All Chapters of Five years later, My Billionaire Ex-husband wants me back: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

JanetI spent the entire morning focused on Jade Bloom. Working with my hands, measuring cold-pressed oils, and printing Minimalist green labels was the only thing keeping Garrett’s voice from echoing through my head. I refused to let him drag me back into the dark.At eleven o'clock, Daniel drove me to Laurel & Vine. The boutique owner, Clara, had the contracts laid out on a glass table in her sunlit office."Twenty jars of New Dawn Butter and thirty bottles of the Golden Hour Face Oil to start," Clara said, handing me a silver pen with a warm smile. "If they sell as fast as I think they will, we'll double the order next month."My hand trembled slightly as I signed my name at the bottom of the cream parchment: Janet Ross, Founder.It wasn't a million-dollar corporate merger like the ones Garrett signed every day, but as I pressed my thumb against the cool paper, tears pricked the corners of my eyes. This wasn't built on Crawford capital or Eleanor's societal influence. It was built

JanetThe quiet stillness of the small town no longer felt like a sanctuary. It felt like a trap.Ever since I spotted that dark grey SUV with the Crawford Industries permit parked near the intersection, a cold, persistent anxiety had taken root deep in my chest. Every shadow outside the window made my heart hammer against my ribs; every unfamiliar engine idling on the street sent a shockwave of terror straight through my body.They knew where I lived. They knew which boutique I supplied. They knew which community health center I visited every week to monitor the four fragile heartbeats growing inside me.I sat at the small dining table in Daniel’s apartment, staring at the unopened black velvet jewelry box sitting near my elbow. The heavy diamond necklace inside glistened beneath the soft overhead light, resting atop the sharp, cold threat written on heavy cream cardstock: Return what belongs to Garrett, or we will take what belongs to you.I gently placed both hands over my stomach.

JanetThe house sat at the end of a quiet, tree-lined street in a mid-sized coastal city, hundreds of miles away from the social circles and corporate reach of the Crawford family. It was a modest, single-story craftsman with a small fenced yard, high windows that let in the soft ocean air, and absolute privacy.I stood in the sunlit living room, watching Daniel carry the last two wooden crates of glass bottles inside. Moving into a house instead of an apartment had been an expensive choice, but after months of living with the suffocating terror of being followed, the gated perimeter and private driveway felt like a sanctuary."The lease is officially signed, Janet," Daniel said, setting the crates down on the hardwood floor and handing me the spare set of brass keys. "Everything is registered under your new name."I looked down at the keys, brushing my thumb over the fresh metal. "Janet Hale," I whispered, testing the syllables against my tongue.Saying it out loud felt strange—almos

Janet"Deep breath in, Janet," Dr. Laura said gently, applying the cold ultrasound gel to my bare, swollen stomach.I inhaled deeply, leaning my head back against the examination table pillow. At twenty-one weeks, my belly was no longer something I could disguise under loose sweaters. It was a heavy, prominent, undeniably high bump, carrying the weight of four distinct lives expanding together.The room filled with the rhythmic, galloping sound of four fast heartbeats. Dr. Laura moved the transducer with practiced care, tracing each silhouette on the dark screen."Baby A is measuring right on schedule," Dr. Laura announced, pointing to a tiny profile. "Baby B and Baby C are right beside each other, very active. And Baby D... well, Baby D is currently kicking your spine."I let out a soft laugh, feeling a tiny, distinct flutter beneath my ribs as if on cue."Everything looks wonderfully stable," Dr. Laura said, wiping the gel from my stomach and helping me sit up. She looked at my bell

Janet"That makes forty-two jars of the lavender night cream and thirty bottles of the rosewater toner," Martha said, carefully wiping down the rim of an amber glass jar before sealing it with a gold foil stamp. She set it neatly inside the shipping crate and smiled across the broad wooden workbench. "At this rate, Janet, we're going to need a second mixing station by next month."I offered her a warm, exhausted smile from my seat on the padded stool, resting both hands over my heavy, protruding bump. "Let's make sure we survive this week's shipment first, Martha."Bringing Martha Lewis on board two weeks ago had been one of the most nerve-wracking decisions I had ever made. With Jade Bloom expanding from the Serenity salon into two additional high-end boutiques downtown, my body simply couldn't keep up with the physical demand. At twenty-three weeks, carrying quadruplets was taking a massive physical toll. My lower back throbbed constantly, my feet were perpetually swollen, and even