Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 177

177 Better Than Gold (Winona)

+25 BONUS

The next morning, we have newly packed luggage and we're getting ready to go to the airport.

"Mom, | know this isn't easy," | break the silence. "But | 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," | 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 admit it.

Mom finally speaks, her voice small and uncertain. "I really don't want to be a burden."

"You won't be," | say firmly. "Mom, Abby deserves to know her grandmother. And you deserve to be a part of her

life. You're not a burden. You're family."

She nods slowly, but | can see the doubt still lingering in her eyes. | know this is going to be a big adjustment for

all of us, but it's the only way.

| step out of the room and dial Jayden's number. He answers on the first ring.

"Winona, everything okay?" He sounds tense, like he's been waiting for something to go wrong.

"Not really," | say, keeping my voice steady. "There was a fire. The old house... it's gone. Completely destroyed."

There's a long pause. "Jesus, Winona... are you all okay?"

"We're fine," | assure him. "But there's nothing left for them here. I'm bringing Mom and Cass back to the

townhouse."

There's another pause, longer this time. "Are you sure that's the best decision?"

His question catchesoff guard, and | feel a flicker of doubt. Is this all too much for him? "What do you

mean?"

"| just... | don't want you to feel overwhelmed. This is a lot to take on, especially with everything you've been

through.

"I can handle it, Jayden," | say, my voice firmer than before. "They need a place to stay, and I'm not going to

leave them here with nothing. The won't take charity and Mom can meet Abby. You have to trust me

on this."

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177 Better Than Gold

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"It's not that | don't trust your decisions," he says quickly. "I just want to make sure you're not taking on more

than you can handle."

| take a deep breath, trying to keep my emotions in check. "I think the real question is, can you handle my past

in your face?"

"I'm fine," he says immediately. "It's not that. | just worry about you."

"Well, don't," | say, trying to sound more confident than | feel. "They'll stay withfor a while, but they'll get

their own place eventually. This is just temporary."

There's a sigh on the other end of the line. "Okay. If you're sure. I'll be here when you get back."

"I'm sure," | say, though a small part ofwonders if he's right to be concerned. "We'll figure it out when we get

home."

"| can't wait to see you." | hear the weariness in his voice.

I hang up and sit down on the bed, staring at my phone. Jayden's doubt lingers in my mind, but I push it aside. |

can't let it shake me. | have to stay strong for Mom, for Cass, and for myself.

| think about Abby, and a pang of longing hits me. | miss her so much, and the thought of being back bolsters

me. She's safe with Anne, Bobby, and Sarah, | know but I still worry.

"Okay, no more sad sacks. We're going to treat this like a vacation. I'm looking forward to getting to know you

both and for you to meet Abby."

"You're right. We'll treat this like the vacation | always dreamed about. I'd like to see what your life is like,

Winona. Jayden said you are the best at digital media marketing."

"Hard to believe seeing as our is always all over the socials. But | guess any publicity is good publicity. It

certainly gets my brand and nout there. A lot of it they make up as they go. Being high profile isn't always

fun." "At least you can afford stuff," Cass says.

"That's true, Cass. But it's not with freedom. We can't go anywhere without attention so it costs a lot to go to

places where your privacy is kept. It's hard to interact with the normal side of life. That gets tiring. At least for

me." "But not Jayden?" Cass asks and she seems genuinely curious.

"Jayden grew up with a billionaire family. All the people he knows did also"

"Except for you."

Inod. "Pretty much. Of course, he's never known just how ghetto it got withtill now. | never really shared that

part of my life with him. Once | got the scholarship for highschool and college | focused on getting the best

marks. "Were you ashamed?"

"No. Not ashamed but | couldn't let it distract me. Dragbackwards. | had to believe | was worth as much as

any rich kid was and | worked ten times as hard to do that. Jayden and | becfriends at first. | just could

never shake him off." 177 Better Than Gold

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"What about your daughter? Does all this affect her?"

"| keep her shielded from the and keep her life as simple and plain as | can. I'd appreciate us not telling

her any details about our lives right now. Just follow my lead."

Cass nods. "Yeah, it'll be nice to be an aunt. | mean she doesn't have to callthat or anything, you can just

say I'm a friend. | get it."

| stare at Cass. "No. You are my sister, and you are Aunt Cass. End of story. I'll never be ashamed to let the world

know that."

| get something that's better than gold.

| get a smile from my little sis.