SWNOVELS Chapter My CEO 80
80 She's Dangerous
(Winona)
The officer lets Bobby and Sarah stay for our picnic. He's waiting for us to finish.
I see Jayden staring. I look over there in the distance, spot a familiar figure near the top of the stairs.
My heart skips a beat, and a cold wave of shock washes over me.
It's Ashlyn.
I swallow. What does she want?
She's just standing there with a twisted smile on her face.
I'm still fragile from Abby's disappearance and the revelation about Bobby and Sarah, my chest tightens with a mix of anger and dread.
I'm so tired of all of this. It's time I tried to make peace and include her in our family.
After all, she has Jayden's child inside her and regardless of the circumstance that child will need some stability.
I hand Bobby and Sarah their sandwiches, trying to mask my rising panic. "Stay here with Jayden for a moment," I say, forcing a smile. "I see a friend of ours. I'll be right back." Jayden looks at me, concern etched on his face. "Are you sure?"
I nod, my eyes locked on Ashlyn. "I need to deal with this."
As I approach, Ashlyn's smile widens into a sneer. "Well, how touching," she says, her voice dripping with venom. "The pathetic ex-wife came to make peace, no doubt." "What are you doing here, Ashlyn?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady, but the quiver betrays me.
She laughs, a harsh, grating sound. "I'm just here to remind you that Jayden is my husband now. You're nothing but a sad, pathetic memory. You have no right to be in his life."
My blood boils despite my resolve to be calm, and I clench my fists. "Jayden and I share a child, Ashlyn. You can't erase that."
"Oh, but I can try," she hisses. Her eyes glint with malice. "You know, I've been thinking. Maybe I'll just throw myself down these steps. I don't care if I lose Jayden's baby. I hate kids. It would be worth it to ruin you." Panic grips me. "Ashlyn, don't do anything stupid."
She takes a step closer to the edge, her smile never wavering. "You think I won't? You think I care about this baby? Jayden is mine, and I'll do whatever it takes to keep him."
My heart races, the fear and fury blending into a potent mix. "Ashlyn, please. Don't do something you'll regret."
She leans closer to the edge, her eyes daring me. "Watch me."
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Ashlyn's twisted smile sends a chill down my spine.
She edges closer to the stairs, her eyes locked on mine. The tension is suffocating, and I know need to act fast
"Ashlyn, step away," I pleaded, reaching out to her. "You don't want to do this."
She laughs, a cold, mirthless sound. "Oh, but I do. It's perfect. Everyone will think you pushed me. Jayden will hate you forever."
I dart forward, grabbing her arm, trying to pull her away from the edge. "No, Ashlyn. Stop!"
She starts screaming, "No, Winona! Stop!" Her voice is a shrill, desperate wail, drawing the attention of nearby park-goers.
But she's the one inching closer to the stairs, using my grip to make it look like I'm forcing her,
"Please, Ashlyn," I beg, my heart pounding. "Think about the baby." If I let her go now, the sheer momentum will send her tumbling.
She glares at me, her eyes filled with hatred. "This baby is just a tool. You think I care about it? All I care about is ruining you."
My grip tightens, and I try to pull her back, but she resists, twisting and struggling against me. "Ashlyn, you're going to hurt yourself!"
"That's the point," she snarls, pushing back against my efforts. "Everyone will see you for the monster you
are."
I feel her slipping, my desperation growing. "Why are you doing this?" I cry out, my voice breaking.
Her smile widens, a sinister glint in her eyes. "Because I paid your father to take Abby and those other kids. To make you look crazy. To make everyone think you're unfit to be a mother." The revelation hits me like a punch to the gut. "You... you did what?"
She laughs again, the sound chilling me to the bone. "He was easy to buy off. And it worked, didn't it? You're unraveling. Everyone can see it."
Rage and horror surge through me, my mind reeling from her confession. "You're sick," I whisper, tears streaming down my face. "How could you do that to those children? To Abby." "Because I win," she spits back, her eyes gleaming with triumph. "Jayden is mine. And soon, he'll have nothing to do with you or Abby."
I use all my strength to hold her back from the edge, my heart racing. "You're not going to win, Ashlyn. Not
like this."
She struggles against me, her screams echoing in the air. "Let go of me! No, Winona! Stop!"
But I hold on, determined not to let her fall. I see the confusion and fear in the faces of the onlookers, and
I know how this must look.
But I can't let her win. Not when so much is at stake.
"Ashlyn, you need help," I say, my voice shaking with emotion. "You don't have to do this. We can get +25 BONUS
I 30 She's Dangerous
through this without hurting anyone."
Her eyes flash with anger, but I see a flicker of uncertainty. "You think you can save me? You can't even save yourself."
"Maybe not," I admit, my grip firm. "But I'm not letting you drag me down with you."
For a moment, we're locked in a struggle, both teetering on the edge of a dangerous precipice.
But I know I have to hold on, for Abby's sake, for my own sanity, I can't let Ashlyn's twisted game destroy
us all.
"I won't let you hurt anyone else," I vow, my voice steady. "Not ever again."