Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

(Winona)

The TV glows in the dim light of the bedroom. Lance appears, sitting in what looks like his hotel room.

He's bruised from his fight with Jayden-his eye still dark, his knuckles marked. Despite everything, he looks like himself, leaning back in a chair with his usual grin. Even battered, he exudes that maddening confidence that was so uniquely him.

My heart twists. It's Lance, exactly as I remember him, but this is the last time I'll ever see him.

"Winona," he starts, he looks solemn. "If you are watching this, it means I'm gone..."

Then he bursts out into a laugh, "I've always wanted to say that, like in a Bond movie or something..."

Oh god, even now he has to joke about it. I have to grin. So typical Lance.

"Anyhoo... Here I am, in all my battered glory. I just want to add, Jayden did throw the first punch and that is the only reason why he got a hit in. I win the bet again."

I shake my head. Honestly.

"But I thought I'd leave you a little something since... well, I'm not around to piss you off in person anymore."

I smile but the tears burn my eyes. I'll never see him again.

"First off," he continues, "I'm not sorry for a damn thing. Let's just get that out of the way."

I shake my head.

"I know, I know, you're probably sitting there thinking, 'What the hell, Lance?' But come on, Winona. Did you really think I was the kind of guy who'd go out quietly in my sleep at ninety-five, surrounded by cats and grandkids? Hell no. That was never the plan." I know he's right, but it doesn't make him being gone any easier.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

"I've always known how this would end for me. The only thing that changed was the timing, oh, and taking Judy out, I never imagined that. But you know me, shoot first, ask questions later... pun intended."

Wow, he actually went there. I don't know why I'm even surprised.

He pauses, rubbing the back of his neck in that familiar way. "But before you start cursing my name and I'm sure you already have hear me out. I'm not doing this because life sucked or because I didn't have people who cared."

He continues, "I'm doing this because it's what I decided a long time ago. I'm fatally flawed, Winona. Always have been. As much amazing fun as life has been with you guys, it's been so very dark as well. A darkness that no light could ever shine on." I feel for him in this moment. I wish he could have beaten those demons.

"Love? Commitment? That was never in the cards for me. Being emotionally unavailable made it a hell of a lot easier to know when to bow out."

The grin fades slightly, and for a

second, I swear I see something like regret in his eyes. "Lisa... she's

to. But here's the thing,

gonna hate me. She has ev net

Winona-while I was here, she never would've let herself find someone who could give her everything she deserves. No matter what I did, she always came back to loving me."

It's true. I know he's right.

"I couldn't give her that back. I couldn't give anyone that. So yeah, she's gonna hurt like hell for a while, but she's strong. And in time, she let herself be loved by someone who will return that love. Who's in it for the long haul. That's what she deserves."

I close my eyes for a moment, his words hitting home. Lisa is shattered, but he's right-she's strong. She'll survive this.

His tone shifts, the familiar edge of humor creeping back. "Now, let's talk about you. That thing I saw in you the night we well, you know. You found a different side to yourself and I'm glad I could help."

He grins, tilting his head. "I'm not apologizing for that, by the way. Not even a little bit. You needed it. Hell, you deserved it. And yeah, it blew up my friendship with Jayden, and I knew it would."

Oh, Lance. No one could have ever

gotten me to open up and trust like he did that night. I know that. We

explored well, everything. I never et

knew a woman's body could feel like that, That my body could feel like

that. But with Lance's help and a few of his friends, I sure found out.

I'm sorry that decision hurt Jayden. But in the heat for the moment, it felt so right and in a lot of ways it was right for me. I guess, like Lance did, I have to accept that this may change my relationship with Jayden forever. I have to own that.

"But you know what? It was worth it. For you. For that moment. You found a part of yourself that night, and it was amazing to see. I'm honored to have been a part of that. A sexually empowered woman is the most beautiful thing on earth. Trust me, I'd know."

His laughter fills the room, and despite the tears streaming down my face, I can't help but smile. That was Lance-always pushing boundaries, always saying the wrong thing at the wrong time.

He made us see that no matter how serious things got, life will go on.