Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

507 Generational Shadows

(Cass)

The smell of mildew hits me the moment I open the door to my tiny apartment. My stomach churns as I step inside, taking in the chaos left behind. Furniture overturned, drawers yanked open, and everything I once owned strewn across the floor like a crime scene. I should clean this place up and sell it. But letting it go is harder than I imagined. It's what I bought with money from Mom, to start my new life. To be the person she always believed I'd be.

That worked well, didn't it?

I drag myself out of the downward funk, this time I'll make good.

I swallow hard, gripping the strap of my duffel bag. It's been months since I fled this place, running from my own disasters. Part of me wonders why I came back at all.

But I know it's because it's all I have left of Mom-her money barely stretched far enough to buy this shoebox, but it was something of my own. My tiny sanctuary.

I drop my bag on the only chair still upright and let out a shaky breath. "Okay, Cass," I mutter to myself. "Let's get started."

I grab a garbage bag from under the sink and start with the broken picture frame on the floor. It's one of the few pictures I printed of Mom-us on the beach, her smile so bright it felt like sunlight even on bad days. The glass is cracked, but the photo is intact. Small mercies. I place it in my duffel bag.

As I toss shards of glass into the bag, a noise freezes me in place.

The door creaking open.

I straighten slowly, my heart hammering. Who can that be?

Footsteps.

I duck behind the couch, my pulse roaring in my ears. After my last time here, I'm not taking any chances.

closer, then stop just a few feet away. I

hear the door again and a second set of footsteps...heavier footsteps. I'm not chancing looking in

a male says, his voice low

without anyone watching," she says, her Cuban accent more pronounced than usual. "You said this

closing in. Since you testified against me. I've already had to activate several contingencies. My time here is

Alejandro, forgive me.

you'd

this guy? The silence is almost

been prepared for this your entire life," he says, his tone softening like a predator lulling its prey. "You may not have realized it, but everything I've done has been for our family. For you. My empire is your legacy." "You-Abuelo, you said this was about helping

is her grandfather? Gabriel's grandfather? The man who had me kidnapped and almost killed me

thousands of lives, giving them a

"But people die too."

naïve as

you think the

to make it. Gringo's think they own the world, that they are the only ones who can have money and power. No. I've built this for our family. My own

longer stop them seeing what's been happening.

is a fool," Alejandro

his mother's weakness.

it

you're

evidence against you, leading to your

is how we lay low for a while. I disappear. You make people trust

"I don't know, Abuelo. I'm not

and his siblings. They'll underestimate you, as they always have. Use that to your