Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 225

225 Saturday Reflections (Winona)

Saturday morning greetswith a quiet kind of heaviness. I'm back in the penthouse trying to be awake

enough to spend stwith Abby after another long night at the hospital.

Jayden is still with tiny Henry, and he'll be hfor lunch and a nap later. Ashlyn's ton life support is almost

up, and it's like a shadow that hangs over every minute of the day. In limbo, almost. But life goes on, as it always

does.

Lisa is here and she's in the sdress as last night. She called and asked if | could pick her and Cass up from

doing the walk of shame. | was about to leave the hospital anyway.

She's sitting in the living room with a cup of coffee, looking every bit like the best friend | need right now.

"How's Henry?"

"Oh, Lisa, he's so incredibly small, | can't even believe babies can survive like that."

"I guess the will to survive is a basic instinct. | hope he makes it."

"So do I. | think it will kill us both if he doesn't. But there are just so many things that can go wrong. |

almost have to expect the worst."

"Have faith. Each day is a bonus."

"That is true, anyway, how are you? All night clubbing has been a while."

"I was happy to stick with Cass and make sure she got back here safely."

"Thanks for that."

"So, spill," Lisa says as soon as | sit down. "I've been dying to hear about this new family. Gabriel, specifically.

Man, he's hot, isn't he? | mean super-hot. Wow!"

T

| can't help but roll my eyes and smile. "Is that all you ever think about?"

Lisa smirks, taking a sip of her coffee. "Hey, I'm just saying. But seriously, what's the deal with these people?

What do you know?"

I let out a sigh, running my fingers through my hair. "Not much, honestly. Jayden was about to go into a board

meeting when they showed up. He handed half his shares over to them and the rest to Judy and he walked

away." "Wow. | never thought he'd ever do it."

"I only met them at the club last night. The sisters seemed nice. Gabriel is very put together. But Jayden. isn't

interested in being friends. He just wants to leave that part of his life behind."

"Yes, he is very put together. A little too well, | think." Lisa leans in as she speaks. "I think Cass was impressed,

but she's young."

"Yes, that also worries me. She's young and has addiction problems. Maybe taking her to the having alcohol was

a stupid thing on my part."

club and

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225 Saturday Reflections

"Better with us than with people we don't know. | had her back. She mostly drank pop in a fancy glass."

"So, what's your read on it all then?"

"Well, for starters, Gabriel definitely has that 'too perfect vibe going on. He's polite, well-spoken, and seems to

know exactly what to say. He's certainly sexy and he knows it. But something about him feels... off."

"We might be just paranoid. | think we need to give them a chance. | mean it's not like we have to spend time

with them."

"Well, | wouldn't speak too soon. His youngest sister, Mia and Cass hit it off almost immediately, which is great

on the surface, but | can't shake the feeling that Mia's a little too wild for Cass." "It won't hurt Cass to loosen up a

bit."

"True. But Mia is older by four years. | asked her age. She's twenty-two."

"l see."

"But she was acting like she was eighteen, you know?"

"And the others?"

"They didn't stay long. The two older sisters, Eva and Ana, seemed uncomfortable at the club. They didn't say

much and left not long after Jayden and you did."

"Really? Did Gabriel stay?"

She nods. "He did. He went around one in the morning Lance and Phillip chatted to him a lot. | think they were

disappointed that the sisters left but they weren't getting anywhere with them anyway." "Lance would be upset if

his usual charm wasn't working."

"They cut him cold and even Mia would barely speak to him. So, he'll have a bruised ego with a hangover today."

Lisa leans back, crossing her arms and smiling.

I shrug, unsure. "Anyway, twill tell, | guess. I'm more concerned about tomorrow, honestly. Saying goodbye

to Ashlyn... Then I'd like her to have a nice service later in the week, something respectful,"

Lisa snorts. "Good luck with that? Who's going to attend? Ashlyn was always a snake. No one liked or trusted her.

You're being too nice, Winona. Just let Jayden handle it if he feels obligated. He's the only one who ever loved her

anyway." Her words hit a nerve, and | find myself questioning things | thought I'd put to rest. "Do you think... Do

you think he's still in love with her?"

Lisa looks at me, her expression softening. "I don't know, Winona. Maybe a part of him. You probably still have a

soft spot for Phillip too. Maybe you're just overthinking it."

"Maybe," | admit, but the doubt lingers. "It's just.... we're finally getting close to being physical again, and |

guess... | guess I'm scared. Scared that what he had with Ashlyn is still a shadow over me."

Lisa reaches out, taking my hand. "Don't let your fears ruin what you've got, Jayden loves you. And tomorrow,

when he says goodbye to Ashlyn, maybe that'll be the closure he needs." +25 BONUS

225 Saturday Reflections

| nod, trying to push the doubts aside. "You're right. | think after everything happening, losing Mom, I need to get

back into stherapy to keep moving forward

"Maybe concentrate on where you are going to spread your mom's ashes and let Jayden take care of Ashlyn's."

"Cass is setting up that, back in her old hometown. There's a park and a river. It sounds beautiful."

"Now, that, | want to be there for."

"I'll make sure everyone knows in good time. It's easy to forget my own hurt when so much else is going

on."

Lisa squeezes my hand before letting go. "Exactly. Now, how about we focus on getting through today? Abby is

going to be full of energy and you look like a dog's breakfast. Go shower." "Yes. Tomorrow will csoon

enough."

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226 Sunday Is Here

226 Sunday Is Here.