Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

463 Lance’s Goodbye

The screen flickers for a moment before Lance appears, sitting in what looks like his hotel. He's bruised from our fight-his eyes still dark, his knuckles marked. But he's himself, leaning back in a chair with his usual grin. Even battered, he looks at ease. My heart is in my throat as it hits me that I'll never see him again. He was my ride or die. He chose to die.

"Jayden," he begins, tilting his head. "You son of a bitch. You threw the first punch again. Or rather you mowed me down before I could do anything. Let's just get that out of the way. That's the only reason you ever landed one on me."

A laugh escapes me. Typical Lance. Even now, he finds a way to turn the pain into a joke.

"Look, I know you've got questions. Probably a lot of them. Maybe you're angry, or maybe you're just sitting there thinking, 'What the hell, Lance?' So let me explain... as much as I can."

He pauses, rubbing the back of his neck. "I always knew this was how I'd go out. One day, when the time was right, I'd end things. That's just... who I am. It's not that I didn't love life-I did, Jayden. I really did. But the demons were always going to win."

I see the familiar shadow in his eyes of the childhood trauma he could never get past. Not really. His parents never loved him and he could never love himself. He never thought he was lovable and he was only ever trouble. I thought he'd get over that one day and realize what we all knew. Lance was an extraordinary person who shone light in the darkest for corners for anyone that knew him. He just could never shine that light for himself.

"But I've never been the kind of guy who could stick around forever. Not in love and not in life. That's just how it has to be."

His gaze softens, and for a moment, he looks vulnerable. "That's why I kept people at arm's length. Why I didn't let Lisa in for so long. I didn't want her to get hurt. But then, of course, I went and did the dumbest thing possible."

I'm sure he covered that when

it was the best I've ever felt. She loved me like no one else ever could. And I loved her back the best way I knew how. Even though it was just a few days. I wanted her to feel love like she should be loved. Take

up straighter. "But that's not why I'm gone. This isn't about me running from Lisa or you or anything else. This is about what I made my mind up about before I even met you." Jesus, I met Lance when we were

"You okay?" Cass asks.

it's just a lot. To hear that even through all the great times we had, nothing

you to know.

it

never expected such

I need

eyes narrow

into Judy's files, Jayden. Dug deeper than I should've. And I realized shex wasn't going to stop. Not with Winona, not with you, or the kids. She had it

were

fists as the anger surges. I don't need to see Judy's files to believe this. Deep down, I know this to be true. I wanted to

couldn't let