My CEO 155

155 She's Gone! (Winona)

I glance at Jayden, wondering how he's feeling about his mother leaving, but his face is a mask of calm that I can't read. He hasn't said much about it, and I can't tell if he's relieved or not.

For the first time in his life, his mother won't be hovering over him, dictating his every move, and yet he seems... unmoved.

It's that unreadable expression that sets my nerves even more on edge. I've always struggled to understand Jayden's feelings when it comes to his mother, and now, more than ever, I wish I could see inside his head. Is he h

happy she's leaving? Is he secretly afraid, like I am? Or is he just so numb to her influence that he doesn't care anymore? The uncertainty about his emotions adds another layer to my inner anxiety. "Jayden, dear," Judy says, turning to him as she stands. She ushers Abby over to me as she approaches her son. "Take care of yourself, won't you."

Jayden nods, his face remaining impassive. "I'll be fine," he says, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Good," Judy says, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "I'll miss you terribly."

"Goodbye, Mother." Jayden then walks away.

I follow him with Abby holding my hand. Wow. I'm not sure if this is good or bad.

Jayden might not show it now, but I know how much his mother has meant to him, how deeply her influence ran in his life. Is he truly able to just switch that off and not care about her at all now? I don't think that's healthy for him.

I can't shake the feeling that something terrible is going to happen, that Judy's departure is just the beginning of some new, twisted plan. But I can't talk to Jayden about it-not yet.

Not until we're in therapy, where I can carefully navigate these suspicions without triggering his defenses.

that this fear

first session is tomorrow. What if it doesn't work? What if we end up tearing each other

stop and

a sharp nod to the flight crew signaling that it's time to go. They all disappear to their prospective jobs. He and Judy come towards us. He gives Abby a hug and a kiss and shakes Jayden's hand.

her, nodding through her confusion, and it takes everything in me not to yank her away. But I hold back, biting down the surge of panic that's rising in my

can't afford

155 She's Gone!

+25 BONUS

on me, watching, no doubt waiting for any

eyes meet, and for a split second, I see something in her expression-something cold, calculating, the Judy I

Judy turns and walks toward the jet. Gus follows, his hand resting on the small

closes behind them with a resounding thud, and

ears.

my ears. She's gone. I can

the runway, I reach for Abby, pulling her close. She buries her face in my shoulder, her small body

the jet disappear into the sky. I feel

to

stands beside me, staring at the empty runway as the jet straightens high above us and disappears, his

fade. And

"Go get

to the car and the

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