Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

294 Uneasy Feelings (Winona)

I sit on the couch in the penthouse, my mind swirling with everything that's happened. I should feel relieved-Cass is safe, Henry's doing better, and the second wedding is booked. But I don't feel calm or settled.

I feel like the ground is shifting beneath me, and I'm just waiting for it to open up.

This place is constantly covered in kids' crap and trying to make a penthouse into a family just isn't working any longer for me. Of course, it was only ever temporary.

But with Henry coming home soon, I think we need to seriously decide where we're going to live.

You're thinking too hard again," Jayden says, his voice soft, almost teasing.

I let out a breath, shaking my head. "I can't help it. There's so much... stuff."

"Stuff," he repeats with a little smile, trying to lighten the mood. I don't smile back. I can't.

Jayden shifts beside me, running his hand through his hair. "You wanna talk about it?"

"Which part?" I mutter. "Gus handing you Nexus Global like it's some birthday present? Or the fact that we're squeezing a wedding in two weeks? Or maybe the whole raising four kids in a penthouse that's about as homey as a corporate office?" I'm spiraling, and I know it, but once I start, I can't stop.

Jayden sighs, leaning back against the couch, his hand dropping onto his lap. "I booked out the venue for 'two weeks from now. It's all cleared. It was that or wait for another 3 months."

I nod, swallowing the knot of anxiety in my throat. "Yeah, another 3 months is too long. I really just want it done."

He studies me, his eyes studying me. "Doesn't sound like you're too excited."

"I am," I say quickly, but the words feel hollow. "I really am. We have to have this wedding, Jayden. It's the hurdle we never seem to get over."

Jayden's quiet for a moment, watching me. "Look, if you're not ready. We can wait."

I shake my head, guilt washing over me. "No, I want to marry you, Jayden. It's not that. I just "I pause, searching for the right words, trying to explain the million things spinning in my head.

"I don't know what's going to happen next. With the wedding. The kids. Your whole... Nexus Global thing."

His expression hardens at the mention of Nexus Global. I know he's already been thinking about it nonstop, trying to figure out what the hell to do with it now that it's in his lap.

"I haven't made any decisions yet," Jayden says, his voice a little tighter now. "But I don't want to rush any decision either. My first instinct was to just sell it up but I really need to go see how it's all running."

My chest tightens, the fear and frustration bubbling up. "Why does it have to be so complicated? We have enough of a fortune now, Jayden. We don't need more Why can't we just live our lives without getting tangled up in all this shit?"

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294 Lines y Feeling's

"it's not about the money," Jayden says, his voice firm. "Gus put his heart and soul into the business. Not the business, the people that work for the business."

Jayden continues and I hear the passion in his voice. The people are important to him, Winona, I don't want to just give them the flick not knowing what might happen to them. They need some security."

"Or it could suck you in," I insist. "You could want to go back to being the corporate hot shot you loved being before only times 100. Do you really want that for us? For the kids?"

Jayden stands up, pacing the living room. "You and the kids matter the most to me, You know that. But I need to see this through, can you understand? It's the right thing to do."

I feel the anger rise in me, frustration bubbling over. "What if it pulls you away from us? What if it makes you into someone else?"

Jayden stops pacing, turning to face me, his jaw clenched. "Do you really think I'd let that happen? You think I'd put Nexus Global above us? Above our family?"

I don't answer right away. I don't know what to say. I love Jayden, but I've seen what power can do to people. It twists them, warps them until they're barely recognizable. And I can't lose him to that.

"I just want a simple life," I finally say, my voice soft. "I want us to raise the kids without all this drama. Without constantly worrying about what's coming next."

Jayden's face softens, and for a moment, I think he's going to let it go. But then he shakes his head, frustration still simmering beneath the surface. "It's not that simple, Winona. I can't just run away from this. These are families too. Families that need to know they have a future income."

I stand up now, my body tense, my heart racing. "We have enough, Jayden. We don't need the Nexus "Global billions or trillions or whatever it is."

Jayden steps closer to me, his eyes locked on mine. "We can't just ignore it. This is part of our lives for now, whether we like it or not. Maybe there's a place for you to run nexus Global with me."

"I have my company with Phillip."

"You sold it once, you could sell it to him this time. He can find some employees."

"I could, but why should I?"

"Look, it's not worth arguing over. Let's take some time and just take one step at a time."

"I just don't want to lose you to that company," I whisper, my voice breaking. That's what happened to Judy, didn't it?

Gus chose the company over her: Well, he did have some other stuff going on as well, but still. To keep a worldwide powerhouse going must take an incredible amount of time and personal sacrifice. Jayden's face softens again, and he steps forward, pulling me into his arms. "You're not gonna lose me. ! promise."

I bury my face in his chest, trying to believe him. Trying to convince myself that we can make this work.

That Nexus Global won't come between us.

That we'll still get our happy ending with a white picket fence together.

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295 Two Worlds Codice