Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 471

(Jayden)

The phone rings just as I finish my third coffee of the morning. I glance at the caller ID: Unknown.

But I know it’s Gus. I take a deep breath. This is going to be challenging.

I answer, keeping my tone even. “Jayden Brennan.”

“Jayden,” Gus replies. “Awful news. I can hardly imagine what you’re going through.”

“I’m managing. There’s a lot to get through.”

“Yes. Have they released the bodies yet?”

“Just waiting on final paperwork, so probably tomorrow. How are you?”

“Shit,” he admits, and the bluntness catches me off guard. “Judy’s gone, and I can’t quite believe it.”

He exhales. “My biggest regret is not making us a family all that time ago. And now she’s just… gone.”

I let the silence stretch, unsure how to respond.

“I tried to fix things recently,” Gus continues. “Hoped I could. But Judy played me as much as she played everyone else. She loved me, yes, but she was never going to stop punishing me.”

“She knew what she was doing, Gus,” I say. “She manipulated everyone around her, played games with people’s lives.”

“But I’m not innocent here. I left her in the States while I built Nexus Global, knowing exactly what kind of life she’d have with Greg. So yes, some of this is on me. I should’ve done more. Especially for you.”

His words hit hard. For the first time, Gus sounds less like the unshakable mastermind and more like a man grappling with ghosts he can’t exorcise.

“Shit happens.”

“Where’s Winona in all this?”

“She’s handling things back in the States,” I reply. “She went back, well fuck… I guess there’s no need to keep secrets now. Winona is pregnant with my child and it’s a high-risk pregnancy, very high risk. So, she went back and we weren’t going to tell Judy, for obvious reasons.”

“Right. But you and Winona can be together now without worry.”

“Not that simple. Mother sent me photos of Winona with other men, specifically Lance and Phillip, her ex.”

“What? You mean she was with them, like, sexually?”

“Yes.”

“Were you two on a break or something?”

“Something like that, it’s complicated. But we decided we’d fake a separation and I’d try to nail Judy with the law and bring her down, so we’d be free of her. But after I saw the photos and Lance, things deteriorated from there. But I never thought he’d do this.”

“Hmm,” Gus says, “messy. But the baby is yours and Winona is taking care of herself?”

“Yes. She’s handling things at Brennan Industries right now. According to Judy’s will, she’s handed her controlling share back to me. Not that I want it, but I won’t let the employees and investors down, so I’ll handle it before letting it go.”

“That might not be so easy, and… I wouldn’t let Winona come up against Mia without being careful. She’s high on my list of suspects for this smuggling operation.”

“It’s not like I can just boot Mia out.”

“On the contrary, I need you to keep her there, in control. I think we can use her involvement with Brennan Industries to finally get solid proof against this drug and people smuggling.”

“Gus… honestly. I just want to be out of the drama. I really don’t care about any of that. It’s your crusade, not mine. I’ll warn Winona about Mia and I’ll be back there in a week.”

“So you’re going to repair your marriage?”

“We’re sticking a pin in it until all of this stuff with Mother and Lance is behind us, and until we have the baby, if we do.”

“Jayden,” Gus continues, “Judy’s gone. If you and Winona can’t get it together now, then Judy wins after all. Even in death.”