Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 447

(Winona)

Once the initial shock of Cass’s arrival wears off, we settle in the living room with mugs of tea. It feels surreal to have her here after worrying, wondering where she was and what she was going through.

But now that she’s sitting across from me, her usual confidence muted, I know there’s more to this visit than just a surprise reunion.

I study her quietly as she stirs her tea, the spoon clinking against the ceramic mug. She’s always been a mix of chaos and charm, but today, there’s a somber edge. And she’s so thin, like she hasn’t eaten properly in months.

“Cass,” I say softly, breaking the silence. “What’s going on? Why are you here now?”

Her eyes flick up to meet mine, and for a moment, I see the battle raging inside her. “I needed to see you,” she says simply, setting the spoon down and wrapping her hands around the mug.

“I’m glad you’re here. But what about your job back home? There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

She sighs, leaning back against the couch. “You always could read me too well.” She hesitates, her gaze darting to the window before returning to me. “I’ve been using again.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. My heart sinks, but I keep my face steady. “Okay,” I say slowly, carefully. I’d suspected but didn’t really want to believe it. “For how long?”

“Since... since before you left.” She shrugs, trying to make it seem casual. “It wasn’t... It wasn’t heavy or constant. Just enough to keep me going when things got tough.”

I nod, processing her words. “And now?”

“I’m done with it,” she says firmly. “I mean it, Winona. I quit cold turkey. I’m clean and I’ll stay that way.”

I want to believe her, and I do, mostly. But I also know how addiction can wrap itself around someone, how it whispers lies and promises. “Cass, I believe you want to be done. But you are the only one who can do this. You have to really want it. You have to deal with your feelings.”

“I am. I really am,” she says. “I got myself a job in some tiny village pub this past week. The chef there? Total hard-ass, but he pushed me, made me work my ass off. No pity, no handouts. It was exactly what I needed.”

I arch a brow. “And that was enough to turn everything around?”

“There was a lot of hunger and crap work since I got out of the States. I wanted to prove myself, to me. I knew I had to be honest, with you, with myself.”

Tears prick my eyes, but I blink them away. “You’re not alone in this, Cass. You have me. Always. I mean, if anyone knows messy emotions…”

“Most qualified chick I know.” She smiles faintly, her walls cracking just a bit. “Thanks, Sis. I needed to hear that.”

I reach out, covering her hand with mine. “You’re staying here. At the cottage. For as long as you need. We were making it into our home.”

“Ah, it’s hardly a cottage. It’s a mansion.”

“Oh, that’s an inside joke, you’ll understand when you see the estate. But this place you can make part of it your own, however long you need.”

Her eyes widen slightly, and she shakes her head. “Winona, I can’t—”

“Yes, you can,” I interrupt firmly. “You’re my sister. This isn’t charity, Cass. It’s family. You’d do the same for me if the tables were turned. It’s what Mom would want.”