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

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 now it's gone. Cass's face hardens, and she turns to me, her eyes blazing with

say, stunned.

gun, maybe it wouldn't have happened!" She's practically

H

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

in her eyes. "And now we have nothing. No

we could have been in there. We could be dead." Cass glares at her for a second, but the fight drains out

+25 BONUS

front of her, trying to catch her eye. "Cass, I know this is hard. But it's a

move forward. To find something better. You can come back to

staring at the screen. But I can see the gears turning in her head, the

in your city for a while wouldn't be so bad. Just until we figure out what to do next. But I've never had

your house is, was, 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

away from everything before and start over. But things have a way of working out. At this point, it is what it

mother through this hard time though. Stop thinking about yourself for a minute." She