Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 137

137 Do People Change? (Winona)

It's been a few days since the engagement party fiasco, and while things have calmed down between Jayden and

me, there's still a lingering tension. Today, I'm heading over to my townhouse to pick up sthings.

I've been staying at the penthouse while Jayden needs extra care. He is meetinghere later to help load

Anne's boxes into the trailer.

Abby is with Anne, and I'm hoping to have a quiet moment to myself. Anne is almost packed up and she's saying

goodbye to Abby over lunch and explaining that she will be back.

It's going to be strange without Anne here, but I'll manage. Actually, being able to cope with school, Abby's

needs and my career is something I'm looking forward to. To prove | can do it.

I'll miss Anne to bits but I'm glad she's taking in Bobby and Sarah. | hope to rebuild my relationship with those

two kids as well.

My deadbeat father has a lot to answer for. | hope he stays out of my life now and out of any kids" lives.

As | walk through my front door, | hear the sound of boxes being moved in the living room. | turn the corner to

find Jayden in the middle of packing up.

"What are you doing?" | ask, my voice sharp with surprise.

He looks up and smiles. "Oh, hey. | used my key and got away early. I'm just packing sof your stuff. Thought

I'd help you move in with me."

My heart sinks. Is he stone-cold crazy? "Move in with you? Why would you think I'm moving out of here?"

He sets down the box, frustration flashing in his eyes. "Anne is leaving. We're engaged, we should be living

together. | can help with Abby. | thought it was obvious."

"Obvious to you, maybe," | retort, feeling my anger rising. "But not to me. | have a life here, Jayden. Abby has

her routine. We can't just uproot everything without discussing it."

Jayden stands up, his face flushing with frustration. "I'm trying to make things work for us, Winona. Why can't

you see that?"

"Because you're not includingin these decisions!" | shout, my emotions boiling over. "You're assuming I'll just

go along with whatever you want. That's not how a partnership works."

He takes a step closer, his voice tight with anger. "So, what? You don't want to live with me? You don't want to

make this work?"

"It's not that simple," | say, trying to keep my voice steady. "I need tto adjust. We need to talk about this,

figure out what's best for Abby and for us. This is my first home. I'm not just walking away to live with you." "I

never said you should sell it. You can rent it out."

"No."

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137 Do People Change?

Jayden's shoulders slump, and he lets out a frustrated sigh. "Surely we're ready for this."

"I want to be ready, Jayden. But I'm not rushing into this."

"I can't seem to do anything right."

| step closer, reaching out to touch his arm. "We'll get there, Jayden. But we need to do it together."

| begin to place the items back where they belong, feeling the situation settle over me. This isn't just about

moving in together; it's about learning to communicate, to trust each other again.

As | put a photo frback on the shelf, | catch a glimpse of our past-a picture of us in college, carefree and in

love. Those were simpler times but still | was always battling Jayden about what | wanted in my life. Jayden

comes over, his eyes following my gaze to the photo. "We were happy then," he says softly.

"We were," | agree, my voice tinged with nostalgia. "But we've changed. We need to adapt to who we are now,

not who we were."

He nods, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I know. | just want that happiness back."

"We can have it," | say, taking his hand. "But we need to work for it. We need to build it."

Jayden squeezes my hand, and for a moment, we stand there, united in our resolve to make this work. Can we

really overcthe past?

Can we rebuild the trust that was shattered in the two years | tried to convince him we used to be in love? The

way he'd been so cruel toover the divorce. The way he'd been again in the jail cell about Ashlyn.

| know now that he was doing what he thought he needed to get Ashlyn to confess. But that doesn't make it hurt

any less. The way he spoke like he hated me.

Just like when he believed I'd drugged him and he demanded the divorce.

The reasons why I'd fled when | knew | was pregnant with his child. I'm not sure you can change the essence of a

person. Perhaps they can modify their behavior, but can people actually change? In experience, no. my

My father never changed. My mother seemed incapable of change. She always chose the drugs over me.

It broke my heart. | was never a good enough reason for her to want a better life. A better stan

Jayden has a temper, that is true. He wants to always be in control. Being vulnerable doesn't cnaturally to

him. Not as naturally as being cruel it seems.

Even after all he's been through. He's still going to anger first, getting frustrated and refusing to understand why

| want my independence and autonomy.

Is this the real Jayden?

The Jayden I'll need to cto terms with if we're to have a future together?

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138 Does perfection Exist?