasn’t eaten properly in months.“Cass,” I say softly, breaking the silence. “What’s going on? Why are you here now?” Her eyes flick up to meet mine, and for a moment, I see the battle raging inside her. “I needed to see you,” she says simply, setting the spoon down and wrapping her hands around the mug. “I’m glad you’re here. But what about your job back home? There’s more to this, isn’t there?” She sighs, leaning back against the couch. “You alway
(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
(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
(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
Readers, I’ve been back through all your comments and it really touches me that so many of you cared about these characters. I want to send a very special shout out to mitzi.goodson and Theresa for your active love of the story all the way and for commenting regularly. I love you guys and I love all the readers #hearteyes# Also I have discovered a mistake in the upload of Chapter 553. Only half the chapter seems to have been uploaded and I have now fixed that. I know you’re asking about if you’ll see these characters again…right now, I’m letting them rest but I hope to update you on them in the future. Right now I’m focusing on my new stories which I know you’ll also love.In the next one, After waking from a 5 month coma, Ava Lancaster watches her beloved daughter die. Ex-husband Zach Lorne, allowed the mother of his first child, cunning Sienna Sinclair to use little Lila as a medical pawn. Consumed by grief, Ava sets their mansion ablaze—clutching Lila’s body while Zach pleads outs
(Winona)Lisa sits on the couch between me and Jayden, her fingers curled around the USB stick.“You don’t have to,” I remind her gently.“I know,” she replies. “But I want to. I can’t move forward if I don’t hear him out.” She hands the drive to Jayden.Jayden leans forward and plugs the drive in. The screen flickers.And then there he is.Lance. Black eye blooming from Jayden’s attack over hall pass week, bruised knuckles, the same crooked grin he always wore.“Lisa,” he says, “I’m so sorry. I wish this could have been different.”I glance at her. She flinches but doesn’t look away.He shakes his head. “No big poetic intro. No music. No tragic montage. Just me.”His smile cracks slightly.“First, I want to say this isn’t your fault. You didn’t fail me. You didn’t love me wrong. In fact, you’re probably the only person who ever loved me right.”Lisa’s breath hitches beside me.“I wasn’t built for longevity, Lisa. You knew that. Hell, I practically had an exit sign blinking over my he
(Winona)Viktor stands with his hands by his side while Jayden finishes up his announcement.I watch on, proud of them both. Not only staunch in business but as friends.“I’ll still be involved on a higher level, but day-to-day, Viktor’s your guy,” Jayden says, firm and confident. “Effective immediately, he’s the new CEO of Nexus Global.”There’s a brief pause before the quiet, respectful claps ripple through the room.Viktor just nods. “Thank you,” he says. No long speech. No dramatic reaction. Just two words. Classic Viktor.Jayden glances my way and walks over.“Proud of him,” I say quietly. “And of you.”“He’s ready,” Jayden replies. “Hell, he’s been ready for a while now. He taught me almost everything I know about Nexus Global.”Viktor lingers by the window, posture steady. Astrid steps up beside him, saying something low. He replies with a brief nod and the smallest of smirks.Jayden leans into me and murmurs, “did you see that?”I arch an eyebrow. “The nod or the smirk?”“Both
(Winona)I see the moment his eyes catch mine in the window behind Astrid. He blinks like he’s seeing a ghost. Too late. I’m already across the restaurant floor, my heels pounding each step out in deliberate warning, the sound sharp against the quiet hum of late-night conversations. Heads turn. I don’t care.His face shifts from confusion to panic as I advance—his mouth parting slightly, eyes darting to Astrid like he’s trying to figure out if he’s imagining this. He’s not. I’m here. I saw everything.I saw the kiss. I saw the closeness after. The lingering smiles, the laughter, and the way Astrid’s hand stayed on his like they were sharing secrets. Like she belongs to him. You don’t need sound to understand body language.That kiss wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t a friendly peck on the cheek. It was enough for me to wonder if they’ve been playing me for a fool for weeks. Maybe months.Jayden stands just as I reach the table, knocking his chair back in a clumsy scrape. Astrid rema
(Jayden)Astrid raises her glass, the candlelight catching the rim. “To surviving another quarter without firing anyone major.”“To the rest of us surviving the grueling schedule of the Ice Queen herself.”“You did okay.”“Just okay?”“Better than okay. You have quite the work drive, Jayden. Gus was right to leave Nexus in your hands.”“Not one of you thought that at first. You all hated me. Especially Hugo. I think he still might, actually.”“Oh, you are not so bad, after all.”We clink glasses. The wine’s sharp, dry—like her. The restaurant is dim, ambient, tucked just off the canal. Astrid insisted it was the best late-night spot in Brussels. So far, I can’t argue.The food was incredible, the service seamless, and the company? Easy. A little too easy.This dinner has gone longer than I expected. I expected an answer from Winona to my text. But it hasn’t come. The conversation just flowed so effortlessly tonight.No drama. No awkward silences. No carefully chosen words. Astrid, wh
(Winona)It’s nearly 1 a.m. when I step off the jet into the crisp Brussels air. I haven’t slept. I haven’t eaten properly. My thoughts have been chewing on each other for nine hours straight.I hear my phone notification, but I see Cass and I’m so damn happy. She’s about to launch the rest of her life and I’m excited for her.“It’s so good to see you.” I say as I run towards her and give her a hug.“You look like hell,” she says as she grins and hugs me back.“Oh, thanks for the compliment. You look like death yourself.”“Just finished a12 hour shift, what’s your excuse?”We walk out to the private parking area. Having a private jet is so convenient.“I can only blame stress and paranoia,” I tell her as we put my case in the back seat and get into her car.“Paranoia?”“Yes, about where Jayden and I stand in out marriage lately. I’m not sure I’m what makes him happy. All we do is fight, it seems.”“Okay… ah, so me telling him you’d have been better off never meeting him probably didn’
(Jayden)It’s nearly ten. The office is quiet, except for the soft hum of fluorescent lights above the boardroom. Astrid and I have been going through projections for Q3. Numbers, strategies, deadlines. All things that used to matter more than they do right now. My family call is bothering me. It’s not that Winona had a sudden business trip, that’s expected, it’s just the way we interact lately. Going through the motions. Not speaking up on how we feel in case it triggers an argument. I’m as much to blame.“You missed an adjustment here,” she says, tapping the edge of my laptop.“I didn’t miss it,” I say, not looking up. “I just didn’t apply it yet.”She raises an eyebrow. She knows I’m distracted. I’ve worked with her long enough to recognize the look that says I’m full of shit.“You want my input or just someone to nod along while you pretend to work?” she asks.I lean back in my chair. “You always cut right through it, don’t you?”“Of course.”She’s right. She doesn’t have patie
(Winona)The family call starts like any other.Except this time, I’ve told the kids I’ll be away and lied about where I’m going.Now I have to convince Jayden it’s an unexpected business trip.Bobby’s got a stack of papers next to him, pretending he’s not glancing at them while he listens to Jayden. He’s been working on some design options for the school vegetable garden.He’s become quietly obsessed with getting it right.Sarah is asking about when she can next visit the Nexus office again. Abby’s wearing one of Henry’s bibs and announcing herself as the ‘baby boss’ while trying to feed Henry a cracker he doesn’t want.Henry is slamming his hands on the table, shrieking with defiance, and Kit is doing her best to keep the screen steady while holding him.Chaos. Beautiful, familiar chaos. Welcome to the Brennan zoo.Jayden is calm, smiling, fully engaged. He’s asking Bobby about his team at school, praising his leadership skills. He tells Sarah he misses her drawings and promises to
(Winona)Phillip is at his desk when I walk in, finishing up a call. He looks up and gives me a half smile, casual but watchful.I cross the room but remain standing. “I won’t keep you long. I just… I wanted to let you know I’m stepping down in an active capacity from Vault. Effective immediately.”Phillip’s face shifts from polite curiosity to astonishment. “Wait—stepping down how?”I nod. “I’ll remain the owner. But I’m not going to be overseeing day-to-day management or strategic decisions anymore. I’m handing all of that to you. If you want it. CEO, President, call it what you will—I’m out.”He studies me carefully. “That’s… a big move, Winona. You’ve always been a control fre… ahh, hands-on.”I give him a quick grin. “Nice save.”“I’m talented, what can I say? But you being hands-off, I’m not sure that’s even possible.”“I’ve realized I can’t keep devoting so much energy to business. My family needs me. My kids need me.”“Is this what Jayden asked you to do?” “No. He’s been exc