Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 5

(Winona)

Moving to the city I grew up in was a real struggle at first. It’s been three years and slowly each day got better. The tiny life growing inside me made me stronger. This wasn’t just about me.

After giving birth to my beautiful girl, I started a little firm as a marketing and financial advisor, putting my education to use. It seemed being able to put forward proposals for successful marketing campaigns is something I’m very excellent at.

All of my smaller company campaigns have been going like wildfire. Enough to get the attention of several larger firms. Bigger contracts really turn things around in the corporate world.

I guess time does heal all wounds. It’s been the best time of my life since the divorce. Mostly because I’m a mother now and she is the most important thing in the world to me.

Would I love being a complete family? Sure. But families come in all shapes and sizes and mine is my daughter and my foster mother who stepped in without hesitation and welcomed me and now my baby girl into her life and small home.

Keeping my daughter safe and in a stable home environment is worth the sacrifice of leaving her father behind.

I kiss Abby on the forehead. “Momma’s got to go sweety.”

She bangs her spoon on her highchair and grins. I stare at her, mesmerized by her cuteness again. Her eyes, exactly like her father’s, beam up at me with her little cherub cheeks I constantly want to squeeze. She is just the happiest baby ever.

I check my watch. “I must go. I’ll be late and I promised Phillip I wouldn’t be today,” I called out to my foster mother, Anne.

“Just go, Abby and I are fine. I’ll do dinner. Why don’t you ask Phillip to join us, you’ve both been working such long hours.”

I hesitate. I think Anne is trying to make Phillip and I more than business partners. I get it, he’s an attractive guy, young, energetic and a very hard worker. “I will ask him but, Anne, you know we are only friends and I want to keep it that way.”

“I know Jayden is the father of Abby and that’s all been messy, but you need to have happiness. You need love, we all do.”

“I am happy. Right here with you and her. I’ve built a strong business in digital marketing and the bank accounts are finally showing profit. If we can nail a couple more major contracts, I’ll secure enough money for a great college fund.”

“College is a long way off. Focus on your own happiness too.”

“I can’t right now.” I may not be in love with Jayden the way I once was but it’s hard with his eyes being the best part of my day. Abby looks so much like him, and he doesn’t even know she exists. Some days I really wonder if I’ve done the right thing keeping my pregnancy a secret.

I go over and give her a hug. “I’m okay, I promise. We’re okay.”

Even the old threats from Judy Brennan and Ashlyn seemed to bother me less these days. No one is getting between me and my child, that much I do know. I’m stronger now. But I think Jayden would love his daughter so much and I’m denying him that chance.

“Winona, you did the right thing and one day, when you’re ready, you can tell him. There’s nothing wrong with that but denying yourself sharing a life with a man who will appreciate and cherish you isn’t right.”

“I can’t bring another person into her life like that. I want a stable home for her, we give her that. If I get in a relationship and we break up later, that will just be too confusing for her.”

Also, I can’t bear the thought of going through that pain again. In fact, I have no intentions of leaving myself vulnerable. I’m never going to let any man hurt me that way again. My life is my business and my daughter. Building something for us both. Getting us all into a bigger home and the best medical insurance.

That’s what I care the most about. Then I might be ready to talk to Jayden about Abby. I’ve done well so far, but I doubt I can keep her a secret forever. Besides, she deserves to know who her father is later. For now, it’s just the way it has to be. If we can get this latest contract signed off, I will be the owner of a million-dollar business.

That is my priority.

My business partner, Phillip, has been helping me grow the company almost the whole three years and we have grown very close. I have to admit, I do find myself flirting a little despite my decision to not bring a serious relationship into Abby’s life.