Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

33 We're all adults here

(Winona)

"Phillip! I never expected you back today."

"Clearly."

"This isn't what it looks like," I explained.

"Isn't it?" Jayden pipes up.

"Shush. You're only making things worse," I reprimand Jayden.

"Not sure they could get much worse than finding my partner kissing her ex-husband." Phillip shakes his 'head.

"Trust me. It could." Jayden challenges him.

They glare at each other like they are arguing over their prize marble.

"Both of you stop it."

"You stop it." They both say back to me at the same time.

I hear the door and footsteps. Who now?

Anne sticks her head through the living room doorway and surveys the situation. "I'll set the table for three."

"I'm not staying for dinner," Jayden says.

"Me neither," Phillip says.

"Nonsense. We're all adults here. It's time you all sat down and were honest with each other." Anne lectures us. "One day that child will be old enough to understand all this, so you all better have your shit sorted by then."

Then she heads with her bags towards the kitchen. "I'll check in on Abby."

We all look at each other like we're teenagers caught smoking behind the woodshed.

"She's right, you know." Phillip speaks first.

"Yeah, I mean I thought we had this all sorted," I agree.

"But everything is different now, since we found out."

I nod.

Jayden is looking confused. "Found out what? Is your daughter going to be okay?"

"Let's sit down."

Once we're all settled on the sofa and armchairs I address Jayden. "Abby is your daughter biologically, Jayden. She needs blood with a certain rare genetic marker to help her through her operations. They want to test any close living relatives." 33 We're all adults here

Jayden jumps back up. "What the fuck? I mean I guessed she probably was my daughter. But I didn't want to mess her around. I wanted to just let you and Phillip raise her."

"Phillip is legally her father. He will still be raising her." I look at Phillip. "If he still wants to."

"But I could challenge that in court with the blood tests," Jayden points out.

"If you wanted to be an asshole," Phillip snaps and stands up as well.

They face each other.

"Look. There's no time for this show of jealousy or power or whatever it is. Right now, I need to know if you are willing to get your blood tested, Jayden?" "Of course I will. And Mother will too."

My blood runs cold. I hadn't even thought about Judy having the same blood as Abby. "Your mother?" "Well, of course. She's blood-related to Abby."

I stare at Phillip, and he picks up on my worry.

"What if she is a match and she won't donate?" He says what I'm thinking.

"She wouldn't do that." Jayden defends her. "She'd do anything for a child of mine."

"She threatened me when I was first pregnant. That's part of why I left. You couldn't protect me like you used to with her. I don't think you realize how much she hates me being with you." It's time Jayden knew the truth.

He looks shocked. "Look, she is very full on and very controlling, I know. But she has a heart in there and she's done all of this to protect me."

"From what? A woman who loved you more than life itself? You ripped me to shreds, Jayden, yet here I am in your arms kissing you. Can't you see how dangerous you are for me? I don't want Abby being raised in that environment. Now I can't risk her life like that." "I think Judy will do everything she can to separate Winona from Abby and you. She's definitely unhinged when it comes to her son," Phillip tells Jayden.

Jayden still looks unbelieving, but he nods. "I have begun to remember many things. I know she's lied to me about my life before the accident. But she's my mother. I have to believe she will do the right thing by my wishes in the end."Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

"She hates me. I'm not putting my kid through that. That's why Phillip is the father. Even if I still loved you, Jayden, I can never be with you."

Jayden and Phillip sit down again.

"I know how much I loved you." Jayden says, "but a lot has changed. I'm seeing that now. You and Phillip are good together. Good for Abby. I won't stand in your way. I may never get my memory back fully."

"We can be friends though. I mean, you can see Abby if you want. But she can never know."

"But people will know as soon as they see Abby," Phillip points out.

33 We're all adults here

Jayden looks at me.

"She has your eyes," I explained.

"More to the point, Abby will work it out herself eventually. So we need to be prepared to tell her the truth at some stage if Jayden is in her life regularly." Phillip speaks the truth again.

"You know what? I don't need to be in her life like that. When it's time to tell her, I'll be on board. In the meantime, I'll stay away from her, but I may need advice from you both on being a parent." I stare at him open-mouthed.

Jayden nods, "I just found out that Ashlyn is pregnant."

"And I thought I'd had a day," I say in shock.

Phillip asks, "so the wedding is back on?"

"I guess so, yeah. I mean, I love Ashlyn. I did. I think my mother has made her do some crazy things, but she'll make a good mum. I should marry her."

I want to protest this and tell him his mother is getting exactly what she wants.

"I think you should marry her. Give that child a chance at a normal life with two loving parents," I say instead. There's no way possible Jayden and I will ever be together.

It's time I accepted that and got on with my life with Phillip and getting Abby well.

My lips burn from his kiss. The passion is still there as fiery as ever. But we're all adults here and it's not just about us.