154 Good Riddance Judy
(Winona)
The private airstrip stretches out before us, a vast expanse of concrete bordered by high fences and dotted with sleek, black security vehicles.
Nexus Global’s logo gleams on the side of the jet, recognisable in every country on this planet, a reminder of the juggernaut that Gus’s empire is.
Gus is outside his jet, overseeing the luggage being loaded. He’s in control over every aspect of the flight. Just like his life. His calm, methodical demeanor is unsettling.
You can never read Gus. Outside he’s calm and controlled. But I’m under no illusions of the steps he’d have taken to get to where he is now.
Hu who
That includes leaving his only son to be raised in an abusive household as punishment to Judy refused to go to Europe with him and slept with his brother.
This man can make miracles happen, but he can also rain down the fires of Hell without a second thought. This man is Jayden’s father.
Do we truly choose to be the person we want to be or does the gene pool have the last say?
Nexus Global isn’t just a company–it’s a colossal force that dominates industries worldwide.
The sheer scale of it always looms in the back of my mind, feeding my anxieties about what Judy might be capable of with such resources at her disposal.
With Gus at her disposal.
Because I know she isn’t traipsing off to Europe for a damn all expenses paid pleasure trip. She has a plan. I know she has a plan and that plan will involve Jayden.
Judy stands a few feet away, her eyes fixed on Abby and there are tears on her cheeks. Judy, who’s always been so composed, so impervious to the emotions of others, is crying.
It’s as if she’s shedding her armor for just a moment.
I do believe she has genuine feelings for Abby. I do believe she is going to miss her a lot.
Above all she has been a wonderful grandma to Abby and has respected my wishes all the way through to keep Abby’s life down to earth and as ordinary as possible.
But I don’t trust her–not for a second. I know better than to take anything Judy does at face value. I don’t know, this might be paranoia‘ and perhaps something I can deal with in therapy.
How do I just get on with life when there’s so many deadly people in it I can never trust? It’s impossible really. I sigh, I guess I resign myself to therapy forever.
I watch sit on the steps of the jet and pull Abby into her lap. “One last cuddle, till the next time. I want you to send me all the drawings and paintings to decorate my castle walls.”
“Are you really going to live in a castle like a queen?” Abby’s little eyes, shining with tears, open up wide.” “I am but there will only be a princess there when you come and visit.”
154 Good Riddance Judy
+26 BONUS
“But why are you leaving, Grandma? I’ll miss you. Don’t go.”
My heart breaks for Abby as she begs Judy not to go. But on the other hand, I hope she doesn’t change her mind and stay. There’s a certain sense of freedom knowing she won’t be breathing down my neck on a daily basis.
“Abby, sweetheart,” Judy begins, brushing a strand of hair out of Abby’s face with trembling fingers. I can see the tears welling up in her eyes–Judy, the iron–fisted matriarch, actually crying real tears.
“I’m going away for now, but I’ll be back,” Judy continues, her voice wavering slightly. “And when I come back, I promise you’ll never have to let me go again. You and daddy and I will always be together, you’ll see.”
She whispers but I can still hear it, although I’m not sure if Judy realizes that.
Her words slam into me. My breath catches in my throat, and the world around me narrows, shrinking down to just this moment, just those words. Never have to let her go again?
What the hell does that mean? Anxiety surges, threatening to drown me in a tide of panic. But I can’t let it show–I can’t let Judy see that she’s gotten to me or that I’ve heard what she’s just said.
I force myself to stay still, to keep my face as neutral as possible. Is it a threat? A promise? Or just another one of Judy’s twisted mind games?
I can’t tell, and that uncertainty is eating me alive. I want to scream, to grab Abby and run, but I know that would only play into Judy’s hands.
I
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband