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154 Good Riddance Judy
Last Updated:
2024-08-11 21:44:46
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Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 155 She’s Gone!
(Winona)I glance at Jayden, wondering how he’s feeling about his mother leaving, but his face is a mask of calm that I can’t read. He hasn’t said much about it, and I can’t tell if he’s relieved or not.For the first time in his life, his mother won’t be hovering over him, dictating his every move, and yet he seems... unmoved.It’s that unreadable expression that sets my nerves even more on edge. I’ve always struggled to understand Jayden’s feelings when it comes to his mother, and now, more than ever, I wish I could see inside his head.Is he happy she’s leaving? Is he secretly afraid, like I am? Or is he just so numb to her influence that he doesn’t care anymore? The uncertainty about his emotions adds another layer to my inner anxiety.“Jayden, dear,” Judy says, turning to him as she stands. She ushers Abby over to me as she approaches her son. “Take care of yourself, won’t you.”Jayden nods, his face remaining impassive. “I’ll be fine,” he says, his voice devoid of emotion.“Good
Last Updated : 2024-08-11Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 156 Facing Therapy
(Winona)Dr. Barnaby Greyson, M.D., Ph.D.Consultant Psychiatrist and PsychoanalystGuiding the Minds Behind the HeadlinesI hover outside his office door, reading the name over and over. This is it. My nerves are toast. My hands clammy and my heart rate like a racehorse who just finished a steeplechase.I look at Jayden beside me and he looks exactly like I feel.His eyes meet mine. “We got this.”I nod. “We got this.”We step inside together and a receptionist asks us to take a seat after she takes our names.We both sit in silence. I’m sure the clock on the wall is on high volume as the seconds tick over.Then out he steps. He’s younger than I imagined. Not even any gray kissing his hair. I’m not sure he’s much older than us. Maybe he has a good hair colorist and does Botox or something.He nods at us, peering over his glasses like he is actually one hundred years old. This is weird.We stood up and walked into his room. “Take a seat,” he says as he sits in his huge leather office
Last Updated : 2024-08-11Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 157 Going Deep
(Winona)Barnaby pauses, then leans forward slightly. “Jayden, you mentioned anger. Can you tell me more about that? What is it that makes you angry?”Jayden’s words come out, slow and measured. “I’m angry because I feel like I’ve been lied to, manipulated. I feel like I’ve lost control of my own life, and I don’t know how to get it back. I don’t know if I ever had it.”Dr. Greyson turns to me. “Winona, what about you? What are you feeling?”I hesitate, not wanting to say too much, not wanting to open the floodgates. But I know I have to, if this is going to work. “I’m scared,” I admit. I look at Jayden and then back at Barnaby. “I’m scared that no matter what we do, it’s not going to be enough. Maybe we were way too broken before we even started.”The room falls silent again. I can feel Jayden’s eyes on me, but I don’t look back at him.“It’s clear that you both have a lot of pain and fear that you’re carrying. But the fact that you’re here, that you’re willing to talk about it, is
Last Updated : 2024-08-12Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 158 Going Deeper
(Jayden)“Imagine being told by my best friend that you now loved Ashlyn and had no memory of me.” Winona’s voice is steady, but the hurt behind it is unmistakable. She continues, “I was heartbroken. All I wanted was to get through rehabilitation as fast as possible and come find you. I was sure once you saw me, you’d remember what we had.”I listen to her words. There’s no avoiding the pain she’s laying out in front of me.“Jayden, remember this isn’t about blame,” Barnaby’s voice cuts in, calm and firm. “This is Winona expressing her truth. Just hear her. No excuses. No defensiveness. Just listen.”I nod, silencing the instinct to defend myself.“You never cared about my side of things,” Winona continues. “Not once. You never gave me the benefit of the doubt. You just accepted what they told you, even when I tried to help you remember.”“Okay, let’s—” Barnaby starts but Winona keeps going.“You made love to me the night I conceived Abby.” Her voice tightens. “I thought I’d finally
Last Updated : 2024-08-12Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 159 Navigating the Daily
(Winona)The penthouse feels more like a sanctuary today than it has in months. Abby’s laughter echoes through the spacious living room as she chases a bouncing ball, her small feet thumping against the hardwood floors. The sound of her joy is a balm to my frayed nerves, still tender from yesterday’s therapy session with Barnaby.Jayden and I are at the kitchen island, laptops open, papers strewn about as we try to coordinate our schedules. With Judy gone and Abby starting preschool full-time, our days are suddenly our own, but also more complicated with finding a work-life balance. We’re drafting a family calendar—work meetings, Abby’s school events, therapy sessions. It’s mundane, yet feels like a significant step forward.“Okay, so I’ll drop her off at school on Mondays and Wednesdays, and you pick her up?” Jayden asks, pointing to the digital calendar.“Sounds good. And I can take Tuesdays and Thursdays,” I confirm, making the entries. “Fridays we can alternate or go together, d
Last Updated : 2024-08-12Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 160 Cutting the Ties
(Winona)I’m sitting at a wooden park table, my fingers tracing the rough surface, trying to focus on anything but the dread pooling in my stomach.The park is beautiful today—families laughing, kids playing by the stream, and ducks floating lazily in the clear water. It’s the kind of day that should bring peace, but instead, my frayed nerves barely hold me together.Gordon had assured me that Steve would find me and to just sit somewhere amongst other people. Gordon is here as well. I can’t see him but I know he is. Knowing that quells the gnawing anxiety.My phone is recording, hidden in my pocket, ready to capture every word of this twisted reunion. I brace myself for what I know will be an ugly encounter.The wind rustles through the trees, and I catch sight of him walking toward me. He’s thinner but well dressed and that same smug smirk twists his lips. His presence is a shadow, darkening the brightness of the day.“Well, well,” Steve says as he approaches, his voice laced with c
Last Updated : 2024-08-13Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 161 Mother and Child
(Winona)The words hit me. Is he just playing mind games? A sibling? My mind reels, trying to process what he’s saying. “My mother… She had another child? To you?”“Yeah, a year after you left,” he says, almost gleefully. “I was done raising kids by then and done with supplying her drug habit, no one wanted to pay for her services anymore.”I stare at him. What a monster.“Yeah, surprised your mother was a whore, are ya?” He grins. “She wasn’t even good at that. Crying every time. Men want some fire, some passion.”I didn’t ever think my heart could break any harder than it already had over the years. But it did. The sudden realization that I was just too young to realize. He was the reason my mother had a drug habit. He kept her that way so he could pimp her out.If I could ever kill anyone with no regrets, it’s this person in front of me now.“One kid was bad enough, and I wasn’t about to waste the rest of my life on another. So, I left. Don’t know what happened to them, and I don’t
Last Updated : 2024-08-13Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 162 The Past Unravels
(Winona)“I know we have our list, Jayden, but I have something else I need to talk about in our safe space today.”Jayden looks surprised but he nods. “Of course.”Barnaby leans back in his chair, glancing between us. “Winona, it sounds like there's something significant you need to share with Jayden. Let’s start.”I take a deep breath, my heart pounding. I look at Jayden, his eyes are filled with worry. “I met with Steve,” I say, my voice steady, but I can feel the tension coiled in my stomach. “Steve Halley. My fath…my sperm donor. That creature is barely human let alone a father.”Jayden’s eyes widen, and his face pales. “You what? Winona, are you serious? That man is dangerous.”“I know,” I say quickly. “Which is why I had Gordon with me, hidden from Steve. I wasn’t stupid about it, Jayden.”“Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you let me go with you?” His voice is tight, barely controlled. I can see the hurt and the fear mixing in his expression, and it tears at me.“I didn’t wa
Last Updated : 2024-08-13
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Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 531 The Right Fit
(Winona)The dining table feels more like a boardroom today. Jayden’s laptop is open, his notes meticulously organized. Anne sits beside him, her ever-calm presence keeping us in check.I’m across from them, sipping coffee like it’s a lifeline. I’m nervous and nowhere near as organized as Jayden looks.“Anyone think you’re vetting the CEO of Nexus Global,” I say, glancing at Jayden’s neatly printed spreadsheets. “Just as important,” he counters, tapping his pen against the table. “This person is going to live here, help raise our kids, and be part of our lives. I’m not leaving this to chance.” “Fair,” I admit, “but this can’t be about just what’s on paper. It has to feel like the right match.” Anne brings some crackers over. “We’ll find someone and I’m quite happy to keep doing it until we do. Don’t feel pressured to choose today.”“Anne, you need a life. You’ll always be a part of this family, the kid’s Nanny Anne. But I want you to be able to have a grandmother role, not a primar
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 530 The Third Wheel
(Lisa)The sound of kids laughing and fighting all at once is a special kind of chaos. Not loud enough to make me need earplugs but constant enough to make me question why anyone willingly signs up for this parenting gig. I’m sitting at the farmhouse kitchen table, nursing a mug of herbal tea—because Winona says it’s for relaxation, apparently—while Winona navigates the madness with calm efficiency. Tastes like I’m drinking fresh-cut grass. Eww.“Sarah, put the scissors down before someone loses an eyebrow!” Winona shouts from the stove, where she’s flipping breakfast pancakes with one hand and holding Henry on her hip with the other. Jayden strolls in, looking half-asleep but still managing to make kissing her cheek seem like the most romantic move in the world. He grabs Henry and tosses him in the air, making the toddler squeal with laughter. “Morning,” Jayden says to me, his voice a deep rumble that doesn’t match the little boy giggling in his arms. “You sleep okay?” “Like the
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 529 Promises
(Jayden)I rub my thumb over her knuckles. “We’ll make it work. We always do.” I want that to be the truth. More than anything. She nods, but I can tell something else is bothering her. “I won’t spend more than one night away from the kids while you’re gone,” she says, like she’s trying to convince herself more than me. I smile, though I know that promise is going to be harder to keep than she thinks. “I appreciate that. But Winona... you have to be prepared for when you have to choose business over family sometimes. It’s going to happen, and it’s not going to feel great.” Her shoulders stiffen slightly. “I can balance it, Jayden. I’ve been doing it already.” I exhale, running a hand through my hair. “I know you have, but it’s going to get harder. Board meetings, investors, expansion plans—they don’t wait for soccer practice or bedtime stories.” She crosses her arms, and there it is—that little flash of defensiveness I knew would come. “I know that. I’m not naive. But I’m not ab
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 528 Power Couple Support
(Jayden)Winona stands at the kitchen counter, scrolling through her phone while absently stirring her tea. Her brows furrow slightly, lips pursed in that way that tells me she’s already a million miles into business mode. I used to love that look when we were at Brennan Industries together. Seems a lifetime ago now.I lean against the doorframe, watching her for a moment before stepping closer. “Thinking about ditching me for a board meeting already?” I tease, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. She huffs a soft laugh, but it’s distracted. “Actually, I was going to ask you some advice.” She sits at the dining table. I grab my coffee and settle across from her. “Shoot.” Winona finally looks up, her eyes searching mine. “I have a couple of big events next week—the board meeting, a dinner with potential investors, and now a charity gala just popped up. It’s a lot, Jayden. I can’t blow off the board or the investors…” “You can’t blow off any of them. Charities are networking an
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 527 Goodbyes and Plans
(Winona)Pulling into the farmhouse driveway, I spot Cass sitting on the porch steps, her duffel bag at her feet. She looks up when Lisa and I step out of the car, a smirk already forming. She gives us a wolf-whistle.“Look at you two,” she calls out. “Business queens in the flesh.” Lisa tugs at her blazer. “Trust me, I’m getting changed right away. What a fucking disaster.” I roll my eyes and stride up to Cass, pulling her into a tight hug. She smells like vanilla and cigarette smoke, a weird combination that somehow suits her. “I’ve missed you, brat sister,” I murmur, holding her for a beat longer than necessary because I know why she’s here and it’s already breaking my heart. Cass pulls back with a grin. “Miss you too, boss sister. Seriously, what’s with the corporate look? You two getting ready to take over the world or what?” “Something like that,” I say, smoothing my blazer. “But I’ll let Lisa fill you in when she’s ready. So, I guess you’re here to say goodbye?” Cass nod
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 526 The Ride Home
(Winona)Lisa stares out the window, chewing on the corner of her nail—something she only does when she’s about two seconds away from a full-on meltdown.The highway stretches out ahead, I can’t stop thinking about Logan Bennett. Lance’s twin. A walking, talking ghost we never knew existed. I can only imagine how rocked Lisa must feel.I grip the steering wheel. “You good?” Lisa lets out a short laugh, but it’s hollow. “Define ‘good.’ Because if it means questioning my entire reality while also wanting to throw myself into traffic, then yeah. I’m fucking great.” I glance at her. “You’re not throwing yourself into anything except maybe a bath later with a gallon of wine.” “I think any alcohol now might result in me making myself obnoxious. You know how I get.” Lisa stares out her window again.Then she continues talking. “I seriously thought I was hallucinating, Winona. Like, actual delusions. One minute I’m faking my way through this business gig, the next I’m staring at Lance—exc
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 525 Checking in on Reality
(Lisa)The lights are too bright, the sheets too crisp, and everything feels weird. I blink slowly, my head pounding. My mouth tastes like I’ve been chewing cotton balls for breakfast. Where the hell am I? Then it hits me. The office. The meeting. Lance. I sit up too fast, and the room spins like I’m on some twisted carnival ride. I feel something in my arm and see an IV. There are monitors and things stuck on me.Shit, I’m in a hospital.A groan slips out before I can stop it, and suddenly there’s a nurse by my side, her face all sympathy and no-nonsense professionalism. “Easy now,” she says, pressing a cool hand to my wrist. “You fainted, remember? You weren’t responsive for a while. But the drip has done its job.” Fainted? Right. That’s what normal people do when they think they’ve seen their dead ex-lover casually standing in a boardroom like it’s just another Tuesday. “Okay... fainted,” I mumble, rubbing my temples. “Great. That’s just... fantastic.” The nurse offers me a
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 524 Unbelievable News
(Jayden)The kids are sprawled across the living room floor, their energy buzzing like they’ve downed three bags of sugar each. Henry’s babbling as he stacks blocks, while Abbey and Sarah argue about whether they should play schools or princesses. Bobby is pretending not to care, phone in hand. Anne is at the shops.It’s noisy and busy, just like normal. I think of Winona and Lisa. I wonder how they are going with the meeting? I pat my pocket, then the other side.“Guys, I left my phone outside on the bench. Try not to kill each other and watch Henry while I go and grab it.”They all look at me and nod and keep doing what they are doing. Henry seems taken with his blocks, so I whip out through the kitchen and out the back door.I see I’ve missed a call and she’s left a message. I scoop up my phone and head back inside to listen to the message. I won’t call back yet, they may be in the meeting still.I hurry back in and check out the kids. No one has moved. Great. I listen to the mes
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 523 Advice
(Mia)Gus walks through the living room slowly, his gaze flicking over the ornate furnishings, the heavy curtains, the marble-topped tables.His fingers trail along the edge of a sideboard, and for a moment, he looks lost in thought. “You okay?” He glances at me. “It’s strange being here without her and having all her stuff still here. I’ll see that it’s all collected. There’s some valuable pieces here.” “Judy’s gone,” I say bluntly, shrugging my shoulders. “You’ll have to get used to it. This place is part of Brennan Industries now, I believe.” His mouth tightens, and he doesn’t respond. Instead, he turns his attention to the window, looking out at the street below. I don’t know what he’s thinking, and honestly, I don’t care.Gus being here isn’t my concern—what he wants is. I know he says he’s here to pick up Mama, but that doesn’t fool me.“You didn’t come here to reminisce,” I say. “What do you want?” He turns back to me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “I want to know where y
