Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 249

(Jayden)

I can't explain the feeling of holding Henry against my bare chest. It's more than just warmth, more than the soft rise and fall of his tiny body.

It's like every fear, every worry I've had about him since the day he was born melts away.

My protective drive for him is consolidated as I cradle him in the crook of one arm and keep him against me. I love him so much.

We love him so much. Ashlyn would be proud. But then again, Ashlyn didn't want to be his mother.

Ashlyn chose to give up her rights as his parent. That makes me wonder, if we'd stayed married and she'd had the baby and we'd played happy families, how would it have all ended up?

She never wanted motherhood but she would have forced herself to keep me. It brings me back to just how broken Ashlyn was. It was never meant to be with her.

I could never have loved her like I love Winona now.

I know how rejection on that parental level feels. I'm so glad Henry will never feel that. Winona is and always will be his mother, in every way.

I glance over at her sitting beside me, her eyes glued to Henry as her fingers gently stroke his little arm. She smiles softly, and for a moment, everything feels right in the world.

It's amazing how much peace one tiny baby can bring, even with all the chaos. This is the true meaning of

life.

The nurse checks Henry's breathing again, nodding in approval. "He's doing great. His body temperature has been holding steady for thirty minutes."

That news alone is enough to make me so grateful.

Henry is strong. He's a fighter. He's proven that time and time again, and now... now he's about to take another big step forward.

The nurse glances at me, giving me the signal. "It's time to try the bottle feed. You ready?"

nod, but inside, I'm a mess of nerves. I can't help but worry. What if it doesn't go well? What if he

I try to p

Henry and keeping my heartbeat and

inhale and exhale evenly. Willing relaxation and calmness through

in them. Winona has tears in her eyes but I know she's also trying to

on mine, squeezing gently. "It's going to be okay," she

249 Skin to Skin

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the bottle, brushing the small teat against his lips and

a second, nothing happens. I focus on staying

bottle, his mouth opening just enough to latch onto the teat. The nurse encourages him to take it

willing myself to stay calm like the nurses have been telling me to do. But it's hard. Every fiber of my being is on edge, waiting for something to go wrong. "Take a drink, son." Winona starts humming softly beside me, a quiet lullaby, and I can see Henry's tiny body relax as she does. It's like magic. She's always had that effect on him, calming him in

from God, I know I couldn't have chosen a better mother

it. He's sucking, swallowing, and breathing all at once, and for

and nods. "There you go little man. You

gasps, her eyes lighting up with joy. "Jayden, look!

breathe. I'm so overwhelmed with relief, with pride, with pure, unadulterated love for this little

whisper, my voice thick with emotion. "You're doing

easy when all I want to do is dance on the rooftops and yell

closely. "That's perfect.

His father's appetite." I say

now. I'll go out and write up his

"Okay."

excitement in check isn't easy. It's impossible not to feel like this is the moment we've been waiting for. The moment that proves Henry is going

going

the entire time. I don't

of this and seeing her so

whisper to her, my voice

at me,

being here. For