All Chapters of Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

(Winona)I go to her and hold her now and we sob together. I finally got it. Why she never could leave and why she never contacted me after I was taken away. She made the ultimate sacrifice so I would go on to have a bright future.I think of Abby and I know I’d do nothing less for her if I had to.Just then, Jayden steps back inside, and I can see his expression and I know he’s heard. “I swear that slug is going to get what he deserves one day.”His hatred for Steve evident.“I wish he was dead,” Mom says quietly, her voice shaking. “But I’m grateful he never came back here. I’m grateful he left you alone.”“Not exactly. He’s been in our lives recently, remember? He’s the one who told me he’d left you almost here and pregnant. I wasn’t sure what I’d find here, or if either of you survived, but I’m so glad. He’s actually done me a favor.”“My short-term memory is a little shot. So many years of drug abuse took its toll.”“It doesn’t matter. He’s gone now. I don’t think he’ll be back.”

(Jayden)The flight back home is uneventful, but my mind is anything but. I can’t stop thinking about Winona and what she’s dealing with. But even more than that, I can’t stop thinking about Ashlyn’s message.There’s no denying it was from her—the safe word confirmed that. But why now? Why after everything? I can’t be certain she’s being honest about still being pregnant. That could be a ploy to con me back into being with her.I know one thing for sure. I’m not going to see her without Winona. If Ashlyn can’t accept that, then I won’t be seeing her at all.I head straight to my office as soon as I land, the familiar surroundings doing little to ease my tension. I need answers, and I need them fast. I need a shower. I need some food.But first, I need to know if there’s anything legal stopping me from seeing Ashlyn.I call Daniel, my lawyer, and he picks up on the second ring. “Jayden, what can I do for you?”“Is it okay for me to visit Ashlyn?” I say, cutting straight to the point. “

(Winona)I wake up to the sound of Cass’s quiet snoring from the pull-out couch. She’s still out like a light. The room is dim, but I can tell we’ve slept later than I usually do. A quick glance at my phone confirms it’s almost 10 AM.I feel surprisingly refreshed. Maybe it’s the change of scenery, or maybe it’s the fact that, for the first time in years, I’m not running away from my past—I’m facing it head-on.I stretch out, careful not to make a noise and disturb Mom, who’s still sound asleep in the bed next to mine. She looks peaceful, almost like the years have melted away, and she’s the mom I used to dream about having.A mom who wasn’t buried under layers of addiction and despair.But this is reality, not a dream. And in reality, there’s work to be done to move us all forward. I quietly slip out of bed and head into the bathroom to freshen up. As I splash water on my face, I start thinking about what needs to happen next.Cass will need some direction, and Mom... Well, I’ll find

(Winona)The next morning, we have newly packed luggage and we’re getting ready to go to the airport.“Mom, I know this isn’t easy,” I break the silence. “But I really think this is the best thing for you right now.”Mom doesn’t respond.“Don’t be nervous about the plane ride. It will go fine. The first one is the most nerve-wracking.”Mom smiles. “Don’t worry. I’m okay. Let’s go and get this day started. “Once we get to the townhouse, we can start looking for a place where you and Cass can settle down. It’s not going to be at my place forever, just until you decide where you want to be.”Cass snorts. “Yeah, right. Like we can choose anywhere we want. We don’t have infinite resources like others do.”“Cass, it’s better than the streets,” I say, trying to keep my voice calm. “And it’s definitely better than living in fear because of what just happened. You’ll have to get a job to make rent.”She glares at me, but she doesn’t argue. She knows I’m right, even if she doesn’t want to admi

(Winona)Mom comes back through first and I get up to go make her some tea.“Do you take cream and sugar?” I never remember her drinking tea.She shakes her head. “No. Just plain thanks.”Maybe she couldn’t afford cream and sugar before. My mind is full of a lot of maybes as I make her drink and take it into the living room and hand it to her. “Mom, sit down. Relax.”She takes it with a smile and sits on the edge of the sofa. Resting her cup on the side table. “This is all so much, Winona. I don’t know how to thank you.”“You don’t have to thank me,” I say, taking a sip of my tea. “We’re family. This is what we do for each other. Plus, it probably is my fault that the house got torched. I did go in with both feet, and I could have handled things a little more calmly.”She nods, but I can see the doubt in her eyes. She’s never really had a family like this before—a family that’s there for her, that supports her. And I’m not sure she knows how to handle it.“I can’t say I’m sorry it’s g