All That She Needs

Epilogue - Aiden

I sat in one of the booths at Jake's bar, nursing my drink and my mind wandered away, thinking about my life. Over the last five years, I focused on making things right. I tried to be there for my kids, showing them, I was doing better. I knew I couldn't erase the past or expect things to go back to how they were, but I aimed to prove I could be reliable, even if it took time. Though there were moments when I felt like I was making no progress, especially with Kayden. His walls remained high, and I couldn't help but feel like I was always fighting to earn his trust.

With Chloe, it was different. She was more open, but there was still some hesitation, some distrust. I knew she wasn't fully convinced yet, and I understood why. I didn't expect everything to be fixed right away, but I kept showing up, determined trying to rebuild our relationship, no matter how long it took. It wasn't about fixing the past—it was about proving I could be someone they could rely on for the rest of my life.

After years of persuasion, Kayden and Chloe finally agreed to go on a vacation with me. We had taken a few short trips over weekends, but this would be our first long holiday together. I was thrilled. It felt like a long-awaited opportunity to make memories with them, instead of only looking at their holiday pictures and wishing for a moment like this.

We would be heading to Bali, Indonesia, for three weeks. I'd already rented a villa for the three of us and put together an itinerary full of sightseeing, restaurant visits, diving and surfing lessons, and, of course, plenty of shopping and spa trips for Chloe.

Sean had been a godsend, helping with the arrangements. He was still working for me, though I later found out he'd been working with Kayden. Apparently, Kayden had manipulated the company's system to make Sean the lead candidate for the PA position. To Sean's credit, he had no idea and genuinely thought he earned the job on his own. He only found out when Kayden called to confess, telling him he wouldn't report the glitch in the system that would alert HR they were making a mistake—only if Sean agreed to spy on me. Kayden chose Sean because he knew, somehow, that Sean was desperately in need of a job.

My son was an exceptionally sharp, scheming genius, a true mastermind who thought through every move.

I had handed over my CEO position to Bryan Hoofer, my former CFO—a good, honest man who didn't deserve to be saddled with tasks far beyond his role, especially when I wasn't in the right state of mind to lead anymore. Rumors about Vanessa running me over with her car and the messy backstory behind it had begun to surface. Despite the Corporate Communication team's best efforts to keep it contained, the details were leaking. Resigning was the only way to protect the company's reputation. It also marked a first in our company's history—someone outside the family taking over as CEO. Needless to say, my father was absolutely livid about the decision.

Stepping down turned out to be the best decision I'd ever made. My mind was clearer, healthier, without the constant pressure of the corporate world. I felt more at peace now than I had when I was running the company. And, suddenly, I had all the time in the world. I could be there for my kids, whenever and wherever they needed me.

Someday, when Kayden or Chloe was ready—and only if they wanted it—they could take over the reins, leading the company.

Annoying laughter suddenly filled my ears, snapping me back to the present, and my brows furrowed in exasperation.

"And I thought, that's hilarious," she continued, "They said I looked too young to be retired from modeling so soon."

The woman sitting across from me wore heavy makeup and a dress that seemed uncomfortably tight. She looked to be in her mid-thirties, a former model with a slender figure, long legs, light blonde hair, and green eyes. She was undeniably beautiful, but nothing about her seemed real—every bit of her perfection seemed meticulously crafted under surgical knives and cosmetic treatments. And I had a strong suspicion that her boobs weren't entirely natural.