Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 205

205 Last Goodbye

(Winona)

The hospital feels like it's closing in on me. I can only imagine how Jayden feels right now.

He's come to check in on Mom with me. Cass won't talk to him either.

Mom lies there, so still, so fragile, and it hits me how little time we've had together. Not enough time. Nowhere near enough.

I reach out, my fingers trembling as they close around her hand. It's warm, but she doesn't react. The doctors said she'd wake up when she's ready, but what if she never wakes up? What if this is it? Cass stands in the corner, hugging herself like she's trying to hold in all the pain. She hasn't looked at me since we got here.

Suddenly, the steady beeping of the monitor changes, becoming slower, more deliberate. My heart skips a beat, and I lean forward, my breath catching in my throat. "Mom? Mom, can you hear me?" Cass jerks, her eyes wide and wild as she steps closer, "Mom? Please, Mom..."

And then, as if by some miracle, Mom's eyelids flutter open. For a moment, her eyes are clear, focused.

"Winona... Cass..." Her voice is so faint, I have to lean in to hear it, but it's there. It's her.

"We're here, Mom," I whisper, tears already streaming down my face. "We're both here."

Cass moves to the other side of the bed, her hand holding onto Mom's other hand. She's trembling, her face a mix of hope and fear. "Mom, you're going to be okay. We're going to get you through this."

But Mom shakes her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "No, baby, I'm not going to be okay. I've known... for a while now. I have cancer. Terminal. It's spread... everywhere."

The words hit me like a sledgehammer. "No... no, Mom, why didn't you say something. We could have paid for treatment..."

But I needed to make sure... you were

looks at Cass. "I knew it had to end. I saw the message on Winona's phone. I knew... I knew he wouldn't stop until he

shatter into a million pieces. "Mom... you

growing fainter. "I had to die knowing... knowing he'd never hurt you again. That was the only way I could go in

she shakes her head, her

be alone," Mom says, her voice barely a whisper. "You

+25 BONUS

205 Last Goodbye

you'll

sobbing now, her head bowed as she clutches Mom's hand.

like I can keep her here with us. " promise, Mom. I love you. I love you

can still fight this.

"No. I need to rest now." Mom's eyes start to close, her breaths coming slower, shallower. "1 love you both... so

just like that,

that signals the end. I feel like the ground has been ripped out from under me, and I collapse onto the bed, my sobs shaking my entire body. Cass pulls away from me, her face twisted in grief and anger. "This is your fault,"

like a knife, but I can't fight back. Not now. Not when she's right. Not when

my voice

steps up. "Cass, I know you're hurting but blaming Winona for all of

ridiculous. You all are. Mom's gone now and I'm alone. Don't tell me what to feel." She bolts from the room, her sobs echoing down

chase after her. "Cass! Stay, I'll

T

wrapping around me,

her go, Winona," he says. "She needs to run. I'll have her tracked to make sure she's safe, but right