Eternal (30 page)
Authors: London Saint James
The press staff chuckled in unison.
When questions were raised about Cayden and our
possible affair, I assured the press there was never an affair, wishing Cayden
all the best with his future and his career. When the press brought up the
similarities between Cayden and Austin, I agreed the resemblance was shocking
but assured the press Cayden Cain was not Austin Carlyle so there was never a
story or connection between Cayden and I.
“Winter, will you tell us if there was ever
anything between you and Cayden and was that the real reason for the split
between you and his brother Chandler Cain?”
“Cayden is an amazing man. I would be one of the
luckiest women in the world to have had an affair with him, as I am sure the
many females watching this interview would agree. But I can tell you there was
never an affair. I am not the type of woman who would cheat. Further, you are
giving me much more credit than I deserve. I am flattered you would consider me
worthy enough of Cayden’s attention. However I doubt Cayden Cain who is young,
beautiful, and could have any women he wanted, would want to have an affair
with me. I’m not so young anymore.” I smiled. “So I hope this story will drop
and I wish Cayden all my best wishes for his continuing career.”
“Winter, I am Shane Rogers from
People Magazine
.”
“Nice to meet you, Shane,” I replied.
“Likewise,” Shane said with a chuckle. “As I am
sure you know we were all stunned with the news of your past engagement to Mr.
Austin Carlyle and let me give you my condolences for your loss.”
“Thank you,” I said.
“As you know the similarities physically between
Austin and Cayden are quite remarkable, can you comment on that?”
“I would agree the physical similarities are
quite amazing. No one can argue that point. And the fact they both chose
similar career paths is also amazing. But in life we sometimes find interesting
and similar things in which we cannot fully explain. This would be one of those
times I am sure. But I do feel it is important to see Cayden for who he is, and
Austin for who he was. Austin Carlyle was an extraordinary man who died sixteen
years ago, something that is still hard for me to talk about. Cayden Cain is
alive and well. They are two separate and distinct people. I loved and still
love
When I was asked about Dane, I explained I had
not seen him in years so I didn’t know he was infatuated with me or with
Cayden. I assured them Dane had no reason to peruse any type of vendetta
against Cayden, declaring he was mistaken by the possibility of a relationship
that never happened. After the press informed me Dane would be spending some
time in a mental hospital I was relieved, only saying it was my hope Dane could
receive the type of help he requires.
“Ms. Wells, Rich from the
Globe
. Can you tell us what the connection is between you and Dane
Segal?”
“Yes. I worked for Dane many years ago. He was
my manager at a restaurant in which I worked as a waitress when I was still
attending college here in
I had not seen or heard from Dane in years so I was very shocked to know he was
infatuated with me and the so-called affair I was having with Cayden Cain.
Since there was never an affair, I would hope Dane would drop whatever vendetta
he may have against Cayden and seek the help he must desperately need.”
Rich asked, “Is there anything you would like to
say to Mr. Segal if he is watching this press conference?”
I looked
into the cameras and spoke. “Dane, I am sorry for your suffering, but you need
to know there is no reason for your hatred of Cayden Cain. Cayden and I are not
together. I hope you will realize you need some help. Please Dane, for your
sake, find the help you need.”
After the press conference, I made one visit to
the Carlyles. I told them about the baby and asked for their confidence in
keeping yet another one of my secrets. They stated they would do anything to
ensure my happiness yet wondered if I were making the correct decision. For
Cayden’s safety, I assured them I was.
Doctor Carlyle took a hold of my hand; pain in
his eyes was evident. “Winter love, are you sure about this? I know Cayden
loves you. I know he will love this baby.”
I closed my eyes and could see Cayden’s
beautiful face. I had to do something to protect him. I had no choice.
“Doctor Carlyle, you and Mrs. Carlyle know how
hard this decision has been for me. You both understand firsthand the pain we
all suffered and still suffer with the loss of
“Yes,” Judith replied.
“If I could have done something to save
it. If my leaving would have saved his life, I would have hurt myself and left
in order to allow him to live. Dane believes Cayden is
save me. I cannot allow Dane to go after Cayden. So you see, if I can do something
to ensure Cayden’s life I have no choice but to do it. If he knew about the
baby, he wouldn’t let me go. If I stay, I place him in danger. I have to leave
Cayden. I have no choice but to allow him to live.”
“I understand,” Doctor Carlyle said. And I knew
he did.
****
Jayden was with me until I boarded the plane for
by my side as he had always done. I heard the overhead speaker sound. “Flight
ten nineteen bound for
hugged Jayden’s neck. He was ridged but stiffly hugged me back.
“Goodbye, Jayden. Remember your promise to me.
Take care of yourself and please take care of my heart. I cannot live without
him.”
“Winter, it has truly been an honor to know you.
Keep yourself out of trouble.” Jayden smiled. I was honored to see him smile
for the second time since meeting him. Jayden stood stiff again, arms at his
side. “I will keep my promise to you. Cayden will be safe.”
“Thank you,” I said. I dragged myself forward.
Once again, I found I was placing one foot in front of the other until I found
myself moving.
****
I made one last visit. It was to see my mother.
I had to let her know of my decision along with my current plans to leave
to reconsider and asked me to come home. I hugged her, cried, and told her I
had to find my life again, start over.
“And the baby?” my mother asked. “What about
Cayden?”
“I have to do this, Mom. Someday, I will tell
him about his child but not now. I have to keep him safe from Dane and the
press. Dane wants to hurt him over me, and the press coverage could harm his
career, not to mention what he would do to try and protect me and the baby. I
have to safeguard him, and this is the only way I know how. I hope, in time, he
can forgive me. But everything I’m doing is for him.”
****
In April, I put my home up for sale. I stood in
my front lawn, adjusting the for sale sign when I watched a dark black Jaguar
pull into the drive. The driver’s side door opened, music blaring. I heard the
purr of the engine stop, the music stop, and saw him exit the car. He wore a
perfect black Versace suit, black Italian loafers, and walked rather casually
with both hands in his pant pockets.
“
What are you doing here?”
green eyes. “Snowflake,” he greeted.
“Nice car,” I commented as I pulled my hair up
off my neck in a twist.
“Rental,” he replied, looking at me then at the
sign in my yard. “So you really are moving I see.”
“Yes, but….”
“Let’s talk,” he said. He took a hold of my
hand. He was quiet for a moment as we walked down the gravel-lined drive.
“Winter.” He pulled my hand up to his chest patted it and let it go. “My
brother does not know I am here.”
“Okay.”
“I was hoping I could convince you to come back
with me. Cayden is….”
“Is he all right? No one has tried to hurt him,
have they?”
“No, he is safe but he’s not the same. Frankly,
I am worried about him, Winter. I have never seen him this shattered. He loves
you, and he needs you but he won’t come after you because you asked him to let
you go. He believed you needed to go. He believed you had to leave, because you
could not handle his life, the stress, the pressure, the spotlight. He believed
you. Cayden has always believed his life was not good for you so when you
confirmed it…well, he broke, Winter.”
gesture reminded me of his brother.
“You knew my brother feared his life would harm
you, didn’t you?”
“Yes.”
“He told me it was never fair to you, what he
did. He believed he kept you locked up behind closed doors, altering your life
because he was so selfish. Cayden believes you are safer, better off without him.”
I sobbed. We came to a stop in our walk. “
brother but I cannot….” I broke down unable to finish speaking.
his arms. He hugged me.
“Please, Winter, I know why you left. I know you
left thinking you were going to be able to do something about Dane. I know you
are terrified of someone hurting Cayden. I know why but please reconsider
coming back. We can handle things with Dane.”
“
Dane wants to hurt Cayden over me. The thought of this is beyond terrifying and
you know why. You know firsthand about loss, how it alters our existence.
Everything I ever feared came crashing down around me when I heard Dane wanted
to harm Cayden. While it has killed me to walk away, it would actually kill me
to lose Cayden because someone hurt him over me. I am trying to protect Cayden
the only way I know how. I cannot lose Cayden that way. I could not survive a
second time, not a second time.”
“I know,”
“No,
“What? Why do you think that?”
“Like Cayden, he always tried to protect me.
That night, the night of the crash,
If he would have let me go, kept his hands on the wheel, maybe things could
have been different. Maybe….”
“Winter, stop. You are not to blame for the
accident, for
need to protect you or for his death.”
“Winter, how could you believe, hold on to this belief for all these years?”
“Just as you believe you are to blame for his
death, because it was your family who was involved.”
have to let this go. Don’t let your fear take you away from your life. You know
you love my brother, and you know he loves you.”
“
there is so much more than I can tell you but I cannot, and I will not allow
someone to hurt Cayden over me. I would die first. I would let Dane kill me if
it kept him from Cayden. I have even thought about going to see Dane, but other
things have kept me from going.”
The only
thing that stopped me was my need to protect the baby.
“Winter, you cannot think that way, you cannot….”
out a sigh then let me loose from his hold. “No seeing Dane,” he said, almost
stern. I nodded my head in agreement. “Look at me, Winter.” I looked up at his
face. “No.”
“I know,” I said.
“There is nothing I can say. There is nothing I
can do to make you change your mind, is there? You won’t come back with me,
will you?”
“No,
I can’t.”
“Where will you go?”
“I don’t know. I can’t stay here, the press
lurk. I would not be surprised if we don’t see ourselves in the morning paper
with the headlines Chandler Cain and Winter Perri back together again. Your
brother would probably kick your ass after seeing that.”
of it. “Winter, please take care of yourself and don’t do anything stupid, for
my brothers sake. Promise me you will not go to find Dane.”