Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 256

256 Giving Winona An Out (Jayden)

I watch Winona's face as my words sink in. The shock is clear in her eyes. Telling her that we should stop sharing a bed-hell, that we should basically stop living together until the wedding-it's like dropping a bomb and waiting for the smoke to clear.

And part of me hates that I'm doing this, that I'm causing her this kind of confusion. But deep down, I know it's the right call.

She stares at me, her voice soft but filled with disbelief. "What about the kids? Do you expect me to just leave every night, after they're asleep? What kind of message does that send?"

This isn't a decision I made lightly, but it's one I know we need. Both of us. There's too much history here, too much pain we're still dealing with. And I'm not ignoring it any longer.

I sigh, rubbing the back of my neck. "I'm not trying to make things harder for anyone, especially not the kids. This... it's for us. For you and me."

"Sure."

"If we're going to do this-really commit to getting married again, to building this life together-I need to be sure. And I need you to be sure too."

She looks at me like I'm speaking a foreign language. And maybe I am, in a way. But I know she's been through hell because of me, because of the choices I made. I have to give her an out if she needs it.

"You're not serious, Jayden," she says, shaking her head. "You really think pushing me away is going to make me feel more certain about us? That putting space between us will help?"

Her voice trembles, and I can see how much this is hurting her. But I can't back down now. This isn't about just giving her space, it's about forcing us both to confront what's underneath all of this.

issues, the scars we

that when we stand at that altar, you're not doubting us. That you're not second-guessing everything because of what's happened. If we don't take this time now to figure that out, we're just going to drag all that

Her eyes narrow slic

asks, her tone biting. "Are you having

have doubts about her. Not about wanting to be with her. But I do have doubts about whether she can ever

need to face my own shit too. This... it's not just about you. It's about me, about all the stuff I've been avoiding. The dreams, the nightmares, all

She's quiet now, listening.

to see Barnaby today," I admit. "I'm starting one-on-ones. To dig into the darker stuff-the nightmares about Ashlyn, the guilt I've been

at that. "Why didn't you

Winona

+25 BONUS

I didn't

with Ashlyn... It

started off as just a little fun-a way to escape all the pain and anger I was carrying-turned into something darker. An

let happen in my life. And Ashlyn was more than willing to help me bury myself in it for her own reasons. But it wasn't healthy then,

continue, looking her dead in the eye. "But it's not something I can just snap my fingers and fix. It will be an ongoing battle. One that we will have

understanding and pain crossing her face. "So, what? You're just going to

"No. I'm not pulling away. I'm just giving us both time. You need to decide if this is what you want, Winona. If you can live with all of it-the past,

can't?" she asks, her voice

Waco-parent."

my mouth, but I know I have to say them. This isn't