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..."

hand, her grip weaker than I'd like. "I didn't want to burden you. And, after the life I've lived, I'm tired. It took its toll on me. But I needed to make sure... you were both safe. That's why... that's why I texted Steve

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

million pieces. "Mom... you didn't have to

insists, her voice growing fainter. "I had to die knowing... knowing he'd never hurt

she shakes her head, her voice breaking. "Don't leave me, Mom. I don't

alone," Mom says, her voice barely a whisper. "You have each other. Promise

+25 BONUS

205 Last Goodbye

other. That you'll love each other. You're sisters. You need

bowed as she clutches Mom's hand. "I promise,

promise, Mom. I love you. I love you so much. I'm sorry I didn't come back sooner. I'm so sorry." "It wasn't your

still fight this. There are trials, new cures for cancer

eyes start to close,

then, just like that, she's

shaking my entire body. Cass pulls away from me, her face twisted in grief and anger. "This is your fault," she

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

I choke out, my

you're hurting but blaming Winona for all of

now and I'm alone. Don't tell me what to feel." She bolts from the room, her sobs echoing down

her. "Cass! Stay, I'll

T

in an instant, his arms wrapping around me,

needs to run. I'll have her tracked to make sure she's safe, but right now... right now,