SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 346
346 Stopover in Dubai
(Winona)
The plane lands smoothly in Dubai.
"Mommy, is Daddy here?" Abby asks, clutching her stuffed animal tightly.
"Oh, honey," I say, forcing a smile. "I'm sorry. We need to stop here and have then we'll see Daddy. Okay?"
Her face drops. "Oh. I thought we saw Daddy now."
"Only one more plane ride."
more plane ride and
The doors open, I gather the kids, the medical entourage making sure Henry is okay before they hand him
over to me.
I thank them and take him in his carrier. I'll clip it onto the wheels as soon as they unload the base.
"Stay close, kids." I say. "Bobby, keep an eye on your sisters please.
The terminal is elegant, marble floors reflecting the dazzling lights above. The kids are still buzzing around me, and I'm trying to focus on keeping them in line when- "Hey, troublemakers! Welcome to Dubai,"
My head snaps up.
Jayden is there, right behind Bobby, grinning, with his arms wide open. My heart stutters, and before I can even register what's happening, the kids have launched themselves at him.
"Daddy!" Abby shrieks, running full speed at him. Sarah's right behind her, Bobby hanging back but clearly relieved as he fist bumps him and they do their secret handshake.
Jayden scoops up Abby and Sarah, kissing them both on the forehead. "You didn't think I'd let you get to Europe without me, did you? It might not survive your arrival." He winks at Bobby, who finally cracks a smile.
"Daddy, you're here!" Abby squeals, hugging him tightly.
"I'm here, princess," Jayden says, his voice soft as he kisses the top of her head.
"Mommy said you wouldn't be here."
"Mommy didn't know. I did a sneaky." He grins and both girls giggle. "I might be in trouble."
I stand frozen for a moment, taking it all in. My breath catches in my throat.
Tears prick my eyes and all the bad energy leaves my head.
Jayden's eyes meet mine, and I can see the concern immediately. He sets the girls down gently and strides toward me, closing the distance in seconds.
"You okay?" His hand touches my face, thumb brushing a tear off my cheek. "You look pale, babe."
"I'm fine. It's just been... a lot," I say. "But you, are a sight for sore eyes.
346 Stopover in Dubai
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Jayden touches Henry's cheek and chatters to him as he takes the carrier from me. Henry stares at him and there's a hint of a smile.
Jayden hands Henry to Bobby. "Take him for a minute, please Bobby."
Bobby takes the carrier and the girls and goes and sits on the seats provided.
Jayden pulls me into his arms, holding me tight. "I missed you," he whispers into my hair, and I feel the tension I've been carrying start to melt away.
"I missed you too," I murmur, my voice catching in my throat. "So much."
He pulls back slightly, searching my face. "You sure you're okay?"
"Just tired. And a little dizzy. My blood pressure was a bit low. I'll be fine."
He gives me a soft kiss on the forehead. "Alright, let's get out of here. I've got a surprise for you."
He takes my hand and leads the kids and me out to a sleek black car waiting outside the terminal. The drive through the shimmering streets of Dubai is surreal.
Skyscrapers stretch into the sky, gleaming with glass and gold. The kids press their faces to the windows, bohing and aahing at the incredible sights. I lean my head back against the seat, trying to enjoy it, but the tiredness is creeping back in. Soon, we pull up in front of the most luxurious hotel I've ever seen. It's massive, with towering arches and golden domes that glitter under the sun. Fountains gush in the courtyard.
"Jayden, this is way too much," I say, my eyes wide as I take in the opulence.
He grins, unbothered. "We're technically on our honeymoon, remember?"
I laugh softly, shaking my head. "You're ridiculous."
He smirks.
w for you
We head inside, and the hotel lobby is more extravagant than the exterior, Chandeliers dangle from high ceilings, casting a warm glow over the marble floors.
Plush couches, towering flower arrangements, and staff that seem to appear out of nowhere to help us with our things.
I can't help but feel a little out of place, but the kids are in awe.
"This is like a palace!" Sarah says, wide-eyed.
"Daddy, can we live here?" Abby asks, holding onto his hand tightly.
"I don't think anyone lives like this forever, Abby," I say.
Jayden chuckles. "You haven't seen Gus's place yet."
He checks us in, and we're shown to a sprawling suite.
It's stunning. The kids get busy exploring and I hear them saying there's a pool. That will keep them busy for a while.
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346 Stopover in Dubai
"You still don't look great, Winona."
I sigh, my exhaustion catching up with me. "I think I've let myself get a little run down. I tried to sleep on the flight...but memories kept flooding back." Jayden's eyes darken with concern. "What memories?
I hesitate, not wanting to get into it. Not wanting to tell him about the nurse's question. "Just... everything. Our past. You know."
He pulls me into a tight embrace, his lips brushing my hair. "You're safe now. We're all safe. I'm here, Winona. I've got you."
"I know." I close my eyes, letting the warmth of his words sink in. "I think I just need to sleep."
He nods, stroking my hair. "Alright. I'll take the kids out for some sightseeing. You rest, okay? We've got time."
"Okay," I whisper, feeling like I could sleep for days. "Thank you."
"We'll be back for dinner later."
Jayden kisses my forehead one more time before heading off. The kids excited chatter filling the suite as they leave.
I lie down on the plush bed, and despite everything swirling in my head earlier, I feel myself drifting off.
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347 Rest and Reunion