SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 165
165 Sisters Meet (Winona)
I glance around the living room. There's a peninsula bench dividing the space. Over that, the small kitchen. I know up the hall there are two bedrooms, but I was never allowed in those. If I ever did peak in, I got a beating. Now I know why. It's the same layout. The same place!
But I can see the signs of care-clean dishes stacked in the sink corner, fresh flowers in a chipped vase. Furnishings that are older but not the trash we once had here. She's been trying. It's not much, but it's something Somehow, amongst the dilapidated structure, this place looks and feels like a home. Not my home but a home.
I can't help but wonder how she's made ends meet all these years. It's been over eighteen years.
"I got help. Did some courses. Learned how my experience could help me help others. I do social work part time. It isn't much but we live simple lives." It's like she's read my mind.
I nod. "That's great."
"I can't work any more hours because of the trauma I suffered. I can only do a few a week and I get some government money."
I let out my breath. Thank God she stopped doing what he was making her do.
""Your sister-" she starts to say, but then the door swings open.
A young woman walks in, she'd be eighteen now, I guess. I stare at her, not really knowing what to say.
She's got a tough look, street-wise, part of the hood-worn jeans, a leather jacket, dark eyeliner smudged around her eyes.
She stops in her tracks when she sees us, her eyes narrowing as they flick between me and Jayden.
"Whatever you're selling, we don't need it. Fuck off."
"Cass! Language! We have guests."
Cass rolls her eyes hard. "Sorry, Mom." Her sarcasm is full throttle.
"Who are they then? Why are they here?"
She eyes Jayden hard and then studies me. "Wait. Aren't you that Brennan dude who can't keep his dick
in his pants? And you..." She points at me, "weren't you arrested for murder or something?"
She clicks her fingers, "got it, you killed that unborn baby..."
"Cass"
"Well, it's true ain't it? More money than brains that lot,"
I have to smile. I stand up and Cass takes a step back. "You've definitely got that right."
165 Sisters Meet
+25 BONUS
"I'm Winona. This is Jayden."
"I'm happy for you. Doesn't explain why you're slumming it here away from your bright city lights and fake
world."
I look to Mom for guidance. I'm not sure if she's wanting Cass to know who I am or not. Maybe she just wants me to leave again. Maybe that would be for the best. If I can. My mother stands up. "Cass, this is Winona... your sister."
Cass's eyes widen slightly, but she recovers quickly, crossing her arms over her chest. "Sister? Seriously? You never mentioned a sister before."
"We'll talk later." Mom tells her.
Cass shrugs. "Whatever. I don't care."
I speak again. "I didn't know either."
She looks me up and down, her expression hardening. "You think you're gonna come in here and play big sister? Save me from this shitty life? Don't bother."
"No, I wasn't sure what I'd find here. But I wanted to come and see. It's a long story."
She scoffs, clearly unimpressed. "Yeah well, I don't have time to listen to long stories. Busy. Now you've seen us, you can go again.
"Now that we've met you, maybe we can get to know you better. Be friends." Jayden offers his hand.
Cass glares at his hand, then at Jayden. "Pffft. Like hell. I'm not that hard up for friends."
Jayden opens his mouth but I can tell he doesn't know how to respond.
"Cass, I'm not here to fight. I am trying to come to terms with a lot in my life."
"Oh, sure. Must be hard coming to terms with things when you're hooked up with a billionaire. My heart fucking bleeds for you.
She looks at me for a long moment, her expression is hostile.
She pushes past us, grabbing a soda from the fridge and cracking it open. That move is just like him. Exactly the way he used to do it. A coldness runs down my spine. She may have never met him but she's a lot like him. As much as I look like Mom, she looks like him.
Then she's gone down the hall, leaving us in the uncomfortable silence.
My mother lets out a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Winona. She's... well she's a little hard-headed."
"It's okay. She's right anyway. I mean this must be a shock to her. Did you ever tell her about me?"
"No, I never mentioned what life was before she was born. I had to leave it all behind me.
"I see." My whole life was erased from here really. Not from me but it's like I never existed here. I do understand but that doesn't make it hurt any less.
She could have reached out once she was on her feet: She knew where I was, what I was doing.
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165 Sisters Meet
+25 BONUS
"Winona, I never wanted to bring you back here. You were out. You had everything you needed. I wanted you to forget this part of your life." Everything except for a family.
Everything except a mother who loved me more than anything in the world.
Everything except a mother who wanted to get clean to bring me back.
Not to erase me and replace me.
166 Higher Power