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."

blame him, Jayden." She coughs, blood bubbles at

shaking my

weakly in mine, her grip so faint

lean closer, desperate to

wrong," she whispers, her breaths shallow and

tightens, tears sting my eyes. "No, don't talk about that now. Just focus on

still manage to pierce me with their intensity. "You... love her. Don't waste it.

interrupts, her voice fading. "Always. So

tears falling freely now. "I know you did. I love you

faintest shadow of a smile. "Good. You're... so much better... than me, Jayden. Always...

voice cracking. "Stop talking

close for a moment,

stay with

flutter open again, just barely, her gaze distant

from mine, and it feels like a physical

"No!"

her vitals, writing on a

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

look to the covered body

need you to answer

that's my best friend over there. Do we have to do this

My

but my body refuses to listen. My mother is gone. Lance is gone. Lance killed her and then killed himself. He took her out for me. I know

me, who protected

determination. The woman who hurt me, betrayed me, manipulated me-but

She did. ne

And now she's gone.

he's gone. And I'm here. Alone. I walk out of the suite. I need some air.

my phone, my fingers trembling as I dial

"Jayden?"

gone," I manage, my voice