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180 Daily Grind
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Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 181 Ashlyn’s Delusion
(Winona)Jayden and I are sitting across from Barnaby in his office office, the familiar surroundings doing little to ease the twisting in my stomach.Barnaby looks between us. “It seems there’s a lot on your minds today. Where would you like to start?”Jayden’s the first to speak, his voice steady. “I want to talk about Ashlyn. She’s recently sent me text messages.”I tense up, the mention of her name bringing a rush of emotions—anger, suspicion, fear. “What exactly did she text? I mean how can she have a phone in there? I didn’t think they were allowed.”“I don’t know but I bet Mother has something to do with that.”“I don’t doubt that. Have you spoken to Ashlyn before this?”“No. She contacted me while we were away. That's the first I’ve heard from her.” Jayden says, his eyes locking onto mine.I take a deep breath. “Jayden, what could she possibly want with you? With us?”I’m not ready for his next words.“She told me she’s still pregnant.”I feel like the floor just dropped out f
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 182 Confronting Issues Together
(Winona)We move into the next part of our therapy session. Barnaby asks my fears at the moment.“I’m worried about seeing Ashlyn,” I admit, my voice shaky. “But it’s not just her that I’m worried about. What if, by some miracle, there is a baby?”Jayden looks at me, surprise flickering in his eyes. “I don’t believe it for a second.”“But,” I say, taking a deep breath. “If she is still pregnant... that’s your child, Jayden. And it can’t be raised in a high-security mental facility. You know how your mother feels about your offspring. She might come back.”“Damn. Do you think she would? I’d rather she stayed away. I can breathe now, at least.”“If there is a baby, I can’t see her staying away. If there is a baby, I can’t see her not knowing about that already and leaving in the first place.” That much is true. “Something here doesn’t add up.”“Most likely because Ashlyn is being delusional, and this is exactly what she wants. To drive a wedge between us with lies. To make us doubt each
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 183 Making Strides
(Winona)Jayden shifts in his chair. “It hurts hearing you say that. But I accept your feelings. Thank you for being honest.”I smile. Wow. He is really real about all of this. About us. A surge of love and respect for Jayden engulfs me. He’s been to hell and back too.Just because he’s done it with billions of dollars doesn’t make it hurt any less for him.Barnaby leans back in his seat and grins. “You two are really making strides. I’ll be eating at the soup kitchen soon because I’m out of a job.”I laugh. “Don’t think you’ll be lining up anytime soon, doc. But I do feel that was a major shift for us. To be honest like that and not have Jayden get angry is amazing.”“I can tell you’re both serious and you are putting each other first. Well done.”“I did feel angry, and I felt hurt because it wasn’t what I wanted you to say. But being told what I want to hear and being pandered to all my life is what got me here. So, I’m trying to change that.”“Thinking outside yourself. Brilliant.
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 184 Where’s Steve?
(Winona)It takes a few days to set up the visit with Ashlyn. I haven’t told anyone we’re going, not even Lisa. Jayden and I agreed to keep this between us until we figure out what’s really going on.But just as I’m trying to focus on preparing for the visit, my phone rings. It’s Gus. I hesitate for a moment before answering. I mean the man has never really done anything to me. In fact, he’s been nothing but supportive.But I’d be a fool to trust him and think he’s a friend. Especially as he has Judy over there and I know she’s up to something. Gus probably knows that too. But Gus I know will protect Abby at all costs. The heir to Nexus Global.I’ll take that as a security blanket.“Gus,” I say, keeping my voice neutral. “What’s going on?”“Winona,” he says, his voice serious. “I need to ask you something. Have you seen Steve lately?”My heart thumps in dread. “Not for a few weeks. He met me in the park, and he told me my mother still lived in our old house and that there might be a
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 185 Is This A Trap?
(Winona)My heart is in my throat as we’re led to the private room where Ashlyn is waiting.Jayden’s hand brushes mine, a silent gesture of reassurance, but it does little to calm the storm of emotions churning inside me. I’m here, but every fiber of my being is telling me this is a mistake.I can’t shake the feeling that this is some kind of trap. I’ve been lured in but somehow I’m the bait as well.We enter the room, and there she is. Ashlyn. She’s sitting at a small table, her hands cuffed behind her. There’s a guard posted by the door, his presence a stark reminder of where we are.Ashlyn looks different—impossibly thinner, paler—and her eyes don’t have that same look.She reminds me of that teen, three years younger than me, that I first spoke to because she was sitting alone. I must be careful. She is far from that person, no matter what act she’s perfected right now.“Winona, I didn’t know you were coming,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper.“Yeah, surprise,” I answer
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 186 Desperate Bargain
(Ashlyn)I watch Winona’s eyes, searching for any sign that she might believe me. But all I see is doubt, suspicion, and hate. She’s not going to make this easy, I know that. But I have to try.This is my last chance, my only chance, to do something right in this messed-up life I’ve created.To help this baby I’ve created. If I adopt the baby to just anyone, Judy will find it. I know she will. If I leave the baby solely to Jayden, Judy will make sure she takes over again. The only choice I have is to get Winona to agree to adopt my baby as her own and promise me, if things don’t work out with Jayden, she will fight to keep my baby with her.I guess I have no real guarantee that will happen, but I know Winona and if she makes a promise she always tries to keep it. Especially as a mother.“I need you to believe me,” I say, my voice cracking slightly. I hate how weak I sound, but it’s the truth. I am weak right now, weaker than I’ve ever been.Winona’s expression doesn’t change. She jus
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 187 The Edge
(Jayden)We’re back in my car, outside the high security facility, but my mind is still trapped in that room with Ashlyn. Her words stick in my head. This is a bad dream I can’t shake off.Judy will always have a hold on you. One day, she’ll control your life again.I grip the steering wheel tight, my knuckles turning white. The thought of my mother having any influence over me, over my life, twists in my gut. Ashlyn’s dragging me back into that nightmare.“How can she even say that?” I demand. “How can she think Mother will ever control my life again?”Winona stays quiet beside me, eyes fixed ahead. But she’s heard me. She’s thinking, processing, just like she always does. “And she doesn’t trust me to take care of the baby,” I continue, my voice heating up. “Like I’m some kind of puppet for my mother, incapable of making my own decisions.”Winona finally turns to look at me, her expression tells me she’s about to drop some hard truths. “Jayden, we don’t even know if there is a baby.
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 188 My Mom, My Friend
(Winona)Two weeks later, I sat across from Mom at the kitchen table in my townhouse. The place is quiet, too quiet. Abby’s at preschool, and Cass is… well, who knows where Cass is. Enjoying her newfound freedom and independence, no doubt.I’m trying not to worry about her, I mean she isn’t a kid, but the knot in my stomach isn’t loosening anytime soon. I feel like her look will attract people who like to make trouble.Jayden has been busy all this week and apart from Abby time, we’ve barely had the chance to talk or stress…or argue about anything. It’s a good feeling actually. Just us getting on with it without all the crap overshadowing our days.Mom’s hands tremble slightly as she sips her tea. We’ve never had a proper conversation. Not about the weather or dinner plans, but about real stuff. The kind of stuff that digs deep and leaves a mark.But I know if I want to help her and get her to join me with Barnaby, we need to get more than skin deep.I take a breath, deciding to di
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