Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband by Anney GW

My CEO 195

195 Back Against The Wall (Judy)

Something's wrong. Winona is nervous. Jayden isn't answering my calls, which isn't unusual these days, but this

tit feels different. He's slipping away from me, and it's drivingcrazy.

Then there's Steve, the bastard who just won't stay hidden. He contactedyesterday, demanding money-no,

demanding a fortune. He's threatening to spill everything if he doesn't get what he wants. The setup with

Winona, the lies with Ashlyn, everything

He's got all the dirt, and he's not afraid to use it.

I've been in this glong enough to know when someone needs to be dealt with permanently. | even told

Steve as much, made it clear that if he kept pushing, he'd end up regretting it.

But the slimy bastard didn't even flinch. Instead, he laughed and toldto go ahead, that everything was

already set up to go to the authorities if anything happened to him.

And worse, he claimed Gus knows about the threat too.

That threw me. If Gus knows, it means he's keeping secrets from me. But Gus doesn't know that | know, and

that's something | can use. For now, though, | need to focus on containing this situation before it spirals out of

control.

We pull up to the facility where Ashlyn's being held, my mind racing. The last few texts | sent to the burner

phone | left with her have gone unanswered, and that's not like Ashlyn.

She's been my little pawn, always eager to report back on anything | needed to know. Do anything in the hope of

Jayden loving her. But now?

Silence. And | hate silence. It means someone else is pulling the strings, and | don't like being out of the loop. |

invented this fucking loop.

As | walk through the front doors, | flash my ID at the officer manning the front desk as usual, giving my best

concerned-mother smile. "I'm here to see Ashlyn," | say, trying to keep my tone light.

"She's not expectingbut it's almost visiting hours isn't it?" | flash a wad of cash hidden in my purse as an

incentive.

He glances at his screen, looking bored, then back at me. Then he opens the drawer and takes out spapers

and hands them to me. "These are for you."

| take them and read through the start.

My blood runs cold. A no-contact order? What the hell? My mind spins, trying to piece together what's

happening.

| blink, thrown off for a moment. "There must be smistake. I'm Ashlyn's mother-in-law. Her only support

since she chere."

He shakes her head, her voice firm. "No mistake. There's a no-contact order in place. You're not allowed

to see her."

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195 Back Against The Wall

| see him jotting down the tand details of the papers being served.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Brennan, but you're no longer on the approved visitor list."

If she thinks she can blockthis easily she is dead wrong. | can get to her in there anyt| want. Calm. Stay

Calm, | tell myself.

| force a smile, trying to maintain my composure. "Isn't there any way you can make an exception?"

"I'm not at liberty to discuss it any further, ma'am," he says, his tone clipped. "Have a nice day."

| grit my teeth, barely holding back my anger. "Fine," | say, my voice tight. "Thank you."

| turn and walk out of the facility. I'm seething inside but | maintain my composure.

| get back to the car and sit there for a moment, trying to think. There must be something big going on.

Something I'm not aware of. | will be finding out but first, I'm doing what | should have done a long tago.

Cutting Ashlyn out of the picture altogether.

She's been nothing but dead wood anyway and my back is against the wall. | need to fight.

Out of desperation, | pull out my phone and text the number I left with Ashlyn.

A no contact order? That won't protect you

| stare at the screen willing it to light up with a reply. But nothing happens. The silence is suffocating, and | feel

the panic rise in my chest.

"Is everything okay?" Gus asks.

"She has a fucking no contact order on me." He's going to find out anyway, | may as well let him think | trust

him. "But I'm fine. Whatever."

Then, just as I'm about to lose it, my phone buzzes. It's a message from Ashlyn.

This is Jayden. | arranged the no-contact order. Soon, there will be one against you for me, Winona, and Abby.

Stay away

| feel like the ground just dropped out from under me. Jayden did this. My own son. He's cuttingout of his life,

out of everything.

| clutch my phone, my hands shaking with rage. How could he do this to me? After everything I've done for him,

after all the sacrifices I've made, this is how he repays me?

By shuttingout? By choosing Winona over his own mother again?

My vision blurs with tears, but | blink them away, refusing to cry.

Fine. If that's how he wants to play it, then so be it. But I'm not going down without a fight. I've worked too hard,

played too many games, to let it all slip away now. Jayden might think he's in control, but he doesn't know who

he's dealing with. He's never been up against

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195 Back Against The Wall

Gus starts the car. "Where too?"

"My place. | need a drink."

"Are you sure you're okay?"

"Never been better." | smile and choke back the ange

My heart hardens. This isn't over. Not by a long shot.

And now, I'l make mine.

He thinks he can lockout?

I'll show him what happens when you push Judy Bre