My CEO 85

83. Saving Winona

85 Saving Winona (Jayden)

I glance into the window of the hospital room and see Ashlyn, laying there. Her face is devoid of emotion, her expression blank. There are no tears, no redness around her eyes, nothing to indicate the trauma of losing a baby.

Surely no one would go so far as to frame someone else, even to the extent of losing their own child? Perhaps, Ashlyn's capacity for manipulation really knows no bounds.

My biggest question is, how much of this has my mother been involved in?

I know Ashlyn intimately, and she's always been dramatic, always excessively theatrical when it comes to dealing with personal matters, particularly concerning Winona and me.

My only option now is honesty, this marriage must end, regardless of the circumstances.

Baby or no baby, continuing this marriage is impossible. In hindsight, I should never have rushed into this union.

I thought we could somehow make it work, but the ongoing saga with Winona has affected Ashlyn more than I had realized, and it's clear now she requires professional help.

I enter the room, approaching her bed with a heavy heart. "Ashlyn." I start, my voice laced with a resignation that feels both freeing and deeply sad.

She suddenly sits up, her movements quick, and throws her arms around me. "Jayden, oh God, Jayden. I'm so sorry. The baby is gone," she sobs into my shoulder. ternally I feel

I reply gently, trying to comfort her while internally I

pry her arms from around my neck and sit down beside her,

wanted this, Jayden. I told you Winona wanted to hurt me," she

why are you here in Santa Monica? How did

now look flat and emotionless again. "I wanted to see you," she

you know we'd be at Palisades Park?" I press, not willing to

look around, and there you were," she

that", I counter, my skepticism growing Her

rising sharply. "She killed our baby. Why are you interrogating me? Look at me-I could've broken my neck, not just my arm!" She gestures to her bruises and the cast encasing her arm. But sympathy is the last thing

in the country, and they will prove what she's done.

85 Saving Winona

our life together is as simple as pressing a

again with Lance," I retort, unable to keep the bitterness from my voice. It's a low blow, but the absurdity of her suggestion that we could simply move past this, start over as if nothing happened, is too much to bear. Her grip on my wrist tightens painfully, and for the first time, genuine emotion flashes in her eyes-panic." No! Jayden, you can't mean that. That was a stupid mistake. You're all I have left. Without

know too well-the one who manipulates emotions to bend

trying to loosen her grip from my arm. "I need to think about Abby, about my

you leave me, I swear, Jayden, I'll kill myself!" she cries out, the intensity

the cannula drip from her arm, blood spurting from the freshly opened

gruesome sight, her desperation manifesting physically, and yet part of me questions the authenticity of her distress. I step back, distancing myself from the bed as medical personnel burst into the room. Her eyes are large and wild now and she screams. "We

looking around, perhaps for an escape

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