Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

13 Protecting What's Mine

13 Protecting What's Mine (Winona)

Back at my hotel suite, | kick off the high-heels and stretch my toes. I'm not sure where Judy was tonight but |

certainly count it as a positive that she wasn't adding to that .

I'm certain her and Ashlyn are still working together against me. | just wish they'd all leavealone to get on

with my life. Coming back here was crazy. But Phillip deserved the break. He's worked so damn hard for our

business. "Here, | got us swater. Are you hungry?"

"Thanks for the water. | think Anne has sfood we can reheat later. Right now, | need to tell you a few

things."

He takes his suit coat off and unbutton cuffs and collar. "I see. It can wait if you want to eat now," he

offers.

"No. | need to tell you everything." | take a deep breath "Jayden Brennan is my ex-husband. We divorced just

before | moved and started up my marketing business."

"| see. Well, that explains the daggered stares he sends when he thinks I'm not looking."

"What? Is he bothering you?" | didn't realize this was happening. Jayden has no right to be jealous but I can't say

I'm disappointed.

"No. I'm good. Just something a guy notices with another guy. | thought he was sweet on you. Can't blhim

really." Phillip smiles. "He's not made of wood."

I suck in breath. "Philip, | need to ask you a really big favor." | wring my hands together. "You can absolutely say

no if you want."

"What? Other than pretending to be your 'partner in life?" he laughs.

| give a small smile. "Well, it's related to that actually... Can you adopt Abby as my domestic partner?" | blurt out

before my nerves get the better ofand | back out. "What?" His eyes open wide.

I sigh. "There's a lot more to this story than Jayden being my ex."

"I have all night. Go ahead."

"Jayden and | were high school sweethearts. His mother never liked me. | cfrom the wrong background for

her likings."

"Her loss."

"Anyway, Jayden and | were very much in love. It was all-consuming and passionate. We were everything to each

other. In fact, the four of us, including Lance and Lisa, always hung out together. Ashlyn is younger but she was

around too." "Cool. They both seem pretty nice. Ashlyn on the other hand."

"Tonight was the first tI'd seen or spoken to either Lisa or Lance since | left three years ago. Lisa was

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13 Protecting What's Mine

my ride or die. | walked away from everything. They don't know about Abby."

"Letguess. Jayden is the father?" Phillip asks quietly.

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| nod. "But he can't know. Not yet. His mother threatened to take my baby away and she had the money and

connections to do it. So, | left and tried to fade away. Then Jayden foundand the rest is history." "Okay. His

mother is a bitch."

"Yes, and she's always wanted Ashlyn to be with Jayden. She comes from a rich background too. Ashlyn and |

used to be like sisters. But | suspect her copyingin everything cfrom a much darker place now. She

wanted Jayden all along." "Right, but she has him now, so what happened?"

"We o

got married in Vegas. His mother was so angry but Jayden was ready to walk away from all that money to try and

start a family with me. I'd lost a baby and found | had severe endometriosis. The chances ofgetting pregnant

again were slim to none." "Abby is a miracle baby."

"Yes, she is and there's no way I'm giving her up. | may not ever be able to conceive again."

"Okay. But I'm missing something. What happened to you and Jayden?"

"We had an accident on our way back from Vegas. | was in a coma for a year. Lisa helpedget well. | was

shocked Jayden wasn't there with me. | panicked thinking he'd died. But when | cto find Jayden

"| can feel the tears in my eyes building as | relive the trauma.

"Take a drink. Take a breath. You're okay now." Phillip comforts me.

| breathe deep and slow. "Jayden had no memory ofat all. Nothing. Apparently, he knew we were married but

he'd forgotten everything about how much we loved each other. When | cback, he was with Ashlyn and he

denied ever being in love with me." "I see."

"His mother and Ashlyn had convinced him I'd tricked him into marriage for his money and he said he had proof."

"What proof?"

I shrug. "I have no clue. But | couldn't convince him otherwise. He demanded a divorce so he could marry Ashlyn

three years ago."

"And yet here they are, still not married. I'm still not sure | get what tonight was about."

"She's so consumed by jealousy, and she lives in fear his memory will cback and he'll wantagain."

"But to fake you attacking her? That is next level."

"That's not all. She had on a dress almost identical to my prom dress she helpedchoose and the necklace

was a gift from Jayden towhen | graduated. He doesn't remember that though." "Holy shit! That is next level

next level."

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13 Protecting What's Mine

"I know right. So now you see why | take her threats very seriously."

"Wait, she's threatened you?"

I nod. "She knows | have Abby but | said you are the father."

"Good thinking. We have to keep Abby safe until Jayden is stable enough to hear the truth and believe it."

"Exactly."

"Organize whatever you need for the

adoption to take place. I'll get a mn

lawyer, and Sigs (Ped 8. But if

ybu Bnd Vdyden ever see your way

through this, there will be no

argument from me." The content is

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chapter there!

| cannot believe | have such a

wonderful friend and man in my life. |

wish | hadn't given every last drop of

love to Jayden, then | pL able

to fall nese bad like Phillip.

Blt he deserves to be loved fully and

I'm not ready for that yet, | may never

be. "Even if he does get his memory

of us back, we are two different

people now. I'm not sure | can ever

put my heart on the line for him

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again. I'm still so broken inside over

what happened.” The content is on

novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

"I think you need trauma counseling or something. There must be support groups for this type of thing." I'll look

into it. Thank you, Phillip. You really are the best friend ever."

"I wish you'd toldthis from the start, I'd never have insisted we take on this opportunity but now | see why

you wanted to merge the company."

"It was the only way | could see to hold my personal power and not have Jayden calling the shots in my life."

"I wish I'd known."

"Don't beat yourself up about it. | think ultimately my healing will only cthrough dealing with all of this. | just

have to tread carefully."

"We have to tread carefully."

"| get the keys to the townhouse

tomorrow and | need to find a good

kindergarten for Ay amen

TE tig bad t her life, she can.

It's been amazing and | know she'll

stick around a while yet, but in the

future. No one else knows she's here

either." "| won't say anything." The

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the latest chapter there!

"| just figure if no one sees Abby, they won't pick that she has her father's eyes. I'll need your help on that.

| think his mother and Ashlyn will be snooping about trying to get a look. Ashlyn didn't get a good look at her and

I don't intend to let them."

"| get the feeling there's a lot more to this story."

"There is. But that's enough for now. Thanks for listening and supporting me."

"Always.