My CEO 153

153 The Crossroads (Winona)

Jayden arrives at my door early on Sunday morning, the sun just starting to filter through the trees outside. I wasn't expecting him this soon; he texted earlier to ask if he could come over.

I open the door, and there he is-tall, broad, Impossibly handsome. His face is a mix of determination and regret. "Hey," he says softly, "Thanks for seeing me."

"Hey," I reply, stepping aside to let him in. "Thanks for wanting to come by. I want to get this cleared up."

We go to the kitchen and I pour us coffee.

He takes the cup from me, his fingers brushing mine for just a second, and I can feel the familiar pull, the one that's always been there, even when everything else felt like it was falling apart. We sat down at the table.

"I'm sorry," he starts, his voice low. "About everything. I know I messed up, Win. L... I never wanted to hurt you like that ever."

1 nod, looking down into my coffee, watching the ripples on the surface. "I'm sorry too. For my part in it. Jayden, I think we're at a crossroads here,"

I lift my gaze to meet his, and I see the same realization. "This... what we've been doing... it's not working. We can't keep going like this."

He nods slowly, and I can see the struggle in his eyes, the way he's trying to find the right words. "I know," he says, his voice rough. "I don't want to lose you, Winona. But I also don't want to keep hurting you. Or Abby."

My heart aches at the mention of our daughter. "I don't want to lose you either, Jayden. But we have to be honest with ourselves. If we keep going down this path without fixing what's broken... we'll just end up hurting each other more. And I can't... I won't let that happen to Abby."

He frowns at that, and I see the guilt flash across his face. "I know you're right," he admits. "But where do we go from here? How do we fix this?"

We both have a part to play. We're both right and we're

agree. We need to find some neutral ground. But

a deep breath. "Therapy. For both of us. Together. Maybe

in his eyes, but he

Because this... all of this... it's bigger than

turning in his mind. Finally, he nods. "I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes, Winona. But... I don't want to end up in another screaming match. I

taking his hand in mine. "We'll

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153 The Crossroad

go to therapy... we're all in. We get into everything, no matter how much it hurts

promise. I'll be all in. But what if... what

it?"

"Then we walk away. Gracefully. For Abby's sake. We make

me, his eyes full of pain and determination, "She does. And I promise, Winona, I'll do whatever

up things that

ease just a bit. "I understand. And I think... I think that's a

that... that

see the resolution in his eyes. "Agreed. I don't want to lose you. But I also don't want

haven't seen in him in a long time. It gives me hope, but it also scares me. Because I know that this is our last chance. If this doesn't work... I'll have to walk away. And that thought

us lost in our own thoughts. But for the first time in a long time, I feel like we're on the same page. Like maybe, just maybe, we can find our way

appointments tomorrow," I say, breaking the silence. "One bite

small, tentative smile on his lips. It's

strange mix of hope and fear swirling in my chest. He pauses at the

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