Lahat ng Kabanata ng Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband: Kabanata 581 - Kabanata 590

(Lisa)Logan is waiting near my office when I walk in, coffee cup in hand. “Good morning.”“Is it?”I don’t even make it to my desk before he speaks again. “How are you?” he shuts the door behind him.I let out a sharp exhale. “If you mean, did I tell Winona yet? The answer is yes.”Logan nods, watching me carefully. “And?”I drop my bag onto my desk, resisting the urge to rub at the tension in my neck. “And it went as well as you’d expect.”“Which is?”I let out a humorless laugh. “Pretty shit. She took it like Winona takes everything—with too much feeling and too much hope. And I gave her bith barrels because I’m pissed at the world silently judging me.”“Or pissed at yourself for judging yourself.”“Whatever.”Logan doesn’t know me well enough to know when to stop. “She wants you to wait and see if you’ll change your mind.”“Obviously.” I grab a water bottle from my fridge and eye all the different packaged drinks stocked in there. “I don’t need all this crap in my fridge. No point

(Winona)I’m brushing my hair, half-dressed for work, when my phone vibrates on the dresser. Lisa’s name flashes on the screen.I hesitate. We left things on uneasy ground. But maybe this is her reaching out to smooth things over, and honestly, I want that. I hit accept. “Hey.”Lisa exhales on the other end. “Hey. I wanted to catch you before I go to work.”“I’ll never get used to you saying you’re going to work.”“You won’t have to. I’m leaving.”“The charities?”“The charities, the city. The state. Maybe even the country.”I blink, caught off guard. “Leave?”“There’s nothing left for me here, Winona.” Her voice is steadier now, almost eerily calm. “I don’t want to run the charities. I don’t want to be a mom.”My stomach twists. “Lisa, you don’t have to leave.”“I do. I can’t hide this forever. It will be endless comments and questions. I can’t be seen pregnant and then with no baby.”“You can go and have the baby and then come back. No one has to know.” “I need a clean slate.”“Lis

(Winona)I pull into the driveway, rubbing my eyes. Exhaustion seems to be my constant state lately.I haven’t had a proper night’s sleep in forever. Every time I go to sleep, I hear crying and wake.Work helps me get the point of crashing. But the dreams always come before I wake. Now all this with Lisa. Jayden and I just going through the motions. It feels like I can’t talk to anyone.I step out of the car and stretch my neck, already thinking about whether I have the energy to eat before I crash. Then I see her. Like an angel.Klara stands on my porch, arms crossed, watching me. I’m sure she already knows everything I’m about to say before I even open my mouth. But she will let me say it anyway.“Klara?” My voice comes out unsteady, and I hate it. I run up the steps.She steps forward her expression gentle but unwavering. “Ah, kicsim, it is good to see you.” Her Hungarian accent and endearment is music to my ears.Something in me buckles. Why didn’t I think of calling her before?S

(Cass)I’m halfway through untying my apron after shift when I hear Jayden’s voice.“Cass.”I toss the apron onto the hook. “You’re two hours late for lunch, sorry. Kitchen’s closed.”He doesn’t smile. Doesn’t even try. “Do you know where Gabriel is?”Not this again. “If I do, then it’s none of your business.”“Just tell me where he is.”Jayden can be so damn demanding. Like he thinks the world will bend at his will. “He’s currently in a jet.”“A jet?”“Yes, you know, flying…”“Where to?”“Back to the States. He does have a business to run.”Gabriel left this morning. I’ve told him I’m not looking for anything serious. I want to focus on me. He was cool with it. Said if I needed anything to let him know.But I need to do this on my own. It’s exciting to be at the edge of something. The edge of launching my life.“I need Gabriel’s number.”“Don’t you have it?”“No. Why would I need it?”“Good question, why do you need it now?” I probe.“Are you giving it to me or not?”I reach for my b

(Winona)Klara pours me another cup of tea.“I should be looking after you in my own home, not the other way around. I say as I accept the fresh cup.“Nonsense. This makes me feel useful.”“You could never not be useful.” I smile at my trusted friend. So much bad happened in Brussels but so much good did too. Klara was a lifeline over there while I navigated being pregnant and the drama surrounding it.She made me see that it was the baby that was important, not how it came to be or even who the father would be. Now, despite my best efforts, I have no baby.“I’ve made a mess of things,” I say finally, staring into my cup. “All I’ve done is put myself first lately.”Klara sits quietly beside me. “There’s a difference between selfishness and survival, Winona.”I look up at her. Klara’s expression is gentle, understanding. She doesn’t sugarcoat things, but she doesn’t tear me down either.“Maybe” I ask. “I feel like it’s the only way I can survive sometimes. To just think of what I want