Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 222

222 A Parent's Love

(Jayden)

I stand in the Brennan wing of the hospital. I'm going into the smaller unit to meet with Ashlyn's Mom

Ashlyn is in there as well and I know that her Mom, as her next of kin, has to sign the papers that will let the doctors turn off the life support.

This has to be hard for Mrs. Carter. I let myself in the door and went to the living area. I don't want to don't want to

interrupt her personal time with Ashlyn in the bedroom.

I hear voices, and I guess the medical staff are updating her.

I named the baby after Ashlyn's father, as a small gesture of respect, something that might offer some

comfort to Mrs. Carter.

But as soon as Mrs. Carter walks into the room, I feel the tension. She's a tall woman, her posture rigid, with a coldness in her eyes that immediately puts me on edge. She looks perfect, too perfect. The kind of perfect that you know is bought and paid for.

"Mrs. Carter," I say, keeping my voice steady. "Thank you for coming. I wanted you to know that I named the baby after Ashlyn's father, Henry, I thought she would have liked that. He and her always seemed so close." She looks at me, her expression unreadable for a moment before she scoffs, "Henry Carter,"

I'm surprised by this.

"That man was weak, Jayden. Weak, and without ambition. Just like Ashlyn. They'd rather be gadding about at a ball game than taking life seriously."

Wow. Okay. I was expecting grief, maybe even some anger, but this... this is something else entirely. Excuse me?" I ask, my voice low, trying to keep my composure.

her arms, her gaze cold and unflinching. "Ashlyn never lived up to her potential. She had so much

I see."

father. And now, look where she is-on life

she could to try

"1

reap

this end. And she sure as hell doesn't deserve to be talked

unimpressed by my outburst. "She's in this situation because you couldn't love her like you were supposed to. You broke her

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222 A Parent's Love

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catching the tall end of Mrs. Carter's venomous words. Her eyes

fists at my sides. "No, Mrs. Carter. Ashlyn's life ended up this way because she was constantly trying to live up to impossible expectations, From you, from my mother, because apparently

took her places, spent time with her. Like any parent

being married to a dreamer, just to have Ashlyn end up poor. He

you shouldn't have married him

first. That's what I wanted for

needed was to be loved for

If anything,

strong, to have more ambition. She was

"All a parent has to do is love their child," I

them to the breaking point, like you and my mother

both. But you both failed to be strong

didn't fail because she wasn't strong enough. She failed because she was made to feel like she wasn't enough,

forward then, placing a hand on my arm. But I'm too far gone, too angry at the