Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

481 Judy’s Service

(Jayden)

Mother's polished mahogany coffin sits at the front, surrounded by white lilies and roses, a stark contrast to the tumultuous life she lived and the wreckages she caused.

It's just Gus and me. No friends, no extended family. Just the two of us and that was what she wanted. Of course she did, just us two solely focused on her.

Gus sits beside me in shackles, the officers are keeping their distance for now and covering all exits. He's leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, his face drawn and pale. He looks like a man carrying the world's regrets on his shoulders. He should be.

I stand up and go forward to place a single rose on top of the coffin. This is it, she's really gone. My emotions are tangled-anger, relief, guilt, and some small, stubborn ache that won't let go. I feel free, and that in itself feels wrong. I go sit next to Gus again.

But she made my adult life Hell and Winona is right, a big part of me won't miss any part of that. I will miss most what I didn't really get, a functional, loving, stable mother.

I'll miss and grieve what I might have had, what I got as a child too young to comprehend that there is evil in the world.

Unfortunately, that was my mother. Perhaps she did her best with the hand she was dealt. Perhaps she made the wrong choices for the right reasons. But whatever it was, it's over now. And I do feel free.

"She always had a flair for the dramatic," Gus mutters, breaking the silence. "Even now, it feels like she's staging some final act by it being just us here."

"Well, she's gone," I say, my voice flat. "I don't want the ashes. You can decide what happens with them. You knew her the best. I'm sorry for her. Her life could've been so different. I'm sorry she couldn't control her own demons. But I'm not sorry for so many other things." Gus nods. "She was a complicated woman. And she did a lot of wrong. None of that is your fault, Jayden."

I clench my fists at my sides, staring at the polished surface of the coffin. "Complicated? That's one way to describe her, I guess. In the end it was all about winning for her, wanting to be right. Years of manipulation, mind games, and trying to control every aspect of my life. So she could feel like she was winning."

Gus stands slowly, his gaze fixed on me. "She thought she was doing what was best for you."

for me to grow up with Greg? To have her poison every relationship

you," Gus

let it happen.

Jayden. Choices that weren't easy. Leaving her wasn't easy. Watching her marry Greg wasn't easy. And yes, I let things happen that I shouldn't have. But don't think for a second that

rising. "You had all the power, all the resources, and you did

coward," he admits. "I thought I could make it right from a distance. I thought I could protect you without stepping into

a hand on my shoulder. "Because for me, it was about winning

at him, my anger momentarily eclipsed

"Jayden, I need to ask

is why I get the emotional spiel, not because

over to Greg's Cuban kids and walking away. Let them deal with it. I

Gus says firmly. "That company is key to taking down the smuggling ring. Mia's involvement

snap, my voice

Gus. This is your fight,

or Mother's, or anyone else's. I'm living

to get the fuck over myself and stop trying to get the win. That is just history repeating

that look like?" Gus challenges, his eyes

my wife, my kids, and a future that doesn't revolve around cleaning up your messes," I fire back. "I've already started

try but change doesn't

giving the management

autonomy, trusting them

make decisions without me

I'm building something sustainable, something that allows room for loved ones, something that doesn't réquire anyone to sacrifice their family