Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

(Winona)

The cottage is alive with movement as staff bustle about, tidying rooms and preparing meals. I sit on the couch, sipping peppermint tea, and trying to make sense of my swirling thoughts. The kids are at school, which gives me a rare morning of peace-or at least as close to peace as I can get with my life.

The front door creaks open, and Lisa strides in. She's wearing a bright, flowy dress I don't think I've seen before, her cheeks glowing pink, her smile practically lighting up the room. "Wow," I say, setting my cup down. "You look like someone just proposed to you. How is cloud nine? It's been a minute since I visited."

Lisa laughs, dropping her bag by the door. "Not quite a proposal. But if he did, I wouldn't have said no."

I blink, taken aback by her reply. Lisa never says things like that-not without a heavy dose of sarcasm. "Okay, spill. Where have you been? I haven't seen you since you said you were having dinner with Lance, night before last. What happened?" She flops onto the couch beside me, her grin widening. "Oh, Winona, it was... everything. Everything I've ever dreamed of. Love is amazing!"

Before I can press her for details, a maid walks in, fluffing the cushions and giving us a polite smile. Right. Play the part.

I force a tired sigh and lean back. "Ugh, love, it's all a crock of shit. I can't believe in love anymore, Lisa. There's no hope for me and Jayden. Going back to the States is the only way."

Lisa shoots me a knowing look, clearly understanding that this is for the benefit of any ears that might be listening. She nods solemnly. "I get it, babe. You've been through hell with that man. It's time to move on. His loss."

The maid lingers a moment longer before finally leaving the room. It doesn't mean anything; the staff are all rife with gossip. They love finding out the inside story.

It doesn't mean that they are all reporting back to Judy, but someone is.

Lisa's face transforms the moment the door closes. She's practically bouncing in her seat. "Okay, now tell me what's going on with you first, then I'll get to my juicy stuff."

"Nothing new," I say, waving a hand. "Just planning the move, trying to keep the kids on an even keel, and getting ready to leave. But enough about me. What's with the lovestruck glow? Is it Lance, some European prince, or are you just high on life?"

Lisa bites her lip, her cheeks going even pinker. "Lance, I know what you're going to say... but... Winona, it was magical that night, and all of yesterday. We didn't just hook up like we usually do. Lance made love to me. Slow, passionate, deliberate love."

I nearly drop my teacup. "What? I mean TMI but come on, Lance and Love don't belong in the same sentence that way."

"I know, I know," she says, holding up her hands as if to calm me down. "But it's true. It wasn't just hot sex-which, don't get me wrong, we've had plenty of over the years. This was different. He really let himself feel, you know? I felt it in the way he touched me, the way he looked at me."

"Lisa..."

"I know you probably don't need to think about Lance and sex right now, given you are trying to forget both, but... this was just so different..."

"Look, don't let yourself get hurt again. Picking you up afterwards has never been fun."

She leans forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "He even said if he was ever going to settle down and have a family, it would be with me."

I stare at her, torn between disbelief and a strange pang of hope for her. "He actually said that?"

She nods, her smile so wide it's almost blinding. "Yes!"

"Do you think all of this mess with he and Jayden has changed his outlook on life, maybe?"

"Maybe. Something inside him has definitely changed. You'll see when you talk to him again."

"Wow, I mean Lance even mentioning marriage and a family, that's a lot."

"And I believe him, Winona. I think he's finally letting down his walls."

I take a long sip of tea, trying to buy time to choose my words carefully. Lisa is my best friend, and seeing her this happy warms my heart, but I also know how much Lance has hurt her in the past.

"Lisa," I start gently, setting my cup down. "I love seeing you like this. You're glowing, and it's beautiful. But... I just don't want to see you fall apart over Lance again."

Her smile falters for a moment, but then she straightens her back, determination hardening her features. "Why not hope, Winona? Why not believe that this time could be different? People change. Maybe Lance is finally ready."

"People change? No," I continue my

charade, "they pretend to change but at the end of the day, nothing has changed Jayden sided with Judy again, and that is always going to happen. I think it's far easier to accept some things cannot be changed."

"But that's Jayden. He's way more complicated. Lance is less complicated. I think if he continues to be open, he and I have a real shot."

"I want that for you, I really do," I say, reaching for her hand. "But you've been down this road before. You've gotten your hopes up, only to have him pull away when things get serious."

Lisa squeezes my hand, her eyes

softening. "I hear you. I do. And I

know Lance has a track record of... let's just say, not committing. But е this time feels different. He let me in, Winona. Really let me in. I'm not going to let fear hold me back from something that could be amazing."

I sigh, leaning back against the couch. "Just promise me you'll be careful with your heart, okay? You're my best friend, and I can't stand the thought of you getting hurt again.

But whatever happens, I'm there for you."

"Thanks, I appreciate that more than you know" she says, "But today I'm going to soak up the good vibes buzzing in me, okay?"

Her optimism is infectious, and for a moment, I allow myself to imagine a world where Lance does settle down, where Lisa finally gets the love she's always dreamed of.

"Okay," I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. "I'm rooting for you. For both of you."

Lisa grins, leaning over to hug me tightly. "Thanks, babe. That means everything."

"I'll go see Lance soon, see how London went..."

"And, see that I'm right..."

"Nothing would make me happier."