Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

(Jayden)

The phone rings just as I finish my third coffee of the morning. I glance at the caller ID: Unknown.

But I know it's Gus. I take a deep breath. This is going to be challenging.

I answer, keeping my tone even. "Jayden Brennan."

"Jayden," Gus replies. "Awful news. I can hardly imagine what you're going through."

"I'm managing. There's a lot to get through."

"Yes. Have they released the bodies yet?"

"Just waiting on final paperwork, so probably tomorrow. How are you?"

"Shit," he admits, and the bluntness catches me off guard. "Judy's gone, and I can't quite believe it."

He exhales. "My biggest regret is not making us a family all that time ago. And now she's just... gone."

I let the silence stretch, unsure how to respond.

"I tried to fix things recently," Gus continues. "Hoped I could. But Judy played me as much as she played everyone else. She loved me, yes, but she was never going to stop punishing me."

"She knew what she was doing, Gus," I say. "She manipulated everyone around her, played games with people's lives."

"But I'm not innocent here. I left her in the States while I built Nexus Global, knowing exactly what kind of life she'd have with Greg. So yes, some of this is on me. I should've done more. Especially for you."

His words hit hard. For the first time, Gus sounds less like the unshakable mastermind and more like a man grappling with ghosts he can't exorcise.

"Shit happens."

"Where's Winona in all this?"

I guess there's no need to keep secrets now. Winona is pregnant with my child and it's a high-risk pregnancy, very high risk. So, she went back and we

But you and Winona can be together now

Winona with other men, specifically

mean she was with them, like,

"Yes."

you two on a break or

But we decided we'd fake a separation and I'd try to nail Judy with the law and bring her down, so we'd be free of her. But after I saw the photos and Lance, things deteriorated

back to me. Not that I want it, but

not be so easy, and... I wouldn't let Winona come up against Mia without being careful. She's

can just boot Mia

want to be out of the drama. I really don't care about any of that. It's your crusade, not mine. I'll warn Winona about Mia

sticking a pin in it until all of this stuff with Mother and Lance is behind us, and until we have the baby, if we do." "Jayden," Gus continues, "Judy's gone. If you and Winona can't get

it's not about Judy at all. Maybe it never was. Maybe the problem is you and Winona just don't work. Maybe Judy

exact words I

anything

Gus says, unrelenting. "Sometimes two people are just too broken in the

tightens. "You

keep fighting for this marriage, do it because you both believe in it-not because you're

yourself, wrong."

I don't respond.

after a moment. "Do you want them to never be

feel how you made me feel? Fuck

"Don't repeat my mistakes."

not you. Not now, not ever. I'll let

the call abruptly. I'm done with Gus trying to father me. He

expect it to be Gus

"Hey, Cass."

know I'm heading back to the estate tomorrow. Unless

makes it a little easier. But

saying a proper goodbye