Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband novel Chapter 458

(Winona)

I sit bolt upright in bed, my phone dragging me out of my grogginess. I see the number. It’s Jayden. Video call request. Why is he video calling me? We always text late at night and I’d dozed off after we’d text earlier.

“Jayden?” My voice trembles as I connect the call. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s been a shooting,” he says, his tone clipped but strained. His words come out fast, like he’s trying to make sense of them as he says them. “Lance and... Judy. Security called me. I don’t know all the details yet.”

I can see he’s on the move.

I cover my mouth, the air rushing out of my lungs. “Oh my God. Are they— I mean…”

“Security said it’s bad, Lance is…gone…” he cuts in, his voice tightening. “I hung up to call you, but I’m on my way there now. It’s about ten minutes from my hotel.”

The sight of him, pale and shaken, grips me with fear. “Jayden, you shouldn’t be alone for this. Let me—”

“No,” he interrupts firmly. “Viktor and Cass are on their way. I’ll be fine. I have to go and see for myself. You need to stay put and take care of you and the baby.”

Tears prick my eyes, spilling over as I shake my head. “I hate this, Jayden. I hate being so far away. You shouldn’t have to do this alone. Oh God, what happened? Why was Lance there with Judy?”

His jaw tightens, and he exhales sharply as he jogs. “I don’t know. I think I know but I don’t want to think about it. I should’ve spoken to Lance earlier. If I’d known he had a chance to do this…”

“Stop, you can’t think like that.”

“Winona, I need to know you’ll be okay. The baby, the stress…”

“I know,” I whisper, swiping at my tears. “I’ll be okay, I promise. But I have to go tell Lisa. She needs to hear this in person. This is going to destroy her, Jayden.”

“I know... after everything with Lance. She doesn’t deserve this.”

“None of us do,” I say, my voice breaking. Tears are rolling down my cheeks. Not Lance, please. Lance was a good friend.

“I’m almost there. I have to go, Winona.”

“Jayden,” I say. “Whatever happens, I’m here for you. Okay? No matter what.”

“I’ll let you know as soon as I know more.”

“I love you, Jayden.”

He doesn’t say it back. The call ends. I need to go see Lisa right now. This will be all over the news soon and she can’t hear it like that or over the phone.

Getting dressed, I find a jacket in my suitcase. Anne is sitting at the table when I walk through the living area of our hotel suite.

“Are you okay?” she asks gently.

“I have to go to Lisa’s,” I say, my voice steadier than I feel. “There’s been a shooting in London. Involving Lance…”

“Winona, oh no.” Anne looks as shocked as I feel. “Are you going to be okay doing this?”

“Lisa,” I say softly, dropping down beside her. She curls into herself, rocking slightly as sobs wrack her body.

“This isn’t real,” she gasps between cries. “It can’t be real. Not Lance. Not now. It was so good…”

I wrap my arms around her, holding her as tightly as I can. “I’m so sorry, Lisa. I’m so sorry.”

She pulls back suddenly, her eyes wild and full of pain. “No! You’re wrong! He’s fine. He’s probably fine. How do you know? Where was he? He’s not gone. He can’t be.”

My own tears spill over as I shake my head. “Jayden called. He’s on his way to the scene now. Lisa, it happened in Judy’s hotel room.”

Her hands claw at her face as she screams again, the sound echoing through the quiet apartment. “Why? Why would he—why would this happen?”

“I don’t know,” I whisper, my voice breaking. “I don’t know, Lisa.”

Her anger flares, hot and desperate. “This is Judy’s fault! She did this, didn’t she? She drove him to this! That fucking bitch!”

“I don’t know what happened,” I say, gripping her arms gently but firmly. “But Jayden will find out. He’s going to get answers.”

Lisa slumps against me, her body trembling as fresh sobs take over. “I loved him, Winona. I finally had him, and now he’s gone.”

“I know,” I whisper, holding her close. “I know, Lisa.”

We sit there on the floor, the weight of the loss crushing us both. All I can do is hold her and let her grief pour out, knowing mine will come later when I’m alone.