FreeGoodNovelMy CEO 125
125 Judy Actually Cares
(Winona)
"You look awful," Judy says bluntly from the doorway.
| jumped because | didn't expect her to followup here. | thought she'd be hovering down in emergency for
more news on Jayden.
"Let's get you in that shower." She takes Gordon's coat off my shoulders.
"I want to get all this blood off me," | admit, my voice breaking. The last thing | want to do is be this vulnerable in
front of Judy, but I'm just so broken | can't put up any sort of emotional shield right now.
Judy surprisesby touching my hand gently. "Go take a shower. I'll stay here and wait for news. I'll have some
clothes brought in for you immediately."
Her kindness catchesoff guard. | search her eyes for any hint of ulterior motives but find only genuine
concern. "Okay," | say, hesitant but grateful. "Thank you."
She nods, squeezing my hand briefly before letting go. "We're both here for Jayden. He needs us both to be
strong."
I nod and head towards the bathroom, my legs feeling like they might give out at any moment.
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Before | get under the water, | pull my cell phone from my pocket and message Anne, Lance, and Lisa, letting
them know what's happened. That | can't talk just yet but just to watch the news. | place Jayden's phone beside
mine. The symbolism catches in my throat.
| hear Judy on her phone too, calling Gus. | hear her say his name. Her voice is low, urgent, but | can't make out
all of the words. | just hear the tremor in her tone, a reflection of the fear | feel.
| step into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the blood and grime. | wash the blood offthat's
soaked through my clothes. | cry as | don't want to wash him away fromreally, it might be the last part of
him | ever get to have close.
Jayden is fighting for his life. He took a bullet meant for me, and now he might not make it. How could Ashlyn get
to that state of mind? It all happened so fast.
As the water cascades over me, | replay the events in my mind. The sound of the gunshot. Waiting for the bullet
to hitand then Jayden on the ground. The chaos that followed. It's a nightmare | can't wake up from.
The thought of losing him like this is unbearable, a pain so deep it threatens to consme.
| finish my shower, feeling a little more human. | dry off and wrap myself in the hospital gown | find near the
hand basin, my clothes too stained and ruined to wear ever again.
As | step back into my room, Judy is still there, pacing anxiously.
She looks up. "Feeling better?" she asks, her tone surprisingly caring. "There will be clothes delivered soon."
"I do feel a little better," i admit. "Thank you for the clothes order."
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125 Jury Actually
"Climb into bed while you wait for them. May as well get comfortable."
"I'm so grateful for Jayden right now." | say as | climb onto the bed to wait.
Judy nods, and for a moment, we are just two women united by their love for the sman. The man who's
fighting for his life.
Jayden taking the bullet for me, his love so clear in that moment. The realization that | can't live without him, no
matter how much he's hurtin the past. We've both been manipulated and controlled in the past. But I'm not
letting that happen again. Gordon pops his head into the doorway. "You okay?"
I nod. "Cin."
He does.
Judy gets up. "I'll go see where that cup of tea is."
Wait. Now she's voluntarily giving us privacy?
"You, Winona Nolan, are a free woman." Gordon comes over and givesa hug. "You did well. Everything has
been dropped and you can go back to living your normal life." "Whatever normal is."
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"Maybe you'll find a new normal. All the tracking will be removed from your home. Ashlyn is behind bars. and will
stay that way for a very long time."
"She needs help. | mean, she really needs help. | hope she gets some."
"Let's just worry about you, right now. How about Jayden, any news?"
"He's in surgery. Bullet just missed his heart but there's a lot of damage apparently. Might be hours in there."
"He's still fighting though, so that's something."
Judy comes back in with a tray, a metal teapot and two cups. "Are you staying Mr. Brown?"
"Thanks, but | have a lot to wrap up. I'll check back in later, Winona. Callif you need me."
He leaves and it's just Judy and | again.
"Cream and sugar? Oh, you need it, so I'll just pop sin." She handsthe cup once she's finished stirring.
| take it and warm my hands around it. The taste of the tea is really good and | take a couple of big sips. This is
very surreal, Judy taking care of me. I'm not sure that | don't prefer her being mean.
The minutes tick by, each one feeling like an eternity but thankfully Judy has sparedfrom making small talk.
And then, finally, the door opens, and Dr. Green steps in his expression unreadable.
Judy stands up and I sit up straight in my bed.
125 Jjudy Actually Cares
"Is Jayden going to be okay?" | ask with a trembling voice.
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