Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

(Jayden)

The dimly lit bar in the private London club is quiet, the hum of low conversation and the occasional clink of glassware blending into the background.

Judy sits across from me, her posture regal, her lips curling into a satisfied smile as she lifts her glass of aged scotch.

"To freedom," she says, raising her glass.

"To freedom," I echo, clinking my glass against hers. The burn of the whiskey is soothing. I lean back, feigning the relaxed confidence she expects from me. "You look better already," Judy says, her eyes studying me intently. "You're finally stepping into your potential, Jayden. It suits you."

"I'm finally seeing things clearly," I reply, letting a small smirk tug at my lips. "Winona and her chaos? Gone. It's liberating."

She laughs lightly, a sound that grates against my nerves. "I always knew you'd come around eventually. You deserve better than that mess of a woman." "Maybe you're right," I say, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. "The kids, though... I'll miss them."

"You don't have to," she says smoothly, leaning forward. "Jayden, they're better off with you. All of them. Bobby and Sarah may not be yours by blood, but they're part of the package. If you had full custody, you could give them everything Winona never could-stability, structure, and a future."

I raise an eyebrow, feigning curiosity. "And how would I even begin to make that happen?"

Her smile widens, the glint in her eyes unmistakable. "Winona is fragile, Jayden. Always has been. It wouldn't take much to push her over the edge. You've seen it yourself. The photos, the infidelity, her erratic behavior-any good lawyer could build a case." I take a slow sip, letting her words sink in. "You really think that would work?"

"Of course," she says confidently. "She's barely holding it together as it is. And once she cracks, you'll have everything. The kids, the power to make decisions without her interference. Think about it, Jayden. It's what's best for them."

"I'll consider it," I say carefully, watching her reaction.

She beams, clearly pleased. "Good. It's time you took control of your life, Jayden. No more letting weak people drag you down."

Weak people. My grip on the glass tightens, but I keep my expression neutral.

Judy finishes her drink, glancing at her watch. "I should get back to the suite. Early morning tomorrow."

"Of course," I say, standing as she does. "Thank you for the drink, Mother."

She steps closer, placing a hand on my arm. "I'm proud of you, Jayden. Truly. You're finally becoming the man I always knew you could be."

I nod, forcing a smile. "Goodnight, Mother."

She leaves, her heels clicking against the polished floor as she disappears through the door. The moment she's gone, I pull out my phone, stopping the recording app I'd started as soon as we sat down.

The file saves, and I let out a slow breath. It's something-a start-but not enough to take her down yet. She's careful, never incriminating herself outright.

I lean against the bar, signaling for another drink. My mind drifts to Winona and the kids. The ache in my chest is sharper than I expected. They should land soon.

I send a text: Let me know when you've landed. I need to know you're okay.

The bartender places the drink in front of me, and I nod in thanks. I know sleep won't come until I know she and the baby are safe.

As I take another sip, the door swings open, and I glance up to see Lance walking in. His presence feels like a sudden storm cloud on an otherwise controlled evening. "Jayden," he says, approaching with a hesitant smile.

"Lance," I reply flatly, keeping my tone cold. "What are you doing back here?"

He pulls out the chair Judy vacated and sits without waiting for an invitation. "We need to talk."

"No, we don't."Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.

"Jayden, I know things are broken between us. I know I crossed a line, but I need to say this anyway."

I glare at him, my patience fraying. "You didn't just cross a line, Lance. You and Winona burned the damn line all the way to hell. There's nothing left to talk about."

He leans forward, his elbows resting on the table. "You're right. I betrayed you, and I'll carry that for the rest of my life. But Winona? You two are meant to be together. You've always known that." "I'm handling Winona," I snap. "I don't need your advice or your interference."

"I'm not here to interfere," he says quietly. "I'm here because I want you to see what's really at stake. I take all the blame for what happened. coerced her into it. I knew she was emotionally vulnerable and I took I advantage of that for my own reasons."

I slam my glass down on the bar, the

sound cutting through the low murmur of patrons. "And this is supposed to make me feel better? You destroyed everything I loved the most in this world. My relationship with Winona and my friendship with you."

He flinches but doesn't back down. "Maybe I did. And maybe I deserve your hate. But this isn't about me, Jayden. It's about you, and what you stand to lose if you can't find a way to forgive Winona."

"Enough," I say, standing abruptly. "This conversation is over. We're over, Lance. Don't come to me again."

I watch him walk away; his shoulders squared.

Right now, I have bigger battles to fight.