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249 Skin to Skin
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Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 250 Home and Haunted
(Jayden)After the incredible time with Henry earlier at the hospital, I’m back at home. But I struggle with not being there with Henry. Winona is in the kitchen talking with Anne and Abby. Bobby and Sarah are doing their homework.The doctors said Henry might be able to come home in four to six weeks if things continue the way they’re going. I can’t even begin to describe how that makes me feel. The excitement, the relief, the overwhelming sense of possibility.After everything, we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. And this time, hopefully, it’s not the oncoming train.Winona comes into the living room. She sits beside me. “So, I spoke with Gus last week. He came to the office.”I tense up immediately at the mention of his name. “What’s going on with him now?”She sighs, her fingers tracing small circles on my leg. “He asked if we wanted to have dinner with him and Maria.”I shake my head, knowing exactly where this is going. “I’m not interested, Winona.”“I tol
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 251 Fears revealed
(Winona)I can’t move. I can’t breathe.“Jayden?” My voice comes out softer than I intend, almost a whisper, but it’s the only thing I can manage. My throat is tight, my pulse pounds in my ears.He doesn’t answer but I see the guilt and confusion in his eyes. He knows. He knows what I heard.“What—what was that?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but failing miserably. My hands tremble, and I clench the bedsheet to stop them from shaking so much.Jayden runs a hand through his sweat-soaked hair, his fingers, and he looks down. “It’s nothing, Winona. Just… a nightmare.”“Bullshit it was just a nightmare,” I say. “Jayden, you called out Ashlyn’s name. You used the safe word…”He doesn’t answer, and that silence is louder than any explanation he could offer. My stomach twists. I sit up fully now, pushing the covers off me, and the cold air hits my skin. But I don’t care.The chill in the room has nothing on the icy knot forming in my gut.“It was a dream then a nightmare with Ashlyn
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 252 Old And Alone
(Judy)It feels like an eternity since I had Abby alone, and even though I cherish every moment with Abby, the supervision is a little suffocating. But I know this is my own fault.I pushed Jayden too far. I did the same at the gala.Gus was livid about that later. I told him to butt out of my life and run back to Greg’s slut, Maria. That made him even more angry. I don’t care. I have Brennan Industries, and I intend to own it completely.I don’t have Jayden and that hurts.However, I am beginning to see that setting off his anger is not the way I get him back. It’s not working. The only way to get time with him again is to change how I do things. I’m going to do that.Abby runs up to me and I hug her madly. Winona always stays within sight and earshot, her presence a constant reminder that I’m not trusted. I will play by the rules.For Abby’s sake. I must be getting old, but not being able to have Abby in my life at all puts me in a very dark place.Abby sits on a small plastic chair
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 253 Where’s Jayden?
(Winona)I haven’t heard from Jayden since he left. It’s been all morning, and I’ve sent him a text, but no reply. I don’t want to overthink it, but I can’t help the creeping worry.Is he somewhere deciding he doesn’t want to marry me after all?My stomach is in knots with my mind spiraling through all the possible reasons for his silence. But going about my normal day is the way I deal with anxiety. One foot in front of the other.I’ve taken Abby for her morning school session then her time with Judy. Now I’m going to see Henry before I head to the office for a couple of hours.Jayden’s been at the hospital with Henry, thinking things through. At least, that’s what I tell myself. After what happened through the night, I’m not sure what to think anymore. His dreams, the way he called out her name—it’s all too much to process.Arguing is the last thing I wanted this week. I’ll give him the rest of the day and then I’ll call. Hopefully he’ll be at the hospital.For now, I’ll focus on
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 254 I Got This
(Cass)Gabriel and I arrive at the restaurant a little before Winona. He’s in his usual smooth, confident mode, his hand resting gently on the small of my back as we walk in.It’s a simple gesture, but it makes me feel... anchored.Like I’m the most important thing to him right now. I smile, a small flicker of warmth settling in my chest. Everything with him just feels right. Not like with the guys I’ve known before—the ones who treated me like I was disposable, like I didn’t matter.Gabriel’s different. He’s attentive, always making me feel like I’m the center of his world. And maybe I am. I’m starting to trust that.We settle into our seats, Gabriel giving me this look that makes my pulse quicken. He leans in, brushing a strand of my hair back, his fingers lingering a little longer than necessary.His blue eyes are soft but focused, and I feel like he’s seeing all of me, not just the parts I show to the world. Now I totally get how Winona feels about Jayden. These Brennan eyes are
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 255 Taking a Break
(Winona)The kids’ laughter echoes from inside as the penthouse elevator doors slide open, and there’s a sense of normalcy that settles me—at least for a moment. Jayden’s voice filters through from the living room, light and playful. Thank god, he’s home.When I walk in, I find them playing on the floor. Abby’s got her dolls scattered all over, and Bobby’s building Lego and laughing as Jayden pretends to be the Ken doll he’s holding with a deep voice who’s talking like someone from the gangster hood.A scene that should warm my heart, but my chest feels heavy because of the silence between Jayden and me all day.“Hey, Mommy!” Abby shouts, rushing over to me with her arms wide open. I scoop her up and kiss her cheek, smiling as I carry her into the room.“Hey, Sweetie. Having fun I see.”“Daddy is being silly.”“Sounds like the most fun, then.”Jayden glances up, his smile faltering slightly when our eyes meet. There’s something distant in his gaze, like he’s somewhere else entirely.
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 256 Giving Winona An Out
(Jayden)I watch Winona’s face as my words sink in. The shock is clear in her eyes. Telling her that we should stop sharing a bed—hell, that we should basically stop living together until the wedding—it’s like dropping a bomb and waiting for the smoke to clear.And part of me hates that I’m doing this, that I’m causing her this kind of confusion. But deep down, I know it’s the right call.She stares at me, her voice soft but filled with disbelief. “What about the kids? Do you expect me to just leave every night, after they’re asleep? What kind of message does that send?”This isn’t a decision I made lightly, but it’s one I know we need. Both of us. There’s too much history here, too much pain we’re still dealing with. And I’m not ignoring it any longer.I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. “I’m not trying to make things harder for anyone, especially not the kids. This… it’s for us. For you and me.”“Sure.”“If we’re going to do this—really commit to getting married again, to building
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 257 BFF Therapy
(Winona) Lisa pours the wine, her eyebrow quirked as she glances at me from across her small kitchen island. “So, what exactly did he say?”I take a long drink from my glass, trying to let the alcohol smooth the edges of my nerves. “He wants to stop living together until the wedding,” I say, keeping my voice flat. “And he thinks we should stop sleeping in the same bed.”Lisa nearly chokes on her wine, setting the bottle down with a clatter. “Wait, what?” She’s staring at me, eyes wide.I shrug, swirling the wine in my glass. “Not exactly. Just until the wedding. We’d already agreed to not have sex until the wedding night.”She leans back, folding her arms. “That’s a whole new level of self-control. Are we sure he’s not an alien? I mean were you okay with the no-actual-sex thing?”“I was, until he started saying Ashlyn’s name and the fucking safe word in his sleep.”“He did what now?” Lisa’s eyes are wider.I nod. “I just don’t know what to think. These dreams, he says they are nightm
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Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 287 The Van Crash
