Planning The Future
Remi’s POV
I stared at the empty doorway long after Rowan had left.
His words clung to me like smoke, wrapping around my thoughts, sinking into my skin.
"You’re a terrible liar, Remi."
I exhaled, shoving the food container away even though I wasn’t finished. The hunger was still there, but my appetite had vanished.
Damn him.
Damn him for getting under my skin again.
I leaned back in my chair, rubbing my temples.
What the hell was I doing?
I was supposed to be focusing on my recovery. On my kids. On Claire. On the fact that I had barely survived a plane crash. Instead, I was sitting here replaying every moment of last night. Every touch. Every breath. Every time his body pressed into mine.
I groaned, dragging my hands down my face.
This was a mistake.
A huge, complicated, irreversible mistake.
And yet…
I didn’t regret it.
Not entirely.
I cursed under my breath and stood up, shoving the leftover food back into the bag. My body still ached, but I needed to move. I needed to clear my head before I lost my mind.
I grabbed my phone, scrolling through my notifications. Missed calls, texts, emails—most of them from colleagues, a few from Jo.
And one from Asher.
I frowned. Asher?
I hesitated, then clicked on the message.
Asher: Heard about the rescue. Glad you’re okay. Call me when you can.
I sighed. I owed him a call. He had been worried. Of course he had.
But right now? I wasn’t sure I had the energy for another emotional conversation.
I typed out a quick reply.
Me: I’m fine. Just exhausted. I’ll call you soon.
A reply came almost instantly.
Asher: Get some rest. Don’t push yourself.
I smiled faintly. He always knew what to say.
Shaking my head, I shoved my phone into my bag and made my way out of the lounge, keeping my head down as I passed the nurses’ station. The last thing I needed was another conversation about my “miraculous” survival.
I still wasn’t sure how I felt about that word.
Miracle.
It made it sound like Rowan and I hadn’t fought tooth and nail to survive. Like we had just been lucky.
Luck had nothing to do with it.
We had bled for that survival.
And yet, somehow, he was handling everything like it was just another day.
My thoughts drifted to him before I could stop them.
Had he even gotten a proper checkup?
The hospital had been swarming with press, investors, medical staff—he barely had a moment to breathe.
And knowing Rowan, he hated hospitals.
Had he left already? Was he still here?
I exhaled, rubbing my temple as I turned the corner.
“Boss!”
I looked up just in time to see Jo jogging toward me, her eyes way too alert for someone who had spent the last few days babysitting my kids.
I blinked. “What?”
She grinned. “I saw Rowan leave. He looked tense. What did you do?”
I groaned. “Jo.”
She wiggled her eyebrows. “Don’t ‘Jo’ me. Spill.”
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. “It’s nothing.”
Jo gave me a flat look.
I kept walking.
She followed.
“So,” she mused. “By ‘nothing,’ do you mean the nothing where you slept together and now you’re running for the hills?”
I nearly choked.
Jo cackled.
I glared at her. “Keep your voice down.”
She smirked, but she lowered her tone. “Oh my God. I knew it.”
I sighed. “It was—”
“A mistake?” she guessed.
I hesitated.
Jo pounced. “You didn’t deny it.”
I rolled my eyes. “It was a mistake, Jo. It was.”
She gave me a look. “Uh-huh.”
I groaned. “Jo, seriously.”
She crossed her arms. “Look, I’m not saying you need to run into his arms and declare your undying love. But you can’t tell me you feel nothing for him.”
I stayed silent.
Jo smirked. “Exactly.”
I exhaled sharply. “It’s complicated.”
“Life is complicated.” She nudged me. “Feelings are even worse. But, Remi… you should figure out what you really want. Before someone else decides for you.”
Her words hit deeper than I wanted to admit.
Because that was exactly what I hadn’t done before.
With Rowan. With my life. With everything.
And now?
Now I was stuck in a loop of past mistakes and present confusion.
Jo smiled. “Just think about it, okay?”
I sighed. “Fine.”
She grinned. “Good. Now, go get some sleep. You look wrecked.”
I rolled my eyes but didn’t argue. Because honestly?
I was wrecked.
****
Sleep didn’t come easily.
I tossed and turned, my mind racing in circles, replaying every moment of the past few days. The crash. The island. Rowan.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him—bruised, bleeding, protecting me. I heard his voice, the way he said my name, the way his arms had wrapped around Larry and Laura like he belonged there.
Like they belonged to him.
But they didn’t.
Not really.
I exhaled sharply, staring at the ceiling of my dimly lit bedroom. Jo’s words haunted me.
"Figure out what you really want. Before someone else decides for you."
I knew what I wanted.
I wanted peace.
I wanted to protect my kids from the chaos of Rowan Vaughn’s world.
The man I had married wasn’t just a billionaire. He wasn’t just powerful. He was dangerous in ways he probably didn’t even realize. His family was ruthless, his name carried baggage, and the second people found out about Larry and Laura?
They would be targets.
I couldn’t let that happen.
No matter how much Rowan had changed, no matter how different he seemed, he was still Rowan Vaughn. And Vaughns? They weren’t known for mercy.
I had barely survived his family once.
I wouldn’t risk my children suffering the same fate.
Decision made, I sat up, running a hand through my hair.
I had to distance myself.
From him.
From whatever this was turning into.
I had let my guard down before.
I wouldn’t make that mistake again.
—
The next morning, Jo raised an eyebrow as I walked into the kitchen, already dressed, my expression unreadable.
“You look like you had a breakthrough,” she mused. “Or a breakdown. Hard to tell.”
I ignored her, pouring myself a cup of coffee.
She leaned against the counter. “So? You gonna tell me?”
I took a sip, inhaled slowly, then met her gaze.
“I’m keeping Rowan at a distance.”
Jo blinked. “That’s… sudden.”
I shrugged. “It’s necessary.”
She frowned, studying me. “This about the kids?”
I nodded. “He can’t know their true heritage. I don't like how the kids react with him. I don't want him to know the truth. Not now. Maybe not ever.”
Jo exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. “Remi, you know that’s not gonna last forever, right?”
I swallowed, forcing my voice to stay steady. “It has to.”
She didn’t argue.
But she didn’t look convinced, either.
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