Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 484

(Jayden)

I burst through the front door, taking the stairs two at a time to the second floor. I pray I’m in time. I stop at the bottom of the attic stairs.

Then I see her.

Winona lies crumpled halfway down the attic stairs, her body twisted awkwardly. Her head jammed up against the wall, her hand rests on a spindle. Blood pools beneath her head on the stair, dark and horrifying, and for a second, I’m frozen.

My mind blanks out, every thought swept away by raw panic.

But then I snap back. She needs me. She needs me to be fully present, not panicking.

I force myself forward, the first aid kit from the car clutched in my shaking hands. Every instinct screams at me to scoop her up, to hold her, but I stop myself. If she’s hurt her neck or spine… I could make it worse. My knees hit the stair below her, and I reach for her wrist with trembling fingers.

A faint pulse. Relief crashes over me so hard I almost collapse, but it’s short-lived. She’s alive, but for how long?

I tear open the first aid kit, my hands shaking so badly it takes me three tries to pull out a compress. Her head is still bleeding, a slow but steady seep that sends fresh waves of terror through me. I press the compress against the wound, careful not to move her.

I need to stop the bleeding.

“Winona,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Winona, baby, can you hear me? Please, open your eyes. Please…”

She doesn’t move. Her chest rises and falls faintly, but her body is limp, almost lifeless. My throat constricts as I clutch her hand, holding it as tightly as I dare.

“I’m here,” I say, tears burning my eyes. “I’m right here. Hold on for me, okay? Hold on for the kids. Just hold on.”

The words spill out, raw and desperate, and I can’t stop them. I don’t want to stop them. I should have said them sooner.

“I’ve been so stupid, Winona. I let everything get in the way—Judy, Lance, my own damn pride—and none of it matters. None of it. Lance made his own choice. Judy is out of our lives for good. All I want is you. I need you.”

My voice cracks, and the tears come faster. I press my forehead against her hand, my shoulders shaking. “I love you. I love you so much, and I’ve been a fool not to show you that every day. I let my jealousy, my hurt, my anger get in the way of what really matters. I’m sorry, Winona. I’m so fucking sorry.”

The house is silent except for the sound of my voice and the faint rasp of her breathing. The sight of her bloodied head and motionless body makes my stomach churn, but I force myself to stay calm. She needs me calm. She needs me strong.

I hold the compress steady. I need to stop the bleeding.

“I don’t care about the past,” I continue, my voice trembling. “I don’t care about the photos, the hall pass, any of it. All I care about is you. Us. Our family. I should’ve said this sooner. I should’ve fought harder for us instead of pushing you away.”

My gaze drops to her stomach, the slight curve barely noticeable. “And him. Our new baby, Leo. That’s the name I like best. I should have told you. We were going to name him.”

Please let the baby be okay. “Our son. He needs you, Winona. I need you. Abby, Bobby, Sarah, Henry—we all need you.”

Hurry the fuck up ambulance.

“You’re my world,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “You always have been. I swear, Winona, if you just wake up—if you just hold on—I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. I’ll show you every single day how much you mean to me.”

I hear sirens growing louder, and I exhale shakily, keeping the compress against her head. “They’re coming, babe. Just a little longer. Hold on for me.”