Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 66

66 | Trust No One 

(Winona) 

Wanting to believe everything will be okay and actually believing it are two different things. Inside me the doubt and stress over Abby’s health is ever present. If it was only that, I’d probably cope better. 

But I’d be incredibly stupid to think that all is going to be rosy with Judy and Ashlyn. We may get a six- month respite, though I doubt it will last that long, but they will both just be planning their next step to remove me from their lives. 

My emotions are fraught with the thought of losing Abby to something I have no control over. I need to make sure every second here is worth it for her. We’ve been here a week and Jayden and I are out tidying my garden while she naps. 

“I’m considering home–schooling Abby.” I say as he pulls weeds. 

“Why?” 

“I have a lot of time on my hands, and it would be easier on her.” I clip half–heartedly at the unruly hedge. 

Jayden wipes his hands on his denim shorts. “It might be easier, but I think it would also be limiting.” 

“There’s a lot more I can do than a school does. Plus, I can stay with her.” 

“Exactly.” 

“Do you have a point?” 

“You can stay with her and that’s what this is really about.” Jayden takes my hand. “I get that you don’t want to let her out of your sight but every kid needs social activity.” 

“I can take her to meet other kids, play with them, do activities.” I protest and remove my hand from his. “Winona, this is your choice. I’ll support you, but we have to think of Abby. A lot of her life is going to be in the hospital. She needs to feel like she has a life outside of that and us.” 

“But we can keep her safer.” 

“We can also give her social anxiety and lack of self–confidence.” 

I hear what he’s saying. I pause. 

I can’t help the tears falling down my cheeks. Trying to do the right thing for her is emotionally crippling me. I’ll be as bad as Judy with Jayden at this rate. 

“We’re both here for Abby. To give her a taste of a more normal lifestyle. To focus on things kids should be focusing on at her age. School with other kids is a part of that.” 

“I know. I just can’t shake the feeling that something awful will happen to her.” 

“Maybe the only way to shake that feeling is to work through it by doing it.” 

1 nod. “Maybe I need therapy.” 

“Except you wouldn’t trust the therapist. 

+25 BONUS 

Tee Trust No One 

We both give a small laugh. I can’t afford to have Jayden be my only support here though, it’s too dangerous with my feelings for him. I’ve left a new cell phone with Lisa and I have a new one. 

We’ll be in contact secretly. She is one person I do trust, her and Anne. 

But I want to give Anne some peace. It’s been a rollercoaster ride for her. 

“Let’s just do this bit by bit,” Jayden suggests. 

I nod, “like eating an elephant.” 

“You always said that.” 

We both look at each other. 

You remember?” 

He nods. “I actually do. For some reason, being here, things are drifting back.” 

“Do you want to know about us, our time here?” I don’t want him to think I’m trying to persuade him to believe anything one way or the other. 

Jayden nods. “I think so. Then at least I can separate what’s real and what’s not. Try anyway. Do you know of anything so terrible I’d want to block it out?” 

I shake my head. “If there is anything, it wasn’t anything I knew of.” 

“My specialist says it’s quite possible there was no big event, it’s just I’m not ready yet. But it eats at me at little. The not knowing.” 

wer 

“We came here for a night after we married in Vegas. So young, so happy, and ridiculously naïve.” 

“I guess youth really is wasted on the young.” 

“Santa Monica is where we planned a future, hoping for a family. You told your mother that you’d give up your position and inheritance for a quiet and normal life with me. You bought the property for us. I wanted something a lot more low–key, but you always did you, back then.” 

He smiles. “I know how much we loved each other.” 

“But now we have something more important to protect, Abby. The miracle baby we never thought would happen. Rather than a rush of information, when you think you remember something, ask me.”