Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

433 Inviting Judy

433 Inviting Judy

(Jayden)

Back in London, I stare at the text my mother sent after I got the photos.

Hard to believe that was just a few days ago. Now it feels like a lifetime. Everything has changed.

My best friend relationship has imploded in the worst way. We'll never be the same again. I can barely remember my life without Lance. We were like brothers. Not any longer.

Even if Winona and I can get through this together, once again we are forced apart by my mother's doing. Okay, Winona gave her the ammunition.

But the way she's used that to be the most damaging, isolating me from my close relationships, trying to give me no choice but her as my sole support. It makes it all icky.

Regardless of the wrongs or rights of this situation, I need Judy to not be influencing my life behind the scenes. I need her to just let me go. If getting her in jail does that, then that's what I do. The no-contact order wasn't enough to make her see that it's over for her and I. I won't keep running away. Okay, I need to get this rolling so I bring up her text again.

I reply: you were right.

Just enough to keep up the pretense that I'm open to her contact.

The idea of playing nice with my mother makes my skin crawl, but if it keeps her off guard, it's worth it. This is what I need to do now but I also cannot do this forever.

I pace around the hotel suite Viktor secured for me. The burner phone Viktor gave me buzzes in my pocket, and I answer immediately, recognizing Gus's voice on the other end. "Jayden," Gus says. "Viktor's filled me in. You're trying to do the right thing, but it won't be easy."

"I know," I reply, keeping my voice steady. "I need evidence. Real evidence. Can you give me anything on Judy? About Greg's death or the car accident? Anything at all."

exhales. "Nothing solid, Jayden. She's always been too careful. The only thing I have is what she told

"Okay."

frustration simmering beneath the surface. "I

her to illegal activities. Or people willing to testify. But, Jayden, you should know... she's always made sure to cover her tracks. The man who was driving the truck that you smashed into is now dead." "Then I'll get her to

173

433 ring Jody

catch her slipping, I'll

him. "You think she'll fall for it? You think she'll trust you

to try," I insist. "She wants me on

game," Gus warns. "And if she catches wind of it, there's no telling

say, even though the idea of Judy turning on me sends a chill down my spine. "But the won't stop coming after Winona, I won't let her have that

silence before Gus's voice softens. "There's something else you need to know. Cass she's gotten mixed up

grip on the phone tightens.

ring in Cuba and South America, indirectly," Gus

"From jail?"

Mia's

still not sure but he's been away for a while

be involved with

both use recreational drugs. Cass has been selling. There's more but I'm not sure

wave of worry crashes over me. "Cass has been

hasn't been seen for a week," Gus continues. "Her place was ransacked. I'm trying to find out more. If you

enough to handle right now. Plus she's heading back to the States anyway so

I believe she would contact Winona if things got too bad. I'm not panicking just

my files to try and get something solid on Judy. But I don't know about that. Jayden, it's complicated, you know I've loved Judy for a long time. It's stupid of me, but the heart wants what the heart wants." "Maybe one day she'll see that and settle the fuck down on me and my