Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 164

164 House of Horrors 

(Winona) 

The following week, we flew into my old city early this morning. I’ve never been back on this side of it since the day I was taken to live with Anne. I didn’t ever want to come back. 

My hands are shaking. All of me is. The memories make me want to nightmare I lived here. Those moments replay In my mind. 

naway as fast as I can. The 

The fear. The hunger. The pain. The loneliness. All the horrors are reawakened. 

The house stands in front of me, the same house I grew up in, but somehow different. It’s still just as rundown I remember, but there’s a sense of care now–a small attempt at making it better. 

The windows are clean, the front steps swept, and there are even a few potted plants by the door. It’s like someone put a fresh coat of paint on a sinking ship. 

I hesitate, my hand hovering just above the doorknob. Part of me wants to walk right in, like I used to when I was a kid, but I can’t. Not now. Not after all these years. I have no clue who lives here. 

Jayden stands beside me. His presence is comforting, but it also makes me realize just how far removed my life is from this place now. The contrast between him, well us, and this neighborhood is glaring. 

“Are you okay?” Jayden’s voice is low, careful. 

I nod, even though I’m not sure I am. “Yeah. I just… I don’t know how to do this.” 

He takes a deep breath, his hand finding mine. “We do it together.” 

1 nod again, this time more resolute. I can’t just walk in. So, I knock 

The sound echoes in the stillness of the morning, too loud in this quiet street. My heart pounds as we wait. It feels like an eternity, but then I hear footsteps inside, and the door creaks open. 

There she is my mother. The same eyes I have. The same slim frame and blonde hair. 

The years are etched into her face, but she looks better than I remember. Better than I expected. There’s no sign of the strung out, hollow addict I left that day. Instead, she’s dressed neat, clearly sober, and… surprised. 

“Winona.” Her voice is soft, barely above a whisper. 

“Mom,” I manage to say, my throat tight. 

Tears rolled down her face. 1 never wanted you to come back here. I wanted you to go have a happy and safe life. The life I could never give you.” 

For a moment, we just stood there, staring at each other. 

“I never was coming back. But he.. Steve… told me he left you here, pregnant. I had to come and see.” 

“Come in,” she finally says, stepping aside. 

Jayden and I exchange a glance before we step inside. 

164 House of Horrors 

+25 BONUS 

The house is clean now but it’s still the same old place The walls are painted white, the furniture sparse and worn but it isn’t what was here. Automatically my eyes go to the corner where my mattress used to 

1. be. 

The air smells faintly of something floral, it doesn’t smell of stale beer and rotten food, or rats. 

We sit in the living room on a well–worn couch. My mother sits across from us in a threadbare armchair, her hands fidget in her lap. 

“Is he…is he? Where is he?” she asks, her voice unsure. I can hear the fear in her voice. I recognize it. That’s how he used to make me feel. 

“You have nothing to fear from him.” 

She nods. 

“I just… I came to see you. To talk. I didn’t think this house would still be here, let alone you.” Definitely not a sibling, but I hold off on saying that just in case she lost the baby or something. 

“I almost wasn’t. When he went, I had nothing, no money, no food, and I was pregnant, yes.” 

I swallow, almost too scared to ask for any details.