Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

419 Mending Broken Pieces

419 Mending Broken Pieces

419 Mending Broken Pieces (Winona)

My laptop buzzes with a video call coming through. I draw a deep breath, steeling myself as I answer. Jayden's face appears on the screen, looking more worn and tired than I've ever seen him in a very long time. His eyes are shadowed, his jaw tight, and there's a vulnerability there that roils at my gut.

"Hey," he says, his voice rough. "Thanks for taking the call."

"Hey," I manage, trying to keep my own voice steady, feeling my palms grow clammy. The silence between us stretches, heavy with all the things we need to say, everything we need to fix and everything we've broken,

Jayden's throat works as he swallows. "I owe you an apology," he says, his voice thick. "For what I said about Judy being right. I didn't mean it. I was angry, and I let my hurt speak for me. I went back to a place I thought I'd never be again. I'm sorry." His words sink in.

"I just want to make things clear," I say, my voice cracking despite my best efforts. "I get why you had that reaction. I get that what I did was a stupid choice no matter my reasons. I don't think we can just pop a plaster over that gaping wound and fix it, but hearing those words from you is what has wrecked me."

"I understand that. I know just saying I'm sorry won't fix it either. I hurt you on the lowest level and I shouldn't have done that, no matter what."

"You know how hard I've fought to keep her out of our lives. Hearing you side with her... it broke something in me."

His eyes drop, the regret clear on his face. "I hate that hurt you like that. But I can't take it back. All I can do is try to make it right." He lifts his gaze, and there's desperation in his eyes. "I still love you, Winona. I haven't stopped."

love you too," I whisper, my voice small but true. "But love doesn't erase betrayal. It doesn't undo the hurt. I'm speaking for both

the tension in his shoulders never easing. "We

work through it, if

me hard. "I am," I say. "But it won't be easy. We need to give each other grace, even

lifts in a small, hopeful smile. "We've done hard things before. Remember all those sessions with Barnaby, working through our mess?" He pauses. "Maybe it's

weight of hope mixed with doubt. "We can't pretend everything's fine. But maybe pretending we're okay, until we are, could help. It

with him. Maybe even give him a call." Jayden is

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419 Mending Broken Pieces

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and honest about our feelings. We've lost that lately. As much as we need to be together for the kids, we also need

relief breaking through his fatigue. "I agree," he says. "Those photos, I know they came

has people everywhere, but we have Viktor, and Gus. If Gus is ready to deal with her for good. We have

T

the things she has done, or at least some of it. Judy may have a lot of friends, but I realize now, she has also made a lot of

something? Jayden, are you sure? If she finds out, I'm scared about what she might try and

shadow any longer. How can we ever be

blow. But he's

we're falling apart, it could give us the upper hand. "It'll be hard," I admit. "But maybe the distance will give us time to work through our own mess as well. The kids... they're