Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

421 The Predator's Game (Judy)

The bar hums with quiet sophistication, the kind of place where London's elite come to sip overpriced whiskey and pretend they're untouchable. I walk in, a predator among prey, and there he is: Lance. The person I've come to see.

He sits hunched over his glass, looking every bit the broken man I expected. The bruises and swelling from his fight with Jayden haven't faded, and there's a hollow look in his eyes that makes my lips curl with satisfaction.

He'll hate Winona now for coming between him and Jayden. Perfect.

"Hello, Lance," I purr, sliding onto the barstool beside him. He doesn't even flinch, just glances at me with a weary indifference. Pathetic.

"Judy," he acknowledges, his voice flat, devoid of the cocky charm he usually wields like a shield. Good. I've taken that from him, too. Easier to further poison his mind against this couple.

I order a glass of Merlot, savoring the anticipation of this moment. "You know," I say, swirling the wine, "I never thought I'd see you quite so... defeated. But here you are, looking like a man who's lost everything And all because of one stupid choice. Or two, depending on how we're counting."

Lance clenches his jaw but says nothing. I lean in, lowering my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "You really made it too easy for me. Sex with that slut? Did you think you'd get away with that? Maybe you think you'll finally get her yourself?"

He takes a slow sip of his drink, his hands trembling ever so slightly. It's a tiny crack, but enough to feed my ego. "What do you want, Judy?" he asks finally, his voice rough.

"Oh, nothing," I reply, feigning innocence. "Just thought I'd say thank you, really. For being so monumentally stupid. You handed me the ammunition I needed to destroy Winona's place in Jayden's life. Bravo."

His blue eyes, usually so lively and full of mischief, are dull now. "You haven't destroyed her," he says, though it sounds more like he's trying to convince himself than me.

I laugh, a cold, musical sound. "You think so? Jayden's walking away from her, from everything they built together. And it's all because you couldn't keep it in your pants." I take a sip of my wine, savoring the smoothness.

"Tell me, did you think you were doing her a favor? Or was it just for your own sick sense of self-worth? I mean, you can't believe she could ever love you, no one has. You should hate her for coming between you and my son." His grip tightens on his glass, but he doesn't respond. Silence from him is as good as a win.

I continue, my voice dropping to a whisper, laden with mockery. "You know, I never imagined Jayden would let someone like you get so close. But I suppose even the best of us make mistakes."

Lance stares straight ahead, his eyes unfocused, and I seize the opportunity to twist the knife deeper. Remember how you always looked up to Jayden? How you wanted to be just like him?" I laugh again.

421 The Predator's Game

"What a joke. You never stood a chance. Your father hated you, and your mother, well she proved how weak she was."

He flinches, and I savor the pain that flashes across his face. "Don't," he mutters, his voice cracking, but I

press on.

"What? Too much? You've spent your whole life pretending you don't care about anything, fucking your way through women, clinging to that CFO title like it means you matter."

"I do matter."

"You've always been a lost little boy, desperate for someone to love you." I lean in closer, my voice turning venomous. "The only people who ever did love you, you betrayed. What a sad, predictable ending."

He looks at me then, and for a moment, I see something flicker in his eyes-rage, maybe. Or just deep, bone-deep hurt. Good. Let him feel it.

"Why are you here?" he asks, his voice almost a whisper.

I sit back, smiling. "Because it's fun," I say simply. "Because watching you suffer is the least I deserve after all the trouble you've caused me over the years. Keeping them together when you know she isn't right for him." I glance at his bruises and tut. "Jayden really did a number on you, didn't he? Can't say I blame him. If I had a friend like you, I'd probably have done worse. You're lucky he has a conscience."

Lance's lips tighten, but he stays silent, and I revel in it. "Speaking of luck," I continue, "you know how fortunate I've been, don't you? All those little mishaps that worked out in my favor. You should take a leaf from my book." ""Like what?"

"Like that car accident years ago. Winona was meant to be driving. But Jayden was..." I pause for effect." He could have died but he didn't. I could have killed my own son, but fate said no. It wasn't meant to be. Fortune favors the brave."

I watch as the implication sinks in, his shoulders stiffening. "Are you saying you were behind that accident? You're a monster."

"Don't look so shocked," I say, smirking. "I've always had to protect Jayden from his own naivety. Sometimes that meant making hard decisions. But look at where it got us: Brennan Industries thriving, our family name strong. Now, because of you, they have finally parted."

"You aren't God."

"Maybe not but I deal with problems permanently. Like that asshole Greg, he got what was coming to him. I only wish I'd done it years before. It helps having a heart defect to exploit and doctors at my beck and call." Lance's voice is tight. "You think you're invincible, don't you?"

sip my wine. "I don't think, Lance. I know. No one can touch me." I glance at his broken expression and add, "And as for you, well... I'm sure you'll continue your self-hate. It's practically written in your DNA." He doesn't respond, and I stand, brushing imaginary lint from my designer coat. "Enjoy the drink, Lance."

421 The Predator's Game

I walk away feeling triumphant. Lance is broken, Jayden's on the brink, and Winona's world is in shambles. Everything is going exactly as planned.

And nothing can stop me.

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