My CEO 187

187 The Edge

187 The Edge (Jayden)

We're back in my car, outside the high security facility, but my mind is still trapped in that room with Ashlyn. Her words stick in my head. This is a bad dream I can't shake off. Judy will always have a hold on you. One day, she'll control your life again.

I grip the steering wheel tight, my knuckles turning white. The thought of my mother having any influence over me, over my life, twists in my gut. Ashlyn's dragging me back into that nightmare. "How can she even say that?" I demand. "How can she think Mother will ever control my life again?"

Winona stays quiet beside me, eyes fixed ahead. But she's heard me. She's thinking, processing, just like she always does.

"And she doesn't trust me to take care of the baby," I continue, my voice heating up. "Like I'm some kind of puppet for my mother, incapable of making my own decisions.

Winona finally turns to look at me, her expression tells me she's about to drop some hard truths. "Jayden, we don't even know if there is a baby. We can't be sure of anything until we have proof."

I nod, though it doesn't ease the anger. "I know, but if there is. If she's telling the truth... What do we do then?"

Winona's silence weighs heavy, and the tension buildske. Then Winona lets out a sigh and speaks. Ultimately, the welfare of this baby isn't my responsibility, Jayden. It's your fuck-up. You need to fix it."

Her words surprise me, but she's right. This whole mess with Ashlyn-everything that's happened-it's all on me. I can't push this off on Winona and expect her to clean it up. No matter what Ashlyn's preference. Is. She's in no position to make a judgment call like this. "I could really smash something right now."

need to understand something-this could push us right back to where we were before therapy. Right back to the edge." She's right.

Ashlyn, this potential baby, it's a whole new test

Steve MIA, Ashlyn begging me to adopt her child, Mom and Cass,

ask, my voice quieter

have Ashlyn checked out, to see if she's really

is pregnant?" I ask, the question hanging

to be the one

12

187 The Edge

+25 BONUS

to. Your family has done my head in for years. My family has done my head in for years. I'm ready to leave

words sting, but they're fair. I've made mistakes, and now it's time to face the consequences. But I know one thing-I'm not letting Judy or Ashlyn control my life again. This is my fight, and I'll do whatever it takes to protect what

doctor to test Ashlyn as soon as possible,"

hardening my voice.

spooked enough to ask her arch

stopped

kill her off. As

"I'll handle it."

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