Lahat ng Kabanata ng MY CEO, MY OBSESSION : Kabanata 191 - Kabanata 200

Week three of marriage. Early November.Life settles into a rhythm. Work. Home. Therapy. Repeat.It's mundane. Beautiful. Everything we've been working toward.Monday evening, I come home to find Damien cooking again."You're really committing to this domestic thing," I observe."I like it. It's meditative.""Who are you and what did you do with my husband?""Your husband is evolving. Deal with it."We eat dinner on the couch. Some cooking show playing in the background."Clara called today," I tell him. "She wants us to come to dinner Saturday. Celebrate their engagement properly.""Sounds good. I like seeing them happy.""They remind me of us. Working through their damage.""Except they didn't break up four times first.""Just the once. Overachievers."He laughs. Pulls me closer."I love this. Us. Just existing together.""Me too. It's strange how normal feels extraordinary after so much chaos."Tuesday, my first monthly coffee with Virginia.I'm nervous. Damien offered to come but

Sunday afternoon. Seattle Memorial Hospital.We arrive within twenty minutes. Rush to the ICU.The doctor meets us. "She's stable but critical. Multiple fractures. Internal bleeding. We've stabilized her but the next forty-eight hours are crucial.""Can we see her?" Damien asks."One at a time. Five minutes."Damien goes first. Comes out looking shaken."She's unconscious. Machines everywhere. She looks so—fragile.""My turn?" I ask.He nods.I enter the room. Virginia looks small in the hospital bed. Nothing like the imposing woman who terrorized me for months.I sit beside her. Take her hand."Virginia. I don't know if you can hear me. But I need you to fight. Damien needs you. I—I need you too."The words surprise me. But they're true."We just started getting to know each other. Real you and real me. Don't leave before we get to finish that."I stay the full five minutes. Talking to her. Asking her to stay.Outside, Damien asks, "What did you say?""That we need her to fight. That

Week six of marriage. Late November.Clara's wedding is in three weeks. December 10th.She's eight weeks pregnant and in full planning mode despite morning sickness.Tuesday evening, she video calls in a panic."Elena! Crisis! The florist canceled!""What? Why?""They double-booked. Another wedding same day. They're choosing the bigger one.""That's unprofessional. Did you have a contract?""Yes, but they're offering to refund our deposit. Which doesn't help three weeks before the wedding!""Okay. Don't panic. Let me make some calls."I text Virginia: "Do you know any florists? Clara's canceled three weeks out."Her response is immediate: "I know the best in Seattle. Give me one hour."Forty-five minutes later: "All set. Patricia Chen Florals. She's a friend. She'll honor Clara's original vision. No upcharge. Consider it my wedding gift."I call Clara. "Crisis solved. Virginia knows a florist. You're all set.""Virginia? Damien's mom Virginia?""She's changed. Really changed. And she

Mid-December. Week eight of marriage.The holidays are approaching and our life feels full in the best way.Monday morning, Virginia calls both of us for a three-way call."I need help planning this holiday party. I've never actually hosted something like this before.""You've hosted hundreds of events," Damien says."Formal events. Charity galas. This is different. This is family. I don't know how to do family.""You're learning," I tell her. "What do you need?""Everything. Menu ideas. Guest list. How casual is too casual?"We spend an hour planning. The party will be December 23rd. Her new condo. Casual but elegant."Invite whoever you want," Damien says. "This is your party.""Our party. All of us. That's the point."Tuesday, work is winding down for the year.The program has exceeded all goals. We're planning expansion for next year."You've done incredible work," James tells me. "The board is thrilled.""Thank you. The team has been amazing.""How's married life treating you?""

Christmas Eve. Post-twins revelation.We're all at our apartment. Emergency family meeting.Clara, Marcus, Virginia, Damien, and me. Processing the news."Twins," Clara keeps saying. "Actual twins.""Fraternal or identical?" Virginia asks."They don't know yet. Too early to tell. But definitely two babies. Two heartbeats. Two little humans.""This is wonderful," Virginia says. "Overwhelming but wonderful.""We need two of everything," Marcus is spiraling. "Two cribs. Two car seats. Double strollers exist, right?""They exist," Damien confirms. "Breathe, man.""I can't breathe. We're having TWINS."I pull Clara aside. "How are you really doing?""Terrified. Excited. Nauseous—but that's just pregnancy. Elena, what if I can't handle two babies?""You won't handle them alone. You have Marcus. You have us. You have a whole village.""A village of people who also have no idea what they're doing.""True. But we'll figure it out together."Virginia is already on her phone. "I'm ordering baby