Divorce to Destiny: Reclaiming My CEO Husband

(Mia)

The townhouse is spotless. Every vase, every gold fixture, every inch of marble gleams under the crystal chandelier's glow. I've made sure of it, not for me, but for them.

My family is coming, and I know the judgment in their eyes will be as sharp as their words. They will think I don't belong here. Such luxury and display of wealth is unbecoming. I should be more humble. Show more gratitude and grace.

I don't care. I do belong here. All I want is for mother to love and respect me as a woman. Not to always see me as her baby girl who needs constant mothering.

I straighten the throw pillows for the third time, my nerves simmering beneath my skin. When the doorbell rings, I force my shoulders back and my face into a practiced smile.

"Come in," I say as I open the door.

Mama steps in first, her dark eyes scanning the room like she's searching for something to scold me about. Behind her, Ana and Eva follow, their expressions less obvious but no less guarded.

Gabriel brings up the rear, his presence as arrogant as ever. He looks me over, his jaw tight, before stepping past me without a word.

I close the door and turn, forcing the tension from my voice. "Mamá, you look beautiful. I've missed you."

She doesn't respond, instead crossing her arms. "I have much to say. You have brought shame on me. On our whole family. You have dealt with the devil."

I stiffen. "If you're talking about Abuelo "

"Who else?" Maria interrupts, her voice angry. "Mía, I begged you to never have ties with him. I begged you. I took my children away from him. And now, he's under your skin... You aren't strong enough to resist him...."

"I am Mamá, I gave everything to the authorities," I say, my tone calm but firm. "My testimony built their case against him. He's finally been arrested because of me."

Mama steps closer, her face etched with pain. "You told me you'd never let him brainwash you. But look where we are, Mía. He's conned you. You don't know what you're doing. You're young, naïve. How can I believe you're not still listening to him?"

"I haven't seen or heard from him since his arrest," I lie, my voice steady even as guilt claws at my insides. "I'm done with him, Mamá. I swear."

Mama doesn't believe me. I see it in her eyes.

"Dios mío," she whispers. "You're still lying for him. I can see it, even now. Please, Mía. Please stop believing anything he says. He will turn on even you."

"I'm not lying," I insist, my heart pounding. "I know I was wrong. I'm sorry. Forgive me. I've fixed what I've done."

Before she can respond, Gabriel speaks, his voice cold and cutting. "That's rich coming from the person who allowed Brennan Industries to be used for his smuggling ring."

"I didn't know what he was doing at first," I snap, turning to face him. "And when I found out, I had no choice!"

"No choice?" Gabriel steps closer, his fists clenched. "You had a choice, Mía. You could have told us. You could have stopped him before it got this far."

Ana and Eva exchange glances, their unease clear.

"You believe this?" I ask them, my voice shaking. "You think I wanted any of this? Why does no one ever believe me?"

"Mía," Ana starts cautiously, "we want to believe you. But Gabriel showed us the proof. It's... hard to ignore."

I whirl on Gabriel. "Of course, you showed then your precious 'proof.' Anything to turn them against me, right? It doesn't matter that what did brought a monster to justice after all these years of never having the evidence needed against him.” noveldrama

"They deserve to know the truth,” Gabriel says flatly. "And they deserve to know what kind of person they'd be selling their shares to. A person who sides with criminal activities for their own gain. A person that cannot be trusted."

"I didn't know what was going on! You had no right to go behind my back with your precious evidence," I hiss.

"I had every right," he counters, his voice rising. "You've already proven you can't be trusted. I won't let you destroy this legacy, Mía."

I glare at Gabriel, his accusations pressing down on me. But I'm not going to let him win this time. Not when he's so obviously trying to paint himself as the saint and me as the villain.

He's no saint. He just wants Brennan Industries all to himself. He wants the power.

Gabriel wants to prove how amazing he is. How much of a Brennan he is. How much like his idol, Jayden, he is.

Well, Jayden hasn't ever done

anything for us. He isn't interested in

knowing us. He said terrible things

about our father, Greg. I loved my

father. When he never came back, it

killed me inside.

I hate Jayden and when I get control of this company, I'll make Jayden Brennan and his perfect little family pay.

If I have to use Don Alejandro to do that, I will. I know what I'm doing. I studied Judy. I know how to play both sides and to keep my friends close but my enemies closer.

I don't care what anyone here thinks of the poor baby girl, Mia.

I'll show them all I'm capable of doing anything.