Page 59 of Broken Destiny

One step at a time.

I hadn’t hadtime to visit Cole’s grave for the past two weeks, so instead, I found myself talking to his photograph in the office and at home. I went to the office regularly now that Caleb’s company was the investor in the project.

Every time I walked through those doors, the reality of it hit me all over again. I still couldn’t fathom that we were now business partners, that the man who had once been the centre of my world was now tied to my future in such an unexpected way.

Looking at Cole’s picture in the office one afternoon while having lunch, I spoke to him softly, the way I often did when my thoughts became too loud to carry on alone.

“You know how I told you about Caleb.” I chewed on a piece of lettuce. “Well, I sent him the contract. He replied with some amendments. It’s official now. Meetings are going to take place.” I paused, studying his smiling face in the photograph. “Please take care of me from above and make sure I survive.”

I had been worried when Caleb had spoken to Lucas at the fair. I couldn’t stop wondering if he had asked him any questions that might lead to an awkward situation between them, or if he had said something my son might answer innocently without understanding the consequences. I had bitten my nails while they were talking, my heart racing in my chest, but later, when Lucas told me about theirconversation, I had breathed a deep sigh that left me feeling weak and grateful all at once.

A site visit had been planned that week, and the thought of it churned my stomach. I found myself hoping that Liam would take care of it with Caleb instead of me, because the idea of standing beside Caleb in a professional setting while carrying so much history between us felt overwhelming.

“This is your project, Jiya… Cole’s dream. You are completely in charge of it,” Liam had said to me, reminding me of the responsibility I carried and the trust he had placed in me.

This project was something I was deeply proud of. It had begun as a promise to make sure Cole’s dream came true, but somewhere along the way, it had become my dream too. The fact that I had lacked a stable family of my own when growing up fueled my purpose to make this project a success—for the family I had built for myself, for my children, and for the families who would one day live in this community and create memories of their own.

I was now leading it.

Nobody and nothing was going to change that.

Not even Caleb.

Working with him, I promised myself that I would ensure the project continued smoothly and professionally. I hoped there would not be any issues, and I reminded myself again and again that I would remain courteous, composed, and focused on the work.

As memories of the first time I had worked with him at the hotel surfaced in my mind, I felt a small smile tug at my lips. We had clashed so many times over so many decisions, arguing stubbornly about procedures and standards, and then he had tried to fire me, convinced that I was impossible to work with.

Twirling a pen between my fingers and looking out the window, all the memories of him came rushing back—the late-night talks at my apartment, the ‘fake’ couple act we had played out with Harper, the stay at his penthouse after my heart incident, my birthday, Valentine’s Day, and even his birthday. I found myself smiling withoutmeaning to, lost in the warmth of those moments, until I closed my eyes for just a second, and suddenly Caroline’s face flashed before me.

I immediately opened my eyes and stiffened, the smile fading from my lips.

Why was I thinking about this now, after everything that had happened? My life had changed since then. I had moved on, and he had moved on. Why in God’s name was I allowing my mind to wander back to him at a time when I needed to stay strong and focused?

Shaking my head firmly, I forced myself to return to my work and continued checking my emails.No more thinking of Caleb!

The distant soundof helicopter blades snapped through the air, growing louder with each passing second.

I folded my hands and tapped my feet while waiting on the helipad of the office building. Twisting my wedding and engagement rings slowly around my finger, I felt the familiar weight of them against my skin. They were always a beautiful reminder of how Cole had proposed to me, and of the promise we had made to build a life together. I didn’t think I would ever feel the need to take off those rings, because they were more than just symbols of marriage to me; they were memories of a love that had shaped my life. The only reason I could imagine removing them would be if I met someone new, someone who could stand beside me and earn a place in my heart again. That person would have to be truly extraordinary, someone capable of touching my soul the way Cole had, and deep down, I doubted I would ever meet anyone like him in my life again.

Closing my eyes for a brief moment, I whispered a prayer under my breath, asking for strength, for clarity, and for the courage to face whatever lay ahead.

I opened my eyes and lifted my gaze.

The helicopter was now approaching, its powerful blades slicing through the wind as it descended toward the helipad.

My heart began to pound harder in my chest, and I braced myself mentally and emotionally for my meeting with Caleb, knowing that this encounter would test my strength in ways I wasn’t fully prepared for.

18

CALEB

Iwatched Jiya as my helicopter descended toward the helipad.

She looked professional in a burgundy, form-fitted pantsuit, the colour rich against her skin. Her strong posture and confident stance reflected the authority she carried. Her hair flew across her face, brushing against her cheeks in the wind created by the spinning blades.

I still couldn’t read her. Even after all these years, she remained just as mysterious to me as she had been the first time I worked with her.

“Welcome back again, Mr. Evans!” she said, putting her hand out.