Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 227

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227 Goodbye Ashlyn (Jayden)

The room feels like the end of the world. Ashlyn lies there, a shell of the person I once knew. Machines beep, a dull reminder that life still clings to her, but barely. I stand over her, grappling with the storm Inside me. Everything is crashing down, but this is where it all endo for her.

The nurse stands by the door, her eyes filled with kindness. "Mr. Brennan, we'll give you some time alone before we switch off," she says, her voice soft.

"Thanks," I manage to reply, barely recognizing my own voice.

The door clicks shut behind her, leaving me alone with Ashlyn. I reach out, taking her hand in mine. It's cold, unmoving. I close my eyes, letting the memories rush in.

The times we laughed, the times we fought, the way she smiled when she thought everything would work out. The way we were together. The times we shared when I was sure our love story would work out. But it didn't, did it?

"Ashlyn," I start, my voice catching. "I don't even know where to begin."

I swallow hard, forcing myself to speak. "We had something real, didn't we? Back then, I really thought we could make it. But I was blind. Blind to what was happening to you, to the pain you were hiding. I was too caught up in my own mess to see how deep you were drowning."

I feel the sting of tears, but I blink them away. "I loved you, Ashlyn. I did. But I didn't love you the way you needed. And that's my fault. I should have known better, should have seen the signs with your mother and mine. But I didn't."

look at her, hoping for something-anything-that would tell me she hears me. But there's nothing. Just the lifeless rise and fall of

me about your mother, about the pressure she put on you," I continue. "I wish you'd told me how much my mother's expectations crushed

to have the life we both wanted for him. A life full of

on my tongue. "I named him Henry. After your dad. I thought you'd like that. But I didn't know... I didn't know how much he really meant to you. How losing him

flashes in my mind-the conversation I had with Ashlyn's mother earlier. The bitterness in her voice, the way she spoke of her

mother was so cruel and uncaring. I wish I had. At least my mother used love as an -excuse

her now, I understand what she lived with all those

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227 Goodbye Ashlyn

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told me your father was weak, that you were weak that you both could have been more if you'd just tried harder. She blamed me for not

u were

together. "But that's not how I'll remember you, Ashlyn. You strong in your own way. You loved fiercely, even when it hurt you. And you deserved better. You deserved to be loved for who you were, not who you could have

button to call the nurse back in, my hand shaking. "I'm sorry I couldn't give you

returns, followed by the doctor. They move around the room with quiet efficiency,

I'm watching from a distance, like none

to proceed, Mr. Brennan," the doctor says, his

nod, not trusting myself to speak. The doctor glances at the nurse, and she moves to the ventilator. I