Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

(Winona)

I pull my coat tighter around me as I step into the clinic. The receptionist greets me with a polite nod. Her European accent is soft and welcoming.

I manage a small smile, keeping my face calm even though my heart feels like it's going to break out of my chest.

Trying to be calm is pretty impossible right now.

Everything about this appointment feels monumental. Not just the ultrasound, but what it means. Jayden will be here.

Secretly.

I need him to be here, but I don't know what it means as far as our marriage goes.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

There's an emotional gap that will remain until we get past what happened after he attacked Lance. We've pinned it for now. More Barnaby advice.

The receptionist directs me down a hallway, and I follow her to the waiting room. The clinic is quiet, secluded-perfect for what we need.

I sit down, clutching my bag. Jayden isn't here yet, but I know he'll find a way. That's who he is lately. A man who delivers. Even when I've shattered his trust. Even when he may not want to look at me.

Even when I don't want to look at myself. I just thank God this baby is his because anything else would have meant the end for us. Considering my stupid mistakes, I got out of this better than it could have been.

Wish I could say the same for Lance. I have to speak with him and take my part in all of this. He can't blame himself alone for hurting Jayden. It takes two to tango.

A nurse calls my name, and I stand up, my legs stiff. She guides me into the examination room. The setup is modern but understated-no flashy equipment, just clean lines and muted tones.

"We'll begin shortly," the nurse says in crisp English. "Dr. Klein will be here soon."

I nod and take a seat on the edge of the bed. My mind races. How do I tell Jayden I'm sorry? That I was wrong? How do we even begin to rebuild after everything? But right now, I have to let that worry go and focus on why I'm here and why I'm going back home without Jayden.

To protect this baby the best I can and to get Judy out of our lives for good. But for good seems impossible. But I have to believe it is possible and Jayden will achieve that.

Another door creaks open, and I look up. Jayden steps in. He's dressed simply, a dark jacket over a gray sweater, his hair slightly tousled from the brisk Brussels air. He's always been striking, but today he feels distant. Removed.

Maybe that's just how I want to read it. Getting our emotions tangled up in this and then deciding we can do okay apart, is dangerous.

"Hey," I say softly. "You made it."

He nods, closing the door behind him. "Hey. I did. How are you?"

We don't hug or kiss. The air between us feels heavy, but it is heavy.

"I'm so nervous," I add, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Me too, but we're here now." He sits on the chair beside the bed, his arms crossed. His gaze lingers on me, but I can't tell what he's thinking.

The nurse returns with Dr. Klein, a tall man with salt-and-pepper hair and a warm demeanor. He introduces himself, his accent Germanic but his English fluent.

"We'll take a look at how everything's progressing," he says. "Are you ready?"

I glance at Jayden, then nod. "Yes."

Dr. Klein explains the procedure as the nurse helps me lie back and prepare. I try to focus on his words, but my mind is elsewhere. On Jayden. On us. On everything I've broken.

The cold gel on my abdomen snaps me back to the moment. Dr. Klein maneuvers the transducer, his movements practiced and precise. The screen flickers to life, and I hold my breath. Jayden steps closer, his posture tense. His eyes are locked on the screen.

"There we go," Dr. Klein says, a small smile on his face. "Your baby."

The room fills with the steady, rhythmic sound of a heartbeat. It's loud, strong-alive.

My throat tightens, tears spring to my eyes. I glance at Jayden, his expression softens. His eyes shine with moisture. He's staring at the screen, his jaw clenched, but his eyes... They're also full of something I've been trying not to feel for so many reasons. Hope.

"That's... our baby," he says, his voice breaking slightly.

"Yeah," I whisper, my voice trembling. "It is."

For a moment, everything else fades.

The argument. Lance. Judy.

It's just us and the sound of our baby's heartbeat. A fragile connection, but a connection nonetheless.

Dr. Klein points out features on the screen, explaining the

measurements and reassuring us that everything looks stable. "You're around thirteen to fourteen weeks along, he says. "I understand you need to know about air travel. I think it's fine right now but it's still

important to be cautious given your medical history."

I nod, barely processing his words. My focus is entirely on the screen on the tiny, miraculous life growing inside me. The doctor points out features and I see tiny fingers and toes.

"I'll have the nurse provide you with the images. Do you want to know the gender?"

"Gender?" I wasn't thinking about that, we haven't even discussed it.

Do I want to make that deep a connection?