Jane POV


I woke up to the sound of my phone buzzing over and over and I reached for it sleepily and blinked at the screen.

Headline after headline.

'Jane Grande, not Just a CEO, But a Queen of Strength."


'A Woman Who Faced Fire and Stood Taller."

'Hated, Hurt, and Now… Honored."


I sat up slowly, and rubbed my eyes and I still couldn't believe it. Just weeks ago, I was the woman everyone whispered about and now they wrote about me like I was some kind of hero.

I heard a knock on the door. It was Hades.

He walked in with a soft smile, and carried a tray with breakfast.

'Morning, my queen," he said playfully.

I chuckled. 'You have been reading the headlines too?"

He set the tray down beside me. 'Every single one. You are all over the news. You are changing minds, Jane."

I stared at him for a moment. 'Do you really think so?"

He sat beside me. 'I know so. They finally see what I have always seen in you."

—

Later that day, my phone rang again and this time, it was a talk show producer.

'Ms. Grande, we would be honored to have you join us on Monday," the woman said. 'We want to talk about resilience and motherhood. How you turned pain into power."

I paused and I looked out the window. The sky was clear today. It was bright, just like I felt inside.

'I would love to," I said.

—

Two days later, I got an elegant envelope in the mail. It was a thick cream paper, gold-embossed print.

'The Women's Power Circle cordially invites Jane Grande"

I blinked again and my hands were shaking a little.

Hades walked in and raised an eyebrow.

'Another bill?"

I handed it to him.

He whistled 'Wow. That is the Women's Power Circle, the kind of place where names are made."

I sat down on the edge of the bed. 'They want me to speak.."

He knelt in front of me. 'Yes. Because you are a woman of power."

He kissed my hand gently. 'And I have never been prouder of you."

I smiled small, soft smile. 'You always say the right thing."

'Because I mean it."

—

That weekend, I walked into the grand hall of a charity gala and not just as someone's guest, not as scandalous and not as Hades' girlfriend.

I walked in as Jane Grande.

Women in long gowns turned to look, but their faces weren't cold or mocking like before, they smiled and they nodded. Some even walked up to greet me.

'Jane, I am so glad you are here."

'I admire how you handled everything."

'You have become… an example."

I shook hands and I smiled politely, but inside, I was still learning how to believe it was real.

—

At one point, a woman in a deep red dress walked up, she used to sit across from me at board meetings and she used to avoid me.

Tonight, she offered a soft smile.

'I judged you wrong, Jane," she said. 'I am sorry, but I want you to know… I have been watching and you have really changed how I see strength."

I don't know what to say. So I just nodded. 'Thank you. That means more than you know."

—

Back at home, I stood in front of the mirror and brushed my hair.

Hades came up behind me, and wrapped his arms around my waist.

'You were amazing tonight," he said softly.

I met his eyes in the mirror. 'I'm still trying to believe this is real."

He rested his chin on my shoulder. 'You have earned every bit of it."

I turned to face him. 'For a long time, I thought people would only ever see my past, the mistakes and the scandals. The pain."

'And now?"

'Now… they're finally seeing me."

He brushed a strand of hair behind my ear. 'They are seeing the woman I fell in love with, the fighter and tbuilder, the mother of my unborn child."

I laughed gently. 'That last one still feels strange to say."

'But beautiful."

'Yes. Beautiful."

___

A few weeks later, I walked into a conference room filled with powerful women, lawyers, writers, activists and leaders.

They all turned toward me as I stepped in and they applaused.

It was warm, loud and sincere.

I felt a lump formed in my throat.

I walked slowly toward the front, I didn't rush and I wasn't nervous. It was just me.

Suddenly, a girl no older than twelve walked up, she had curly hair and wide brown eyes.

She looked up at me and said.'You make me believe I can be strong too."

Tears pricked the corners of my eyes. I crouched down so I was eye leveled with her.

'You already are," I whispered.

She threw her arms around me and hugged me tight.

I hugged her back, eyes closed, heart full.

And then, as I stood and I looked out at the room.

They were clapping and still smiling and in my head, I heard my own voice, it was strong and calm

'For the first time, I was not just surviving, I was celebrated. I was free."

And I believed it.


Got it! Here's a slightly longer but still brief and meaningful version of Ava's POV. It keeps the tone warm, professional, and personal:


---

Ava's POV

I saw Jane's name trending online again, but this time, it's different. The headlines praised her strength and the comment sections were filled with admiration instead of judgment.

I picked up my phone and called her right away.

'Hey," I said when she answered. 'Queen of Strength, huh?"

She laughed softly, a little shy. 'Don't start."

'I mean it, Jane," I said and leaned back in my chair. 'You are everywhere. You have changed the whole story. People are finally seeing what I have always seen in you."

There was silence for a moment, then she said, 'I couldn't have done it without you."

'Yes, you could," I said firmly. 'But I'm honored I got to be part of it. And now God, I can't wait for that baby to come."

She exhaled slowly. 'Me too. I am scared, but I am ready."

'You have been through fire," I said. 'This next part? It's going to be beautiful."

I heard her sniff quietly, and I knew she was smiling.

'Thanks, Ava."

'Always," I said. 'Now go keep being the woman little girls want to grow up to be."