Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 176

176 Up In Smoke (Winona)

Cass flips through the tv channels again while mom gets ready to go out for breakfast. I can tell she's restless, probably nervous about this new community and going out. They sure need to get some clothing. I wonder if I can convince them to let me take them shopping?

Mom's out of the bathroom now and sitting in the armchair by the window, staring out at the city beyond. I can't tell if she's thinking about the past or worrying about the future-probably both.

Just as I'm about to suggest we go get food and look in the variety store for some basics, Cass stops on a news channel. The reporter is talking about a fire, and the area it's in makes me pay attention.

"The fire, which broke out late last night, completely destroyed a house in the area. Witnesses say they saw a car and Molotov cocktails being thrown just before the flames engulfed the old home." Cass suddenly goes still, her eyes locked on the screen. I look at the TV, and my heart stops.

It's the old house. Or what's left of it. Flames are still flickering in the debris, and the camera pans the wreckage. There's nothing left but charred remains.

"Oh my God," Mom whispers, her hand flying to her mouth. "That's... that's our home."

across

say. The house was a dump, but it was still home to her. It was where Mom and Cass lived, where Mom rebuilt her life and raised Cass. And

say, stunned.

if you hadn't attacked him and threatened them with a gun, maybe it wouldn't have happened!" She's

H

isn't listening. She's too caught up in her anger, desperate to blame someone for what's happened. "You think you're so perfect, coming in here and trying to fix everything. But all you did'is make things worse!" "Cass, that's not fair," I say, trying to keep my voice calm. "I didn't want this to happen. Maybe you shouldn't have taken off and not come home for dinner. I was

welling up in her eyes. "And now we have nothing. No home, no place to

up, her face pale. "Even though it's a terrible thing, maybe this is a sign," she says quietly. Maybe it's time to let go of the past and start over. We can't go back there now, Cass. There's nothing left. But we could have been in there. We could be dead." Cass glares at her for a second, but the fight drains out of her. "You're right. That

+25 BONUS

eye. "Cass, I know this is hard.

Mom to move forward. To find something better. You can come back to this same city just a

at the screen. But I can see the gears turning in her head, the realization that there's

deep breath, her hands shaking. "Winona, maybe... maybe staying in your city for a while wouldn't be so bad. Just until we figure out what to

that block will have some value. He'll do the research and if it's a suburb worth fixing up, he'll find you a good price "More charity from

is hard. I've had to walk away from everything before and start over. But things have a way of working out. At this point, it is what it is. You have to make the most of it." "Fine," she says, her voice quiet but no less angry. "But don't expect

you to like anything. I do expect you to do the right thing and support your mother through this hard time though. Stop thinking about yourself for a minute." She glares at me again.