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409 Friends Are Overrated
Last Updated:
2024-11-11 14:12:28
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Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 410 Taking Control
(Winona)The room is suffocating, even though Klara has opened the windows to let in the evening air. I’m lying on the bed, trying to keep my breathing even. My blood pressure has come down, but Klara’s concern hasn’t.She sits beside me, her hand resting on mine, grounding me. The soft hum of conversation between Lisa and Lance fills the other room, but I’m barely hearing them.Lance and Lisa come into the bedroom, looking just as exhausted as I feel.Lance still has dried blood on his shirt, and his bruised face is swollen.“I’m going to London,” he says, his tone rough but resolute.Lisa stares at him. “You can’t be serious. Look at you! You’re in no shape to travel, let alone deal with Jayden. Have you even seen your face?”“I have to,” he insists, his eyes blazing with determination. “Jayden’s my friend—at least he used to be. I have to try and fix this before it’s too late. Before he does something even more destructive.”The determination in his voice stirs something inside me,
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 411 Making Sense
(Jayden)The morning light filters through the curtains of my hotel suite, glaring and unrelenting. My head throbs with the hangover from last night’s scotch-fueled spiral.Everything is a blur, yet the anger and pain from the fight remains vivid, slicing into me.I’m sitting on the edge of the bed, trying to gather the pieces of myself, when there’s a knock at the door. It’s firm and authoritative. Only one person knocks like that.“Come in,” I mutter, my voice rough and strained.The door opens, and Viktor steps inside. His gaze is steely, assessing me with that infuriating calm of his. He’s dressed sharply, not a hair out of place, but there’s a tension in his eyes.He looks at me as if he’s deciding whether I’m capable of doing my job.“Mr. Brennan,” he says, voice cool and even. “You look… unwell.”I let out a harsh, humorless laugh. “I feel worse than unwell,” I admit, grabbing a glass of water from the bedside table. It does little to soothe my parched throat. “What is it, Vikt
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 412 Playing Chess
(Judy)London’s pulse beats with an energy I’ve always found exhilarating. I walk through the busy streets with a sense of ownership of life, bending chaos to my will, whether the people around me realize it or not. Life is mine, a chessboard on which I move my pieces, and today, I’m preparing to play one of my most significant moves.The queen can move anywhere she wants.Sliding into the back of my town car, I pull out my phone. The screen lights up with a string of updates from my contacts. Information from Gus’s estate staff flows to me like clockwork.A constant stream of intel I’ve worked hard to cultivate, weaving my influence so tightly into every corner of Jayden’s world that nothing escapes me. Even the smallest whispers reach my ears.Jayden, my brilliant but stubborn son, is back in London, and the ripples I set in motion turned into a tsunami. It’s a beautiful thing, really, watching how easily people fracture when you know which strings to pull.The fight. The accusation
Last Updated : 2024-11-12Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 413 Desperate Dealings
(Cass)The alley stinks of rotting garbage, stale beer, and desperation. My heart races as I wait, shifting from foot to foot, clutching the small bag of pills in my hand.It’s quiet in an eerie way, the kind of quiet that prickles at your nerves and makes you second-guess every decision that led you here.This used to be my life a long time ago. I swore I’d never be back here again. I promised Mom. I argued with Winona that I could take care of myself. Now here I am.I glance at my phone. The screen is cracked, just like everything else in my life, but it flashes the time anyway. It’s been twenty minutes, and every second feels like a razor blade on my nerves. Someone is supposed to be meeting me here.I never thought I’d be selling drugs to save my own ass. But unloading this stash will get me out of the debt I owe these dealers. Enough to keep them from rearranging my face or worse. Then I’m never, ever doing this again.I’ll get clean. I might even have some money left to start ov
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 414 Escape
(Cass)“Idiot,” I whisper, my voice cracking. My throat tightens with shame. How did I let myself get here?I picture my mom’s face, the warmth in her eyes, the way she used to brush my hair and tell me I’d grow up to do great things.A sob claws its way up, and I swallow it back. I can’t break down. Not here, not now.I slide to the floor, knees pulled up to my chest, trying to catch my breath. Everything in my life is in ruins, and it’s my fault. I suck at running my own life. If Mom could see me now, she’d be so disappointed.I wipe at my face, missing my mom with a fierceness that cuts. Life felt safe when she was alive. Predictable. Now I’m a disaster, a pathetic screw-up who can’t make one decent decision.If only I’d listened to her more. If only she were here to tell me what to do, to hold me and promise everything would be okay.I push out of the shop front, clutching my backpack tight, and head toward my apartment. I just need my passport and the last of the money I’ve stash
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 415 Heart to Heart
(Winona)The sun is warm on my back as I kneel in the garden, tugging at weeds that have embedded themselves deep in the soil. Henry gurgles contentedly on the rug between Lisa and I, his tiny fists reaching for the mobile above him.The sound of his laugh and squeals mingles with the rustling leaves, a stark contrast to the drama of last night. This is my peaceful place. In the garden, with my family and best friend.The kids are off down in the wooded area behind the cottage, building what they insist is the “ultimate” fort. Every so often, a burst of laughter or the echo of a shouted command filters back, and it brings a smile to my face.At least they’re not asking when dad will be home.I can’t answer that right now.Lisa is sitting cross-legged in the grass, her hands idly plucking at stray blades of wayward weeds. She’s watching Henry with a soft expression, but I can see the tension in her shoulders. She’s been quiet for a while, and it’s making me anxious.I know we need to t
Last Updated : 2024-11-13Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 416 Owning My Shit
(Winona)“It’s true. He saw the chance; he wanted to shoot his shot, I guess,” Lisa says calmly.“The chance should never have been there.”Lisa takes a deep breath, “Look, it sounds like it was about feeling safe to lose control for you, not about hurting Jayden. You’d never do that to him purposely.”“I definitely didn’t think of it in terms of hurting him, but maybe that was just me being convenient. I thought I was doing it for me, for my own empowerment. But now I see how incredibly short-sighted it was.”I pause, twisting a stray blade of grass between my fingers. “I was so focused on what I felt I deserved, you know? A chance to be carefree, to do what everyone else seemed to do without consequence. But the truth is, I didn’t think about how deep it could cut Jayden.”Lisa leans forward, her face full of care. “You didn’t kill anyone, Winona. You’re not some evil person. You took care of your needs, for once. That’s not a crime.”“But now I’ve destroyed everything,” I whisper.
Last Updated : 2024-11-14Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 417 Shattered Friendship
(Jayden)The hotel suite feels claustrophobic, even with the London skyline stretching out in all directions beyond the glass windows. I pace, the anger like a live wire running through me.Every time I think I’ve calmed down, another wave of betrayal hits, sharper than the last.After everything we’ve shared, I cannot believe my best friend would stoop so low. Sure, I agreed with Winona to hall pass week. I should have known it would be too much for me.But Winona had a fair point really, she’d never explored her sexual wants and needs. I don’t own her. And she was upfront at least about wanting to have that time. She could have easily gone behind my back.But that’s not Winona. She rarely puts herself first. I was at peace with it all. We’d moved on. But now, knowing it was Lance and Phillip. That made everything seem different. Of course Phillip was always going to try and go there. They have history.I don’t like it, but I understand it.But Lance? That one hurts more than I ever
Last Updated : 2024-11-14
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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
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 522 Seeing Double
(Winona)Lisa’s body is sprawled awkwardly on the sleek office floor, and my heart nearly stops as I drop to my knees beside her.“I’m Logan Bennett.” The sound of Logan’s voice, Lance’s voice, steady but sharp, slices through the haze of my panic.I glance up at him. Neater haircut, lesser designer suit, but that is Lance Collins right there.What the actual fuck is going on? No wonder she collapsed.“I’m calling 911,” he says, his phone already to his ear. “St James Hospital is close.”“Lisa!” I whisper, shaking her gently. Her skin feels clammy, her breathing shallow but steady. “Come on, Lis, wake up.” I turn her over to the recovery position. She is breathing but she isn’t waking up.Logan lowers his phone. “Paramedics are on the way.” His gaze flickers between Lisa and me, worry etched into his expression. “Is she…?”“She’s breathing,” I say. “But she’s not waking up.”Logan crouches down, his movements deliberate and calm, and for a moment, his presence reminds me so much of La
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 521 Seeing A Ghost
(Lisa)I can’t breathe.Meeting this CEO is going to be the death of me. I’ve been throwing up from nerves all morning.I adjust my blazer, trying to act like I’m not about to pass out, and glance over at Winona, who’s giving me the look—the one that says she’s about two seconds away from laughing at me.I’ve never worn a damn blazer in my life. Give me a mini-dress any day.“You know, I didn’t sign up for this level of stress. I thought we were just going to grab lunch with some rich guy, not audition for a role in The Apprentice,” I mutter under my breath, trying to hide the shaky hands clutching my bag.Winona raises an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “It’s not The Apprentice. Just act like you know what you’re doing. And for God’s sake, don’t spill a drink on the guy.”“Drink, do you think he’ll offer some bubbles?” I deadpan.“It’s 9am, I think not, I meant coffee.”“Damn.”“You’ll survive.”“Barely. I’m not cut out for this crap.”“You know it. I’ll always b
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 520 A Cry in the Dark
(Winona)The soft cry of a baby envelopes me. At first, it’s faint, like it’s coming from another room. Then it grows louder, more insistent. I’m fumbling, trying to pinpoint the direction, but I can’t find it. My hands press against empty air, the cries getting louder. I’m coming, baby. I’m coming. I wake with a gasp, my chest so tight I can’t draw a breath back in. My hands grip the sheets. It’s like I’ve been running. But I’m in bed. My bed.I look over and see Jayden isn’t beside me. But bright sun is coming through the window. I must have slept late.The room is still. I finally suck a breath into my lungs. No baby crying. No baby to find. No baby.The realization twists. I sit up, forcing myself to breathe slowly, deliberately. “It’s just a dream,” I whisper, running a hand through my hair. “Just a stupid dream.” ***After dressing in a loose shirt and jeans, I decide to head downstairs. The scent of coffee and toast wafts up, warm and inviting. I can hear the kids’ chat
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 519 Fanning Flames
(Cass)I stride through the penthouse, my stiletto heels clicking against the marble floor with purpose.I know I look good—stunning, actually. This dress hugs every curve just right, and the deep emerald green makes my eyes pop.Tonight is about reminding myself that I have a feminine side and I’m not afraid to use it. Gabriel may have been part of my past, but I’m going to show him just how irresistible the present me is. But as I head towards the elevator, Viktor steps out, his tall frame filling the space and his expression hard as stone. He crosses his arms and plants himself directly in front of the doors. “Ready for your date then??” he asks, his voice low, almost a growl. “You know I am,” I reply, refusing to let him intimidate me. “Unless you plan to stand there all night.” His eyes rake over me, lingering just a second too long on the neckline of my dress before snapping back to my face. “You’re really going out with Gabriel.” It’s not a question. “Yes, I am.” I tilt my
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 518 A Clean Slate
(Jayden)I find her on her laptop. “How are you really feeling?” I ask, standing by the edge of the bed. She looks up, her eyes softening. “Tired, but okay. It’s good to be home. That makes me feel one thousand percent better. You’ve got that look.”“What look?” I ask, kicking off my shoes and stripping down to my boxers.“The one that says you’ve got something weighing on you,” she replies, her tone softer now.I sigh, running a hand through my hair and sit on the edge of the bed. “It’s Cass. She’s in danger, Winona. Real danger.”Winona shifts, her eyes narrowing with concern. “What kind of danger? How?”“Don Alejandro, he hasn’t been arrested. He’s gone underground and he’s still calling the shots,” I say, my voice low.“But Cass has nothing to do with him, or Mia anymore. Gus cleared her of anything drug-related. How can she be in danger?”“Cass went to her old apartment. To clear it up. Trying to make a clean slate, I think. While she was there, they turned up.”“Who?”“Mia fir
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 517 No secrets
(Jayden)“Daddy’s home!” Abbey squeals, her feet thundering across the wooden floor towards me. I barely have time to drop my briefcase before she launches herself at me. I scoop her up, spinning her in a slow circle while she giggles wildly. “Hey, princess,” I say, kissing her cheek. “Did you miss me?” She nods, curls bouncing. “Missed you so much! Mommy’s upstairs. She said you were bringing Henry back, but you didn’t. Where is he?” “Henry’s asleep in the car,” I explain, setting her down. “I’ll grab him in a minute. I had to get my Abbey hug first.” Bobby appears in the doorway, leaning casually against the frame like he’s auditioning for a teen drama. “Dinner’s almost ready. Sarah and I are making sure everything’s perfect for Mom. We’re making up trays.” “That so?” I ruffle his hair, and he swats my hand away with a grin. “Good work, kid. You’re the man of the house when I’m not here, right?” “Obviously,” he says, puffing his chest out. “This place would fall apart without
Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband 516 Striking back
(Mia)“You know what, Gabriel?” I say, my voice sharp. “Maybe you’re not as noble as you want everyone to believe. You think I don’t see what you’re doing? You’re not trying to protect this family. You’re trying to control it.”He narrows his eyes. “What are you talking about?”“Don’t play dumb,” I snap. “You just want Brennan Industries for yourself. That’s what this is really about, isn’t it? Turning Ana and Eva against me so they’ll sell to you.”“That’s ridiculous,” Gabriel retorts, his tone cold. “I’m protecting the company from you. You’ve already proven you can’t be trusted. Someone has to safeguard what Papá built.”“What Papa started,” I say, crossing my arms. “That company was built by Judy Brennan. Our father was an awful businessman. But he loved us, all of us. Don’t forget, Gabriel, we all share the same blood. The same father. We all deserve to benefit from the legacy, not just you.”Ana shifts uncomfortably, her eyes darting between us. “Mía, it’s not about taking sides
