Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

459 Mother!

(Jayden)

The flashing lights of ambulances and police cars light up the hotel's entrance as I run the last few of the distance. My stomach churns, the bile rising in my throat as I close in on the foyer. This can't be real. It doesn't feel real.

I enter the elevator and take what feels like the slowest ride in the world up to the top floor. My mind is full of everything. Mother, Lance. I know she did wrong, so much wrong.

But she was still my mother. She loved me. I could never fault her on that.

Outside the elevator now, I march towards the officers outside the open suite door.

I try to push past the uniformed officers at the door, my voice sharp and demanding. "I'm Jayden Brennan. That's my mother in there. Let me through."

Two of them grab me by the upper arms.

Another officer steps forward, raising a hand to block me. "Sir, we can't-"

"It's my mother! Do you understand?" My voice cracks with desperation. "Let me through now!" I yell, trying to get free.

"Let him through," A tall man in a suit standing in the room orders.

The scene inside hits me like a freight train. Blood. So much blood. A body lies covered on the floor, stark and unmoving. Lance.

My stomach drops, and I feel like I'm about to collapse.

But then my eyes land on another figure, barely conscious, being lifted onto a lowered gurney. Mother. Blood is everywhere-soaking the carpet, smeared across the once-pristine furniture, staining her clothes.

"Mother!" I rush forward, shoving past the paramedics to her side. My knees hit the floor beside her as her eyes flutter open weakly.

Her lips move, but no sound comes out. I grab her hand, slick and sticky with blood. "I'm here, Mother. It's okay."

Her gaze locks onto mine, and for the first time in my life, she looks small. Fragile. Vulnerable in a way I'd never imagined possible. "Jayden," she whispers, her voice barely audible, her tone laced with something I can't quite place.

"I'm here," I say again, my voice trembling. "Don't talk. Save your strength. The paramedics are here. They'll take care of you."

him, Jayden." She coughs, blood bubbles at the corner

my head.

weakly in mine, her grip so faint I

lean closer, desperate to catch every

wrong," she whispers, her breaths shallow and labored.

tears sting my eyes. "No, don't talk about that

me with their intensity. "You... love her. Don't waste it. Don't... let my

interrupts, her voice fading. "Always. So

falling freely now. "I

of a smile. "Good. You're... so much better... than me,

cracking. "Stop talking like this. You're going to be

close for a moment, and

Mother, stay with

flutter open again, just barely, her gaze distant now.

and it feels

"No!"

her

Not like this. Not this way." I say out loud, but I know she can't hear me. Her eyes now lifeless. They close them for her, and I feel the presence of that tall, suited man beside me. "Mr Brennan. Detective Ronald Harrison,

look to the covered body

to

My mother just died and that's my best friend

stand frozen, My mind

here, to do something, but my body refuses to listen. My mother is gone. Lance is gone. Lance killed her and then killed himself. He took her

me, who protected

The woman who hurt me, betrayed me, manipulated me-but she loved

She did. ne

And now she's gone.

here. Alone. I walk out of the suite. I

phone, my fingers trembling as I dial Winona. She answers almost

"Jayden?"

voice barely a whisper. "Mother's gone