Ch. 131..140

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 131-I shrug “Sure, if that’s how you want to take it “One word from me and Rowan will be on your ass we’ve danced this game before Avs You know all !

Ave. have to tell Rowan is that you’ve been rude to me and he will blow up on you Before, that would have made me bow down. I desperately didn’t want to have any more problems with Rowan, so i would let her humiliate me. She would

revel in it. Feeling powerful that she was able to reduce me to nothing I I give her a smile. “Go ahead. I honestly don’t give a fuck in fact, why don’t you take your phone out night now and call him?” I challenge her.

“You think I won’t?” “I’m counting on you doing it I reply smugly.

Slowly by slowly, the self–esteem I thought I had lost after Ethan betrayed me was starting to come back Never will I allow a man to make me hit rock bottom again, “What’s going on here? a stem voice says I look up to find Corrine staring between us. We weren’t friends, more like acquaintances or business partner. Her father’s construction firm is the one I use when building Hope Houses. She is the owner of this restaurant. The construction firm is a family company and she was a shareholder, but the restaurants were all hers:

“This woman here is causing a disturbance, I suggest you kick her out” Anita rushes to speak. “We were just minding our own business when she started calling me names” I smirk. Folding my hands across my chest as I watch her make a fool of herself.

Everyone knows who Corrine is. No one though, knows that we know each other. I was waiting for the show to start. Unlike Rowan, Corinne wasn’t easily fooled.

“Is that so?” she asks, her voice low.

I never let myself get too close to her. She wanted us to be friends, but at that time I thought that no one would want a loser like me as a friend. Instead I kept her at arm length. Only talking to her when business was involved.

Anita nods her head. She gives her friends a small signal and they all agree with her. What a bunch of idiots 13 “Do you think I’m stupid? Do you think this entire place has no cameras?” he asks them 7 saw everything and then you dare lie to me?” I see the moment Anita realizes she has fucked up. She swallows hard, panic etched on her face “It’s just a misunderstanding” she struggles to say, clutching at straws.

“Get out!” 7 said get out of my fucking restaurant! I won’t have a lowly bitch with no manners try and humiliate my friend in my own fucking restaurant” Corrine was seething and it was written all over her face.

I was surprised she called me her friend, but I push the thought away.

Are you going to leave or do you want me to have my body guards drag you out?” “Fine, the food here isn’t even good” she huffs.

We all know that she’s lying. This was one of the best restaurants in the city.

Everyone knew that.

Anita turns around to leave, it’s only then I realize that we had attracted attention. Before she can leave, Corrine calls her name.

“And Anita?” “What?” she snaps.

“You’re no longer welcomed at any of my restaurants. That goes for you friends too” I smirk when her mouth falls open in shock. She then stomps away. Her friends hot on her heels. Cursing her for getting them banned.

“Thank you for that, Corrine. She was starting to get for that, Corrine. She was starting to get on my damn nerves” I humph.

“It’s okay…it was no problem” she gives me a small smile.

I go to tell her something more, when my name is called.

I “Ava?” I freeze at the sound of her voice.

I turn around to find Rowan’s mom standing behind me. Next to her with tears in her eyes, is the woman | thought was my mother. The woman who called me her daughter, but treated me like I was nothing.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 132-“Ava can we please talk?” mother pleads when I move to leave.

I stare at her, not sure what she wanted. What was there to talk about? Hasn’t everything already been said and done?

“There isn’t anything for us to talk about, Mother” I insist.

Looking back, I see now how I made a distinction when it came to her and father. While Emma and Travis referred to them as mom and dad, to me they were Father and Mother. Clean, cut and completely impersonal.

I never truly acknowledged them as my parents, because deep down I just knew. Parents don’t hate their children. Parents don’t neglect their child and treat them like shit. I made what I called them impersonal because on a spiritual level, I didn’t consider them my parents.

“Please, I beg you” she pleads with tears in her eyes.

It was so strange looking at her with tears in her eyes. Her face flushed and soft.

This is a look I’ve never seen her direct at me. Her face was always in a frown.

She always looked at me with a certain cold indifference that was specifically targeted at me.

“How about you show me to our table as they talk?” Martha, Rowan’s mom asks Corrine while cutting off what I was about to say.

Corrine looks skeptical. Like she didn’t want to leave me. After all, it was known that the Sharp family weren’t my biggest fan even though I was apparently their daughter.

Martha doesn’t give Corrine a chance. Instead she links their hands and pulls her away in the opposite direction.

I sigh and take my seat. “Let’s just get this over with, looks like you won’t leave me alone until you’ve said your piece, so do it now before I change my mind” I tell her coldly.

I used to adore this woman back in my younger days. When I was around five or six. That quickly changed when I realized that she didn’t feel the same way. It changed when I realized she treated me as if I was more of a burden, than a daughter.

She hesitantly takes her seat before taking my hands in hers. I pull them away.

Not wanting her to touch me. I didn’t want her near me. The part of me that had longed for such moments was long dead.

“I’m sorry, Ava. More than you’ll ever know” she whispers, folding into herself.

Instead of saying anything, I keep quiet. I always imagined this moment. Always day dreamed of her apologizing to me, then pulling me into her arms. I used to crave it. Pray for it. Hope for the day to come. Now that it’s here, the joy I thought I would feel is nonexistent. I feel absolutely nothing as I stare at her.

“The way I treated you was wrong. You were just a child and instead of embracing you, I pushed you away. You loved me, loved us, but we gave you nothing but scorn. I wish more than anything that I could go back in time and change things. Go back and be the mother you deserved” she said before continuing.

“I never saw your value. Never acknowledged that you’re the best daughter anyone can have. It took almost losing you to realize how much you mean to me” She was full on crying. If I was my old self, then her tears would have moved me. I wasn’t though, and her tears meant absolutely nothing to me.

Years of pain. More than twenty five years of hurting. It can’t be erased by a few drops of tears. It just doesn’t work like that. It would heaven’s intervention inorder for that to happen.

“Look, let’s cut to the crap okay? If this is about the threat my mother made on your company, we can discuss it as adults. There is no need for you to try and sweeten me up, that shit won’t work. Instead of all the drama, why don’t you tell m

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 133-I see hurt flash in her eyes, but I don’t care. She’s been hurting me for years.

This was nothing compared to what I had to endure at her hands and that of her family.

Besides, I wasn’t sure why she looked hurt. I was sure that the only reason she was here was to try and save their family company.

“It hurts that you would think that of me. That you would think that the only reason I was apologizing was so I could save the company. Then again I have no one to blame but myself. It’s because of my own actions that you find me so untrustworthy”

Looking at her now, you couldn’t tell she was the same woman who used to yell at me for the slightest mistake. Who used to treat me like I didnt matter. It was so weird. We’ve never had a heart to heart, so sitting here as she pours out her heart is a bit unsettling.

“I truly want your forgiveness. I want to be your mother in every way. I want to build what I shattered. I want to win back the love I so carelessly threw away” I sigh. “I don’t want to come off as mean, but first of all you’re not my mother.

The DNA test report I have back at home can prove that. Second, that ship sailed a long time ago. You and me? Being close? That will never happen.

Lastly, I don’t want you in my life. In fact, I would prefer if you and your children continued ignoring me like I didn’t exist. You did it for close to three decades, it shouldn’t be a hardship for you to continue doing it” Some would say I was being ungrateful and maybe I was. The only thing they gave me was materialistic in nature. For me, the emotional aspect may be more important than material things. Knowing now what I know, I would have preferred if they had dumped me in an orphanage instead.

“Please don’t say that. Don’t say it’s too late” her soft pleading voice pulls me to the present.

“But it’s the truth. You’re more than twenty five years too late” She wipes her tears. Determination etched on her face. “I won’t give up on you, Ava. You’re still daughter and I’ll do anything to get your love back” I breathe out and rub my temples. I could already feel a migraine coming on.

my I don’t say anything as she stands up. Nor do I look up. She can continue being delusional for all I care, but nothing was going to make me change my mind. I feel nothing when it comes to her. She managed to kill the love I had for her and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

“Before I go, I wanted to give you this. Your father told me to give it to you before he died. I just never got I don’t acknowledge her. Instead I continue ignoring her. When she sees this, she lets out a sigh and places something on the table.

It’s after she walks away that I look at what she left. I’m shocked to find a piece of paper that had bloody finger prints.

Only after looking at it for over five minutes that it hits me. This piece of paper is the same one that I saw father handing over to her before he went to surgery.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 134-I stare at the piece of paper on my table, not really sure what to do about it.

I was now at home. I had gotten back like an hour ago. The whole time, I spent it debating whether I should open it or tear it to pieces.

m Still The paper had been burning a hole in my purse the entire time I drove back home. Now, here I am. staring at it.

A part of me was curious about it contents. The other didn’t much care about what was written. The man who wrote it hated me. What good could come out of

reading a letter written by him?

I pick it up, about to tear it, but a voice stops me.

‘Just read the damn thing. What’s the worst that could happen?‘ my inner voice whispers.

I cringe at the words.

Famous last words. I think to myself.

The worst thing that could happen is he hurts me.

Words were dangerous. They cause more damage than any weapon can. I still remember some of the harsh words my so called parents said to me over the years. The wounds their words inflicted have never truly healed.

‘Just open it!‘ the voice screams.

Not giving myself a second to back out, I unfold the letter.

[Dear Ava, If you’re reading this then it’s because I didn’t make it out of surgery. Truth be told, I don’t think I will.

They’re trying to save me not knowing that their efforts are futile. I am too far gone and I can already see you grandparents calling me to come join them. It may be the imagination of a dying man or not, but I believe I have a special place in hell for how I treated you.

You were such a sweet girl when Winnie left you with us, but we destroyed that.

We destroyed your light and I will forever regret that I did that to you my sweet girl.

I remember when she still had you. I used to play with you and Emma. You were so innocent and you lit up the room whenever you were around. My favorite thing was coming home in the evening and playing with you, Travis and Emma I pause reading the letter. My mind confused. None of what he said was making any sense. If he used to like being around me when Winnie was still alive, then what the hell changed?

Looking down at the piece of paper, I continue reading.

[I don’t know what happened. I don’t know why I turned out to be such a monster to you, but when Winnie died and she asked us to take you in, something just shifted inside me. Inside all of us.

I am not using this as an excuse because nothing can make how we treated you right. It was downright disgusting and uncalled for.

I know that this is my punishment. Karma is really a vengeful bitch. I am getting exactly what I deserve for how I treated you my darling Ava.

Before I leave this world, I want to tell you how sorry I am. For everything I did to you. It will never be enough to make up for what I did and said, but it’s all I have.

I’m so sorry for being a fool. Sorry for being the worst father. Sorry for being the monster in your fairytale.

I won’t ask for forgiveness because I don’t deserve it. What I deserve is to burn in the pits of hell. All I ask. Sis that you be there for your mother. She’ll need you. She has a good heart and once she realizes her mistakes towards you, she’ll break.

Always remember that I love you. I may not have showed it to you, but I do.

Goodbye my darling sweet girl.] I fold the paper and shove it back in my bag feeling angry for some reason.

I don’t know why the letter affected me so much when mother’s tears didn’t. May be it’s because this was the last thing he wrote before died. Correct that, he wrote it while dying I stand up abruptly and leave for my bedroom. I push every thought away.

I don’t want to think about them. I don’t want to think about the pain they caused me. I just don’t want to think about anything. I block them because I know that if I allow them to run rampant in my head, then I would drown.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 135-I can’t afford to be weak right now. It would cost me more than I’m willing to bargain. I had already reached my breaking point. I wasn’t going to risk going back to the darkness that almost claimed my soul.

I get on my bed and lie down. Refusing to let the tears flow. I’ve cried enough for these people. I wasn’t going to waste my tears on people that didn’t deserve anything from me.

Soon tiredness catches up to me. The fatigue, both emotional and physical weighs me down and I fall

into a dreamless sleep.

nit’s When I wake up it’s around eleven o’clock.

Shit! I scramble from my bed, falling down in the process. I was supposed to pick Noah up at nine since Rowan had to fly out for a business meeting.

I scramble to take a shower and get ready. Doing it in less than ten minutes.

Once I’m done I rush down the stairs, praying I don’t trip and break my neck in the process.

I stop in my tracks when I notice Rowan and Noah in the kitchen having breakfast. He was wearing a suit and was making pancakes. It was so weird given I’ve never seen him cook.

“Mommy, you’re finally awake” Noah screams with his mouth full. I wanted to wake you up, but dad told me to let you sleep” “What’s going on here?” I ask in confusion.

I’m making breakfast. Take a seat and eat something. I want to finish these before I leave” Rowan replies while flipping the pancakes.

“Aren’t you already late for your meeting? You should have woken me up” “Fuck the meeting. You looked like you needed the sleep, so I let you sleep” he says as if it were that simple.

He was so out of character that I don’t know what to think. This was a side of him I didn’t know existed. I don’t want to see it because I don’t want to think of him as the good guy. I don’t want to see this caring and kind version of him because i wasn’t ready to forgive him for the pain he caused me.

place some eggs and toast on my plate almost robotically. Still not sure what the hell had gotten into When is your next doctor’s appointment?” he asks me out of the blue.

look up and stare into his eyes. Trying to figure out what kind of game he was trying to play.

“Next Friday. Why?” I narrow my eyes into slits, completely suspicious “Nothing. I just wanted to know” He turns off the stove once the last pancake is cooked and turns.

“I have to leave.” He checks his watch before looking up again.

Moving around the kitchen island, he comes and bends down giving Noah a kiss to the cheek. He turns to me and I hold my breath as I see the indecision in his eyes.

I still and pray he walks away. I didn’t want him near me. His presence was already suffocating me, making it hard for me to breathe.

“I’ll see you two when I get back” he says and I breathe a sigh of relief when he backs away.

“Okay dad. Remember to bring me a present” Noah tells him and I just nod my head instead of answering.

He gives me one last look. Like he’s debating on telling me something, but thinks otherwise. His face shuts down. The cold and indifferent Rowan I was used to, now back in place. Turning around without another word, he stomps out and leaves.

I continue staring at the place he was. Still trying to figure out what was wrong with him. Why the hell was he behaving as if he actually cared about me?

Laughing humorlessly, I push a piece of pancake in my mouth. Rowan didn’t care about me. He was just playing along for the sake of Noah. He was keeping up pretense. Just like we always do. That was it.

There was nothing more to it, right?

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 136-“Mommy where are we going?” Noah asks me as I lock our house.

I hadn’t planned on this little trip, but I knew it was something that I needed to do. Nora and Theo have been calling me for days. They wanted a relationship with me, but instead I kept keeping them at arm’s length.

I decided that I was going to give them a chance. After all, how was I supposed to know if they truly loved me if I just kept pushing them away? And besides, I needed more good people in my life.

“I want you to meet some people” I reply, taking his hand in mine as I lead him towards my car.

As we were walking towards the car, my eyes gets caught by the moving vehicle that was parked a few meters down from my house.

“Looks like someone is moving in” I tell Noah. “We’re going to have a new neighbor.” The house has been empty for months. It was similar in structure to mine with the only difference being it looked a bit bigger.

“Man, I hope they have a kid my age” Noah says in excitement. “Don’t get me wrong mom. I love this place, but it’s full of old people” I chuckle at that. When I picked this place, I didn’t realize we would be surrounded by elderly people who were all up in your business. I chose this place because of the tranquility and the big yard. The other two kids in this community were like fifteen house down from us.

“Well baby, let’s hope so” I say as I help him get in the car and buckle up.

I get in and start the car. I was nervous and we weren’t even half way to where we were going. I was so used to getting hurt that I was skeptical and doubtful about anyone who wanted to get close to me.

Pushing the nervousness away, I try to focus on driving.

“So, who are we going to see?” Noah breaks the silence bouncing in his seat.

One thing about Noah is that he doesn’t like being kept in suspense. A character that is just like his father. He prefers knowing things in advance and doesn’t like anything that surprises him which is a weird character for a kid.

“You’ll just have to wait and see” I smile at him. “They are people I currently met and they’ve been dying to meet you” His brows pull together in a frown. Right now he reminds me so much of Rowan.

Noah was an exact replica of his dad. It showed in the way he looked and behaved.

“Can’t you just tell me? You know I don’t like surprises” he grumbles See what I told you? He doesn’t like not knowing.

“I promise this is going to be a good surprise” I assure him.

He was going to be so happy when he realizes he’s getting two additional grandparents. Mainly because he knows it will mean more gifts and love for himself. As much as he is looking forward to having a sibling, he can’t hide that he loves being the only grandchild.

“Mommy, is dad going to marry your sister Emma?” Noah asks after a while.

My breath stills at his question.

“Probably” I mumbled.

Even though I feel the familiar pain. It isn’t as earth shattering as it used to be. I accepted it long time ago. Rowan wasn’t mine. He never was. He always belonged to Emma mind body and soul. Right now they may have hit a rough patch because of her lies, but they will get back together eventually.

Their love has spanned over a decade. It’s impossible for them not fix what’s broken. Sooner or later, when they worked their issues, they’ll resume their romance.

“I don’t want that. I don’t want a stepmother” he says in a small voice.

It breaks my heart to hear him so sad, but there is nothing I can do about it.

Rowan and I were wrong from the beginning. We shouldn’t have gotten married and I will always regret that I didn’t fight harder when he said we should marry.

Life would have been easier if I had. Instead we got married and pretended we loved each other in front of Noah. Now he was having a hard time accepting someone else as Rowan’s possible wife.

“Noah…” 1 want you and dad together. You were happy together, you loved each other.

Why can’t you go back to that?” he asks sullenly.

How do I tell him that nothing he was saying was real? That Rowan and I weren’t happy together. That we weren’t in love and that we played a part for his sake. How do I tell him that Rowan had always been in love with Emma? That my obsession with him led to them breaking up.

Right now you’re too young to understand, but when you’re older I’ll explain things, then you’ll understand It pained me to see the sadness in his eyes, but in this case, I have to break his little heart. There was nothing between Rowan and I. There never was and there will never be. Our ship went up in flames before it even got a chance to sail.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 137-“I’m not giving up mommy. I told you, I want you and dad together and I always get what I want” Determination was etched in his voice as he said the words.

at this te I sigh. my love” Silence falls upon us as we drive. Soon enough, we get to the upscale neighborhood that my parents were currently residing in.

I pull up to the electronic gates. After imputing the passcode on the small touch screen located on the side, the gates open. Theo had given me the passcode in case I ever wanted to come visit them.

We drive along the small road that was lined with trees. It was about a five minute drive before you got to the huge beautiful house.

“Wow, this is awesome. It’s even more impressive than grandma and grandpa’s house” Noah says referring to Rowan’s parents‘ house.

I grin. He was going to be surprised when I tell him that this was also his grandparent’s house.

I park the car in front of the manicured garden. After switching it off, we get out. I take his hand and slowly start walking towards the house.

Noah’s eyes darted everywhere. His eyes taking in as much as he can.

Excitement and awe was written all over his face.

Before I can ring the doorbell, the door opens and a butler greets us.

“Welcome madam and young sir” he says politely, his hands behind his back. “If you follow me, I’ll take you to them. They’re waiting for you.

We follow him silently. The inside of the house was just as impressive as the outside. Everything just screamed wealth and elegance.

We find Nora and Theo seated in the living room. The moment she sees us, Nora stands up and rushes towards us. Pulling me into a hug before doing the same with Noah, who freezes in shock.

“Let the boy go Nora darling. You’re probably suffocating the boy” Theo says in an amused voice.

So sorry Noah” she says to Noah before turning to me. “I just never thought that you’d come or give us a chance. I’m so happy that you’re here.” Before I can say anything. Noah cuts in. As always he’s direct. Cutting straight to the point.

“Excuse me Mrs. But who are you?” he asks, his grey eyes piercing both Nora and Theo.

Nora seems off balance for a bit, but Theo looks proud at Noah’s directness.

“Noah, I want you to meet my parents, your grandparents, Nora and Theo Howell” I watch him closely. Looking at how he will react to the news.

“I’m confused” he says with a frown on his face. “Aren’t Ma and Pa your parents?” I “Not my biological parents. I was adopted by them. You know what adoption means right?” I ask as I kneel in front of him… He nods “Yes, it’s when a mother and father take in a baby that isn’t their own and raises them” “Exactly” “But where were they? Why did they let Ma and Pa adopt you? Didn’t they want you?” he pauses his face going hard. “If they didn’t want you then I don’t want anything to do with them” My heart swells with so much love for my baby boy. That he was willing to reject anyone that didn’t want me meant everything to me.

Nora k kneels down beside us and takes Noah into her arms. “We did want your mom.

We just thought she had died when she was a baby. We didn’t know that someone had stolen her from the hospital and lied to Us*

I watch as Noah tries to process what he was being told. He turns to me.

Silently asking if what she said was true. I nod my head and the frown clears from his face.

“What about Ma? Won’t she be sad losing you? And will I have to stop seeing her?” he asks.

I will never get in of their relationship. Mother never really gave a damn about me, but father and the way her loved Noah. They treated him like he was truly their grandson. As much as I want nothing to do with her, I won’t stand in the way of her relationship with Noah.

“She’ll always be your Ma, Noah. Nothing has to change that. Think about it, you’re a very lucky boy. Having five grandparents is like hitting the grandparents jackpot” I smile at him “We want to be in her life and your life if she gives us a chance, that’s all we ask” Theo says kneeling down beside us.

I look at Noah waiting for his answer. He’s silent for a while before he smiles.

The moment he does, I know he has given his approval.

I stare at my found parents. “I would like that. We would like having you in our lives” Their eyes fill with tears and they pull us into the arms. I feel their love wash over us.

Things were falling into place and I wanted to believe that they will only get better from here on, but experience has taught me that the other shoe drops when you least expect it.

I was happy right now, but deep down I just knew that this rollercoaster that was now my life was far from

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 138-I tap my feet nervously as I wait for my name to be called. I was currently sitting in the clinic’s waiting room waiting for my appointment.

To say I was nervous was an understatement because I was internally panicking.

This all felt like De ja vu. My second pregnancy and here I was going to my appointments alone. The only difference is that Ethan isn’t able to be present while with Rowan he just didn’t bother coming. 1 I tried so hard to ignore the fact that I was pregnant until a couple of days ago when I noticed that my waistline was increasing. My baby bump was starting to

show and soon everyone will know that I’m pregnant.

I sigh tiredly and make a mental note to tell my parents. I haven’t had the heart to disclose that I was expecting Ethan’s child. Mainly because he was still their son. It will be really weird for them knowing that their biological daughter is pregnant by their adopted son, The whole thing was messed up to say the least, but there’s nothing I can do about it. What’s done is done. This baby was here whether I liked it or not.

There was no going around that little fact.

“I can feel your nervousness all the way to my fucking bones, Ava” his deep voice brings me back to the present.

I turn my head so quickly that I get a kink. I wince as I stare at him in shock. His grey eyes piercing mine. He looked as handsome as ever with the only difference being that his face looked relaxed.

“Rowan? What are you doing here?” I ask him, slowly blinking to make sure that I wasn’t hallucinating his presence. *

He shrugs his shoulder and smiles. I continue staring at him in shock. I think this is the first time he has ever smiled when he was in my presence. This was probably the first smile that was directed at me.

“I’m here to support you. I didn’t want you to be alone during your appointment” he simply says.

Something was definitely wrong with him. Why the hell did it feel like a damn scam?

I get close to him and feel if he has a fever. Maybe he was sick and that what was causing this uncharacteristic behavior.

“What are you doing?” he asks frowning.

I’m checking if you have a fever” He looked okay and he didn’t have a fever so why the hell was here? What was going on in his complicated head?

Before I can figure out what the hell had gotten into him, my name is called.

He grabs my hand and gently pull me to my feet. He then leads me towards the room where my appointment was going to take place. The entire time we are walking I stare at his strong back.

Completely astonished.

We get to the room and find Dr Raven waiting for us.

“Good to see you Ava, are you ready to see how you little munchkin is doing?” she asks and as always she’s in a jovial mood.

I nod my head. Still in a daze.

Im assuming he’s the father?” she enquires throwing glances at Rowan.

“No! He’s just here to offer some support.” I rush quickly to say when I see Rowan start to open his mouth. He frowns at me and tightens his grip on my hand.

What in the world was wrong with this man? And why the hell did he look pissed off.

“Okay then” Dr. Raven drags the words. “You know the drill, get on the bed and pull your top up” Rowan helps me up and I do what I was instructed, I shift uncomfortably as Rowan’s eyes locks on my exposed belly. It is so weird given that the last time he saw me naked was probably last year.

Before I can think more into, Dr. Raven squirts the cold liquid on my belly and begins to move the wand around. 1 “Hmm” she murmurs, her face focused on the screen.

“Is something wrong?” Rowan beats me to the question.

“Everything is fine. The heartbeat is strong and the baby is growing as expected” she answers before turning towards me. “Do you want to know the gender?” she asks.

“No” I say just as Rowans says “Yes” “Since you’re not the father, I will have to ignore your answer in favor of that of Ava, unless you want to know the gender, Ava” I shake my head. “No, I want it to be a surprise just like with Noah” “My mouth is sealed then. I’m just going to print out the picture for you” she says as she switches off the “Can you print a set of two?” I ask, remembering I had promised to send Ethan updates.

“Sure” She hands me a tissue and I clean up the mess before pulling my top down.

When I’m done, I look up and Rowan is still staring at the blank screen.

“Rowan?” I call him.

and pass by the He shifts his eyes to me before he stands up. We leave the room and pass by the secretary’s desk. After getting everything I need and setting up my next appointment we leave the clinic.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 139-I want to take you out for lunch” Rowan surprises me once again.

I look at him suspiciously “Why?” “I want us to talk” I scan the roads. Checking if I could locate a taxi. Today I came by one because I wasn’t in the mood to drive.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea. We really have nothing to talk about” I focus my eyes back on him.

He runs his hands through his black hair. Seeming a bit frustrated.

“Rowan…” I was about to let him know I was leaving, but he cuts me off. His face turning stone cold.

“I won’t take no for an answer. It’s either you get in by yourself or I carry you in” he says motioning to his car.

“You wouldn’t dare” “Fucking try me, Ava” He starts advancing on me and I just know that he was about to enact his threat.

With a humph, I turn around and stomp towards his car.

He unlocks the car and I get in. I glare at him when he gets in and starts the car.

I I keep quiet, not in the mood to talk. I was angry and confused with his sudden change in behavior. I wanted the old Rowan back. The one I was used to. This version of him was new to me and completely unpredictable. I didn’t like that.

We get to a restaurant I’ve never been to. He leads me inside where he gives his name and we’re immediately shown to our table.

“What’s going on with you Rowan?” I ask him the moment we are alone. “Your behavior of late is really. confusing. I mean for heaven’s sake. You showed up to my doctor’s appointment for a baby that isn’t even yours when you never came to any of my appointments when I was pregnant with Noah” He doesn’t say anything. Just continues staring at me stonily. Reminding me of the version I was used to.

Cold, indifferent and detached.

You never wanted me anywhere around you before and now all of a sudden you’re everywhere. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful you pulled me back during my darkest time, but can we just go back to how things I don’t want any more changes in my life. More importantly I don’t want trouble with Emma. They didn’t want me in their lives before and then all of a sudden everyone wants to be part of it?

I want a life away from them. Away from anything or anyone that reminds of my pain and suffering. I just wanted to be left alone. I want to heal and I can’t do that while I’m still around the people who caused that pain in the first place.

You can’t heal in the same place you got hurt.

“I’m sorry” he says after a while. It was so low that I thought I had imagined it. “I was so angry at you. I didn’t want to acknowledge the part I played that night. I fucking let you take the blame and then continued to punish you for something that wasn’t entirely your fucking fault” He managed to shock me once again. He was just full of surprises today, wasn’t he? Rowan wasn’t the kind of man to apologize so the fact that he was is a miracle.

The more he spoke the more he got angry. I just wasn’t sure who his anger was directed at.

“I treated so horribly when you were just trying to make the best of a shitty situation. You were eighteen and scared, yet I let you go to all those doctor’s appointment alone. You’ll never know how much I’ll regret that.” He takes a deep breath “Why now? Why are you apologizing now when everything has already been said and done? You’ve got to know that this won’t change a thing. The damage has already been done. The best we can do is be civil towards each other” I whisper.

What has gotten into everyone? When I wanted all of them to be apologize, none was willing to. Now when I’m ready to put them in my past where they all belong is when everyone is all of a sudden apologizing for hurting me. 1 “I’m so fucking sorry for the role I played in hurting and destroying you. I’m not a man who ever makes mistakes, but I admit that I made the biggest fucking one in how I treated you” I hear what he was saying, but it just wasn’t registering. How was I supposed to forgive him? How was I supposed to forget everything he put me through?” I keep quiet as I stare at the table. I didn’t have anything else to say because I just didn’t know if I could ever forgive him.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 140-We didn’t talk after that. Lunch was downright awkward as we both ate silently.

My mind was reeling from his apology. I don’t know what he was expecting from me, but I sure hope it was not forgiveness. Not now at least.

After finishing our lunch he took me back home. The drive was also quiet. Both of us lost in our own thoughts. I just didn’t know how to take him in. Didn’t know what to do with this new version of him. It was all so new and strange to say the least.

“Thank you” I tell him once we reach my home. “For being with me at the appointment and for the lunch” “It was no problem” he tries to smile but it doesn’t reach his eyes.

I nod and begin to get out. He stops me by grabbing my hand.

“I want you to let me know anytime you have appointments” he tells me, his eyes staring deep into mine.

I stare at him once again, unable to understand what the hell was going on in his damn mind.

“Why the hell would I do that?” I ask in confusion, pulling my hand from his.

His touch was suddenly too much. It felt like it was burning.

“Because I want to be there for you” he simply replies.

“And again I ask you, why? You weren’t there during when I was pregnant with Noah, but now you want to attend appointments for a baby that isn’t yours? Do you know how crazy that looks?

He was confusing me. I didn’t like to be confused. I didn’t like to be unsure. I didn’t like that he was behaving out of character.

I Besides, I didn’t want any trouble with Emma. That would surely come if she ever finds out that Rowan is coming to my appointments.

1 just want to be there, is that so hard for you to believe?” “As a matter of fact, yes. Let’s be honest, Rowan. You’ve never cared much for me.” I sigh. “That’s actually an understatement because you downright hated me so of course this sudden show of concern is unbelievable” He doesn’t say anything for a while. Just continues staring at me in that intense way. When he continues to do it, I start fidgeting. Feeling uncomfortable with his piercing eyes directed at me.

Just let me know because either way, I’ll find out and I’ll show up just like today” he finally speaks.

“Have you thought how this will impact your relationship with Emma and how she would feel?” Sure I was using Emma as a defence, but right now she was my best chance at making him see reason.

“Emma doesn’t F***ing matter right now” he growls, his eyes turning cold.

I stare at him with my mouth hanging open. This was definitely a first. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would ever hear him saying that Emma didn’t matter.

“What the hell has gotten into you?” I ask him, puzzled. “Do you hear yourself?

How can you say she doesn’t matter when you’ve been in love with her all your life?” The surprise punches just kept coming. I didn’t even have time to take them all in. Every word out of his mouth was trying to rewrite the reality I was used to.

I see him clench his jaw. His nose flaring at the reminder of his more than a decade long love for Emma.

“Drop it” he all but snarls at me.

I guess Emma was still a touchy subject. It didn’t faze me though. I knew sooner or later they would be back together. Emma isn’t one to give up on what she wants and Rowan has never been able to resist her or st or stay mad at her for long.

Feeling like I’ve said all I need to say, I push the car door open and get out. I walk around the car towards my house.

His voice stops me, making me turn.

“Remember what I said, Ava. I will be at all your appointments, whether you tell me the dates or not” With that, he fires his car and leaves. I stare for a while before turning back around.

He was being forceful and it was starting to get on my damn mind. Why couldn’t he just go back to how he was?

I was almost to my door when the sight of a man catches my attention. He was watering the grass.

He suddenly turns as if feeling my eyes on him. Our gaze collide and I hold my breath. I guess he was our new neighbor.

He is hot, but that’s not what draws me in. It’s the fact that he looked really familiar. I just couldn’t place where I had seen him before a Shaking myself from those thoughts, I give him a small smile and walk into my house.

“Mommy, you’re home” Noah screams the moment I walk in.

Since my appointment was in the afternoon, I had asked his nanny to pick him up from school. She wasn’t a live in nanny. She only came on those days I was held up with one thing or another.

“Yes, how was school?” I ask as I set down my bag.

“Fun. I scored everything in my math test” “That’s good. My baby boy is a math genius” I tease him, making him blush.

“Mom” he drags the word. “Please stop”