Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 460

(Winona)

Jayden’s voice trembles through the phone. “They’re here.”

“Viktor and Cass?” I ask, trying to steady my own voice.

“Yeah.” His tone is flat, exhausted. “They just arrived. The detective’s here too.”

“Let them help, Jayden,” I say softly. “You don’t have to do this by yourself.”

“It doesn’t feel real, Winona. Lance didn’t even... warn me. He didn’t give me a chance to stop him. I didn’t want to discuss it with him, I didn't want to forgive him, but I didn’t want this…”

“It’s not your fault,” I say firmly, though my own heart aches. “You couldn’t have known.”

The sound of muffled footsteps grows louder, and then a new voice cuts in, Cass’s, calm and strong. “Winona, it’s me. Jayden, the detective would like a few words.”

“Cass.” Relief washes over me. “You’re there. Thank God.”

“I’ve got him,” she says, her voice resolute. “You take care of yourself and Lisa. How is she?”

Tears sting my eyes. “She’s broken. Really broken.”

“It can’t be easy. Viktor’s in full protector mode. He’s speaking with the detective now. It doesn’t seem like Jayden’s being implicated in any way.”

“Good,” I murmur. “He doesn’t need that right now.”

“I’m staying right here,” she assures me. “He’s in shock, Winona. It’s going to take a while for it to sink in. I’ve been there before. Walking into a crime scene... it stays with you.”

Her words hits me, and I close my eyes. “I know, Cass. I wish I could be there with him.”

“You need to take it easy,” she reminds me. “We do not need another tragedy right now.” Cass pauses. “Hang on. Someone’s knocking at the door.”

“What?” I hear Jayden say, his voice sharper now. “Let me see it.”

“It’s a small package from a courier,” Cass relays.

I hear Jayden’s voice, low and strained. “It’s from Lance. His handwriting.”

“The detective is talking to the courier. Oh, hang on, Jayden wants to talk to you again.”

“I don’t get it,” his voice raw through the phone again. “Why did Lance do this?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper. “I wish I had answers, Jayden.”

“He destroyed everything, Winona. He destroyed the trust I had in you. He destroyed him and I. Now he’s killed my mother.”

The words hit me like a slap, and I grip the phone tighter. “Jayden…”

As the silence fills the room, the enormity of what’s happened sinks in.

Judy is gone.

Lance is gone.

Jayden is spiraling downwards, and all I can do is sit here, half a world away, and pray that he doesn’t fall apart completely.

But there’s a new thought in the back of my mind, one I can’t shake. For the first time in years, I feel the faintest flicker of relief. Then a surge of guilt because of what Jayden is going through, how can I feel relieved?

No more Judy in my life.

But the freedom of knowing Judy is gone, creeps back in, unbidden. For the first time in years, I can imagine a life without fear, without manipulation. I can imagine a life where I’m free to love Jayden and raise our family without the constant threat of her interference.

The guilt follows quickly. How can I feel relief when Jayden is in so much pain? When Lisa is shattered? When Lance is gone, and nothing will ever be the same?

I curl up on the couch, one thing is clear—Lance did this for Jayden, for me. And while I may never understand his choice, I know it came from a place of love.

But right now, all I can feel is the loss of a lifelong friend who had our backs in the ultimate sacrifice. I feel for Jayden, for Lisa, for what might have been. For what they could’ve had but never got.

And for the first time in a long time, I let myself cry all of it out.