Ch. 171..180

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 171-My heart starts going haywire and panic begins setting 1. in.

I shake her and her b*dy tips. I catch her before she falls to the ground. Twisting her, I make it so that she’s laying on my lap. I whisper her name again, but she’s still unresponsive.

With shaky hands and bones laden with fear, I check her pulse, afraid of not feeling anything. I sigh in relief when I feel it. It was a bit weak, but it was there. I breathe a sigh of relief. I don’t know what I’d have

done if I hadn’t found a pulse.

Tears start filling my eyes. We were stuck here. Emma was bleeding and weak.

I was tired and aching and we were right in the middle of the enemy’s camp.

I don’t stop them when they fall. I was just fed up. Why was all this happening to me now? I wanted nothing, but peace, but I am yet to achieve that. I hated this. Hated everything that was happening.

I keep my finger on Emma’s pulse just to assure myself that she was okay. We will probably never be close, but that doesn’t mean I want her to die.

“Look what we have here?” a mean voice says. “Tired of running? Or is your friend dead already?” I look up to find a scary looking man staring at us with nothing but evil intent. For a moment I see my life flash before my eyes.

Remember when I said that I don’t care if they find us? Well, I take those words back. I didn’t mean any of them. I’m definitely not ready to die.

“Please” I beg him as I watch him raise his gun.

Part of me knew he wouldn’t shoot me. For Reaper’s plan to work, he needed both me and Emma alive. Still, that doesn’t stop me from being afraid.

He cocks the gun and removes the safety latch.

“Boss doesn’t want you dead” he says, confirming my suspicion. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t hurt you for the trouble you’ve caused us.” The evil glint in his eyes widens. Looking at him, I see the evil that resides in him. He didn’t choose this kind of job because the money was good or because he had no other choice. He chose it because he was genuinely evil and he liked to hurt others.

I close my eyes when I realize there is no escaping him, Waiting for him to just get it over and done with.

I hear a shot, but I don’t feel pain or the impact of the bullet. I frown and open my eyes. I am shocked to find Rowan standing before me like an avenging angel, with the man on the floor and a bullet hole in his skull.

“Rowan” I whisper in relief, but then it quickly turns into dread when his eyes shift from me to Emma, who was unconscious.

Damn it. I had forgotten about her.

I don’t know which fate was worse. Facing Ronny or Rowan.

“We need an ambulance. She got shot and is bleeding. She lost consciousness a few minutes ago” I tell him, my voice barely above whisper.

He doesn’t answer. His face was stony, and that scared me more than anything.

I was sure of one thing: Rowan was going to retaliate against me when Emma wakes up and tells him that she took a bullet that was meant for me.

I look down at her before looking back up at him. He was pissed off. Really pissed off. As I watch the emotions play in his eyes, I can’t but wonder if Emma had been right. Maybe we should have just stayed in the F***ing room like she had suggested.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 172-I can’t explain the fear I felt when I saw the bastard pointing a gun at her head.

She was shaking, and tears were falling down her face. I heard as she pleaded with him to spare her, but I knew he wouldn’t.

When she closed her eyes. As if accepting her fate. It nearly brought me to my F***ing knees. If it wasn’t for the fact that I knew she was tired, I would have spared the man just so I could give him my own

personal version of torture.

“She needs a doctor, Rowan” she says in a small voice as I kneel down before her.

I had already texted Gabe. The ambulance would be here in minutes. It’s not that I didn’t care for Emma; I did. I just cared for Ava more.

I take her face gently into my hands. Her cheek was swollen, and so was her eye. It had already bruised, and her l*p was split.

My face hardened at the thought of someone laying their hands on her.

“Who hit you? Was it Ronny” I ask through clenched teeth.

She winces when I run my hand down her bruised cheek. Fuck! Her pain made my heart constrict. I wanted nothing more than to kill the bastard who hurt her.

“It doesn’t matter… We need to get Emma to a hospital” she says as she begins to stand up.

I push her down gently and continue to inspect her. Totally ignoring what she said. Her wrists were bleeding, and her ankles were swollen and bruised.

The more I took in her wounds, the angrier I got. She shouldn’t have to go through this. Especially not when she was F***ing pregnant.

“Rowan, are you not listening to me” Her tone is exasperated, and I know if it weren’t for the fact that she s tired and hurt, she would have thrown a few choice words at me.

“I’m listening, and the ambulance will be here.” I answer. “Now tell me who hurt you.” She lets out a deep long breath. Sagging in relief against the car “It was one of Ronny’s men. He hit me when I talked back at him” she tells me tiredly.

“Give me a facial description.” I was going to find the bastard. No one. I mean, no one gets away with hurting Ava. He was going to regret the day he was F***ing I gborn.

“It doesn’t matter. When I escaped, he found us first. I kneed him in the balls, then shot both his thighs” I can’t help the small smile that forms on my l*ps. I liked this side of Ava. Loved that she was no longer willing to take crap from anyone.

Before I could ask why she thought escaping was a good idea, we heard the sirens, shouts, and shots. Gabe, Travis, and the paramedic reach us moments later.

The paramedics take Emma from Ava’s lap before placing her on a stretcher.

“What happened?” one of them asks.

I see Ava hesitate a little before answering.

“She got shot while we were trying to escape. I tried to stop the bleeding as best as I could, but she weakened as time went by and finally lost consciousness.” Her eyes were trained on Emma’s form. “Is she going to be alright?” she asked, her voice full of fear.

This is one of the things I’ve come to love about her. Emma has been nothing but horrible to her, but that didn’t stop her from worrying about her. She was a F***ing angel, and I curse myself that it has taken me this long to figure that out.

“Yes. Her pulse is a bit weak, but she’ll be okay once we get her to a hospital” They wheel her away.

“Are you okay, Ava?” Travis asks her. The concern in his eyes was clear.

“Yes” Her answer comes out in a low voice as she struggles to get up. “Go, be with Emma. I’m okay and she needs you more” He nods his head before bending down to k*ss her cheeks. I know it’s from the fact that she’s worn out that she doesn’t push him away. Otherwise, her reception would have been entirely different.

He leaves, and I give Gabe the signal to follow him.

“Need help?” I question after watching her struggle to get up.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 173-“Yes please” she answers, looking at me tiredly.

I bend down and pick her up. Hugging her close to my chest, I begin walking.

“I said I needed help standing up, not being carried” Her argument lacks her normal fire backing it up. It goes to show just how worn out she was.

I don’t answer. Just pull her closer to me. It felt right with her in my arms like this. Like everything in the F***ing universe was aligning itself. If I could stay like this forever, then it’s a fate I would gladly accept.

As I walk with her to my car, I can’t help but wonder. I’ve never allowed myself to be this close to her. To hold her, hug her or k*ss her. I always held a part of myself hidden from her. So it makes me wonder if, had I allowed myself, would it have felt like this? Like she was the missing piece of my soul?

I was just getting to my car when Brian stops me.

I “What?” I growl at him. Couldn’t he F***ing see that I was carrying precious cargo?

“We were able to get most of the Reapers, but Reaper himself escaped” he says, delivering the bad news.

It makes me want to pound someone. The fact that he keeps evading us makes me F***ing furious. As long as he was still out there, none of those I care about would be safe.

“Just F***ing find him” I snap before walking away.

I get to my car and gently drop Ava in the front seat. Buckling her up, I get in and begin driving to the hospital.

“Where are we going?” she yawns.

“You need to get checked. Make sure you and the baby are fine” She nods her head in acceptance before leaning back against the seat. It doesn’t take us long to get to the hospital. By the time we get there, Ava was already asleep. 1 I park my car before waking her up. I didn’t mind carrying her, but I also know that nurses would need her to answer some questions.

“We are here” I say when she opens her beautiful eyes.

Before she can jump down. I take her into my arms and carry her in. As soon as the nurses notice us, they drag a wheel chair towards her.

“Don’t worry sir, we’ll take care of her and call you immediately we have news” they assure me when I refuse to let her go.

Sighing, I slowly put her down on the chair.

“Please call my parents” she tells me before they wheel her away.

The moment she’s out of sight, I do exactly that. I don’t say a lot. Just demand that they come to the hospital.

I then call my parents to check up on Noah. The moment I got the call from Ronny, I asked them to pick.

him up. Once I make sure that he’s safe I head towards the waiting room where I find Gabe, Travis and Kate.

“Any news?” I ask sitting down.

“Not yet” Travis answers.

“How’s Ava doing? Where is she?” Kate asks with worry.

“They took her in for checkup just to make sure everything is fine” I tell them.

We then stay in silence after that. Being here reminds me of everything that happened after James died. It reminded me of how I was overcome with emotion after seeing Emma again after nine years.

Everything had been so surreal. In that moment, I had gone back in time. Back to the time when she meant the world to me. I had been so lost in memory that I hadn’t noticed Ava leaving.

Being here also reminded me of when Ava got shot. She had been standing right next to me, yet I had dived for Emma instead. Ava became different after that event. It’s like the Ava we knew had died and a new one had been born. I’ll never forget how cold she was.

I couldn’t blame her, though. I would have done the same thing if the roles had been reversed. I bet that was her wake–up call. It took seeing me rush to save Emma for her to see that I wasn’t worth her time, effort, or affection.

I stand up and begin pacing.

Somehow along the way, my feelings changed. Now she wanted nothing to do with me. Everything I did in the past, thinking it was justified, now stands in the way. It made everything I did suspicious in her eyes. It F***ed up every effort I made, and it made sure that she’ll never trust me.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 174-I can’t deny it anymore. 1 F***ing want her. With every past action, though, I don’t think she’ll want anything to do with me. No one has to tell me that the love I used to see shine in her eyes is no longer there. Right now, she only tolerates me for the sake of Noah.

“Mr. Woods” I’m snapped out of my thoughts when my name is called.

I look up to find the nurse from earlier staring at me.

“How is she?” I am desperate for answers.

“She’s okay and so is the baby… we just need to keep her for a few hours since she was dehydrated when she arrived” I hear a gasp from behind me. Damn it! Kate didn’t know about Ava’s pregnancy, but it was now confirmed. Ignoring her, I focus on the nurse.

“Can I see her?” She nods her head and gestures for me to follow. We get to a room and she opens the door, letting me in. Once I’m in, she leaves, closing it behind her.

Ava was attached to an IV stand. Her wrists were bandaged, her bdy was covered from the waist down, and the cut on her lp was stitched.

“How’s Emma?” is the first thing she asks me.

Damn the woman for being a real F***ing angel.

“We haven’t heard anything from the doctors, but I’m sure she’s fine.” I take the seat next to her bed, fighting the urge to take her hand in mine.

“I’m so sor she begins, her eyes filling with tears. “I didn’t mean for her to get hurt. I just wanted to escape. If I knew that she’d get shot, I would have asked her to stay back” The urge I was fighting against wins, and I take her small hands in mine.

“Why would you want to escape?” I ask.

The question has been bugging me since I found her. Didn’t she trust that I would come for her? That I would never let anyone hurt her?

She looks at me like I’m crazy. “Why would I want to stay? The moment Ronny gave you the ultimatum, I knew I didn’t stand a chance. Your first choice will always be Emma and I know I didn’t say anything at first. IfI thought seeing her hurt broke me, then I was a damn fool because her words F***ing shattered me to pieces, but how can I blame her for believing that?

I pounded in the fact that Emma was my world. That she was everything to me.

Didn’t I jump to save her during that shootout a few months ago? I nailed it to her that Emma meant everything to me while she meant nothing. It was probably tattooed on her F***ing mind, heart, and soul. How then can I be hurt and mad that she believed I would pick Emma over her?

The ache inside me was hard to contain, and I found myself gripping her hand tight.

“Rowan?” she calls in concern, trying to get her hand out of mine.

I loosen my grip, but I don’t let her hand go. Right now, she was my anchor as I fought against falling into I the hole that I had dug with my bare hands.

“I was coming for you, Ava. You were my choice from the moment Ronny gave that ultimatum.” I release the breath that was stuck in my lungs. “I know it makes me look like a bastard, but I would have gladly let Emma die if it meant saving you” She stares at me in shock, but I meant every word. There wasn’t a choice to be made because I knew in my heart that she’s been my number one choice for some time now. She owned me even though she didn’t know it yet.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 175-Ava.

“W–what?” I stammer, looking at Rowan in complete shock.

I couldn’t have heard him correctly. The Rowan I knew would have done anything for Emma, Including sacrificing me.

My heart beats wildly as I stare at his blank face.

I

“You heard me, Ava” he repeats. No trace of lying in his voice. “If it had to come to it, I would have gladly let her die if it meant saving you” I At first I thought that he’d lied so I wouldn’t feel bad. After all, who likes knowing that the man she spent almost a decade with would gladly save another woman?

I thought he was saying that just to spare my feelings. Looking at his face though, I realize that he was telling the truth. It was written on his face and in his eyes. Besides, when has Rowan ever spared my feelings? He’s never shied away from telling how it is so why would he start lying now?

I release a deep breath and untangle my hands from his. It felt too intimate. I already had so much thoughts dancing in my head. I didn’t need his warm hands confusing me more.

“You don’t mean that I tell him after a while. “Emma is the woman you’ve loved since the first time you realized what love is. You’ve been in love with her for so many years, how then can you so casually say you would sacrifice her for my sake?” His brows draw into a frown. He goes to speak, but I interrupt him.

“I’m the one that has meant nothing to you from the start. Remember? You hate me Rowan. You’ve hated me for years, so what the hell is going on? How can you just decide one day that I’m more important than your precious Emma?

Something is just not adding up. You just can’t unhate me all of a sudden” I fall back on the pillow in exhaustion. I knew what I said was the damn truth.

There is just no way all the hate, resentment and bitterness he has had for me for the past nine years disappeared into thin air.

You just don’t wake up one day a brand new person. Intense feelings are hard to get rid of. Hard to bury. I should know that. Didn’t I struggle with trying to kill and bury the love I had for Rowan? Sure I managed to mask it, but it was still there. And I knew it would take a long time before I finally rid myself of it.

Ava He goes to say something, but I am just done. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want him to make hated and despised me.

I know some might wonder why I would want such a thing, right? After all, isn’t this what I’ve always. wanted? For thern to realize their mistake and crawl begging for forgiveness.

The truth is, I am just so used to their cruelty that I don’t know how to deal with this new versions of their persona. It’s confusing because a part of me wants to let it all go and forgive them. The other part though, doesn’t trust their intentions.

Maybe it’s the trauma from being rejected over and over again, but I can’t trust their brand new feelings towards me. It feels like a game. A game of waiting for the other shoe to drop.

“No, Rowan” I cut him off. “I’m thankful that you saved me, but please leave.

You should be by Emma’s side. That’s where you’ve always wanted to be.

Emma is here and you have waited years to be with her. Please don’t screw things up. What we had meant nothing. It was a mistake from the beginning. We both spent those nine years in misery, it’s time each of us found our happiness right? Yours has always been with Emma, and mine…well mine is now with my children” He wants to argue. I see it in his eyes as the grey pools darken. Almost like there was a storm raging inside. I still. Waiting for a fight, but it doesn’t come.

I’m surprised when he sags against his chair, before letting out a sigh.

“Alright, I leave you alone…for now” he says in a gruff voice before standing up.

I thought that would be it, but instead of leaving immediately, he bends and the k*sses my forehead gently. Before I can say or do anything. He leaves, closing the door gently behind him.

I’m left staring at his back. Wondering what the hell just happened. It’s not that I am not happy he left. I am. It’s just Rowan is used to doing whatever the F*** he wants, yet he left when I asked even though you could tell he didn’t want to.

As I slowly regain my energy, I think about what he told me. Of course it’s hard to believe him. I mean this is Rowan we are talking about. The same Rowan that told me I could never measure up to be like Emma or a woman he loves.

“What the hell is going on with him? I question but don’t get any answers.

Any other man I would have believed if he told me that he would give up Emma.

But not Rowan. Never Rowan.

 

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 176-How does he expect me to believe him? For nine years he along with everyone else has told me that I am nothing. That ! meant nothing to him. So how does he expect to fl*p things around out of nowhere and expect that I would believe him?

I had so many questions, but no answer. All those questions were doing my head in, so I push them aside instead. Whatever was going on in Rowan’s head wasn’t my damn business. Him and I were done. It wasn’t my place to try and figure him out. 1 Without meaning too, exhaustion takes over and I fall asleep.

When I wake up, it’s to find my parents in the room with me. They looked as exhausted as I felt. Each of them was holding one of my hands and at that moment I’ve never felt more loved.

This is what I had craved from Rowan and the Sharps. The fact that I finally had it, brought so many emotions to the surface.

I must have made a sound, because they both look up.

“Ava” mom calls, her voice catching. “How are you feeling?” My eyes fill. I blink to try and push them back, but it does nothing.

“I love you guys so much. Thank you for being everything I’ve always imagined” My voice was so full of emotions that it was hard to speak.

“Aww darling. You can’t imagine how I’ve been dying to hear you say that” mom says, her tears reflecting in the light.

“We love you too baby girl. More than you could ever imagine” dad adds.

I let the tears fall as I bask in their warm embrace. Surrounded by their love.

We separate as the door opens and a nurse walks in.

“Are you ready for discharge, Ava?” she asks smiling kindly at me.

was so happy when they told me that my baby was doing fine. That the drugs I inhaled hadn’t affected the baby in any way.

“Yes. I’m dying to see and hold my son” I tell her smiling back at her.

Rowan told me that he was with his parents. I planned to pick him up on the way home. I don’t plan to be second away from him because I knew today would have gone differently If i it had “Okay. Come to the reception once you’re done here” she instructs just before she leaves.

Mom had brought a change of clothes. She helps me change in the small bathroom while dad waits for 1. us. After I finish, we leave the room.

Mom and dad insist on taking care of the bills. They wanted me off my feet.

As I waited, I notice the Sharp’s, Gabe and Rowan. Taking in a deep breathe, as if I could breathe in the courage to face them I walk towards them. I take my time, not sure what I was doing, but sure I wanted to know how Emma was doing.

They all turn to me when I walk up to them. It felt like back in highschool. The scared nerdy kid approaching the popular table.

“I just wanted to ask how Emma is” I announce, shifting from one foot to another.

At first no one says anything, but then Kate stands up and pulls me into her arms. I freeze. It was so weird because she’s never hugged me before, so it felt strange.

My hands lay straight by my side. I don’t want to hug her back. Didn’t want to give her the wrong idea.

“She’s okay. She just came out of surgery” Travis is the one that answers.

I just nod my head. What was there to say any way?

Kate releases me when she realizes that I am not hugging her back. She just looks at me with tears in her eyes.

Holding out her hand, she goes to place it on my cheek, but I step back.

Avoiding her touch.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Ava. So thankful that both my daughters are safe” her voice catches as she speaks.

I want to tell her that I’m not her daughter. That she lost the right to call me that, but I don’t get the chance.

“Darling?” her soft voice calls from behind. “It’s time to go home, my love” I see Kate flinch, but I don’t have it in me to care.

My gaze sweeps over all of them before finally landing on Rowan, I quickly avert my gaze from his.

“I’m glad she’s okay. I didn’t get to thank her, but tell her I’m grateful for what she did.” I don’t have anything else to add, so I turn around and walk to my parents.

Dad pulls me into his arms, and mom links her hand with mine. I feel eyes on me awe I walk away, my mind in turmoil, but I refuse to turn around. I didn’t want to see the emotions in Rowan’s eyes. The ones that were burning for the brief second I looked at him. The very ones I refuse to acknowledge because I knew that I was probably mistaken.

There is just no way I saw something akin to love in his eyes as he stared at me, because Rowan only loves one woman and her name is Emma.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 177-It’s been two days since Emma and I were kidnapped. The police have searched for Reaper, but he was in the wind again. They couldn’t find him and those of his men who were caught weren’t talking.

I’ve lived in constant fear since then, I don’t want something like that happening again. I especially didn’t want to be targeted for something that I wasn’t even involved with.

I “Mom can I play video games?” Noah ask bringing me back to the task at hand.

I’ve done all my chores in the hopes of keeping my mind from thinking too much. I was currently folding our clothes. After this, I didn’t have anything else to do.

“Sure. What time did Gunner say he’s coming?” Those two were now joined at the hips. They did everything together even when they were in school.

Their bond was so special and it reminded me of the one Rowan, Gabe and Travis have had since they were young boys.

“Around three” “Okay. I’ll make sure to have some snacks for you two” He k*sses me on the cheek. “You’re the best” After that, he leaves and I am once again left with my thoughts. It’s like for the past few days I’ve done nothing but think. It was driving me crazy. The thoughts just kept coming. Even when I was asleep.

Everything was confusing. Especially where Rowan was concerned. He has called a few times, but instead of talking to him, I just hand over the phone to Noah, I wasn’t in the right mental capacity to deal with him or the new character he has suddenly developed.

His actions these past few months are so contradictory. How can I all of a sudden mean something to him when I didn’t for the last nine years? What has changed?

Nothing different has happened. I am still the same Ava. The same woman who he kept rejecting her love.

If this change in him had happened a few years back, I would have jumped at the opportunity. Now though, I feel like too much has already been said and done. There are just things that I can’t erase from my mind or my heart. Words said that can never ever be taken back and actions that can never be undone.

But isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?’ a voice asks me. ‘To have him see you, pay attention to you, want you‘ I can’t deny that. I always dreamed of a day when Rowan wanted me, craved me. But it’s a little too late.

now. I let go of those fantasies a long time ago.

Those were the fantasies of a girl who was in love and craved love. The woman I am now understands that some things were just never meant to be.

The woman I am now understands that hurt is more powerful than love. She understands that people you love can break you to the point where you’re nothing but pieces on the floor.

She understand that love is never enough and that you can’t force someone else to love you. Finally, she understands that once something is broken things can never be the same again, that includes a broken heart and trust.

s playing w Falling for whatever game Rowan be foolish. He already destroyed me once and I can’t let that happen ever again. I don’t want to ever go back to a time where I would look at myself in the mirror and not recognize the woman staring back at her. I can’t risk that..

Protecting my heart and being there for children is my top priority now. That has to be enough. The love I have around me is enough, even if it isn’t romantic.

My silly dreams of finding my prince charming is long dead. Rowan and Ethan taught me that. They taught me that fairytales are exactly that, tales and we know that tales are fiction.

I’m shaken from my thoughts by the sound of knocking on the door. I look at the time and realize it’s almost three. I have been sitting here, drowning in my thoughts for almost an hour and a half. I needed to sort out the mess that was in my head. I can’t keep this up for long.

Sighing, I stand up. I knew it was probably Gunner because he was the only one we were expecting. I would make them the snacks I promised then take a much needed nap.

Opening the door, I am shocked to find Gunner standing outside with his dad.

“Hey” I greet him awkwardly after giving Gunner a hug.

He doesn’t need invitation so he rushes inside and up the stairs the moment we’re done greeting each other.

Calvin and I are left standing awkwardly, staring at each other.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 178-I haven’t seen him since the last time he was here. Gunner is here almost every day and Noah sometimes goes to their house, but I’ve hardly seen or interacted with Calvin. It’s like for some unknown reason he was avoiding me.

“Do you want to come in?” I ask him when I see him shuffling from one foot to another looking rather undecided.

“Yeah, if you don’t mind”

I move to the side to let him in. he looks unsure at first but he finally crosses the threshold and enters my house.

Leading him to the kitchen, I motion for him to sit down while I prepare the boys their snacks.

“Theard what happened to you, just wanted to make sure you’re okay” he says after a while.

It wasn’t news in this city. Someone got wind of it and by evening, Emma and I were all over the news. No one knew that I was a Howell, and I wanted it like that because I wasn’t ready for the scrutiny that came with the name. They all still believe I was a Sharp and now everyone was speculating on why someone would want to kidnap both Sharp sisters.

“Uh- thanks” I respond. It all felt so weird and awkward.

“How’s the face?” “Better” I simply answer.

The swelling had gone down. All that remained was the ugly purple–blackish color around my cheek.

We are quiet for a moment. Both of us not sure what to talk about. I even wished that he could leave. I hate awkward situations. They usually make me feel sweaty and out of balance.

“I’m sorry” his voice cuts through the tense air, making me turn to face him.

“For what?” “How I have treated you. It’s not fair when you’ve been nothing but kind to me and my son. I just…” he leaves it at that, but he manages to shock me.

I stare at him not sure what to tell him. This time it’s not out of weirdness but out of shock. When I invited him, this was not what I was expecting.

You have to understand, I haven’t had the best experience when it comes to us I swallow, realizing that I had it wrong all this time.

“It’s safe to assume that you were hurt by Gunners mother and not because she died, right?” The emotions that play on his face tell it all. Whoever Gunner’s mom is has done a number on him, and from the looks of it has continued to do it. He’s a man that was drowning in pain. If he wasn’t careful, it would consume him.

“Yeah, but I don’t want to talk about it. It’s too F***ing painful” he whispers while trying to mask the pain.

that was chocking him..

I I feel for him. Maybe it’s because he looks so lonely and lost. Maybe it’s because I see myself in him.

Maybe it’s because I can relate to his pain. Whichever it is, I want to help him. I want to show him that there is a way to co–exist with the pain.

I can’t promise it’ll heal. After all, mine hasn’t, but there is a way to live with it without it drowning you. Calvin just hasn’t figured that out, and instead of living, he is merely surviving. Existing. Those are not ways to live, especially if you have a child.

“I get you Calvin, Fuck, do I understand you so I am going to accept your apology and I am going to give you’re an offer of friendship” I tell him sincerely.

1 He looks at me in doubt, but finally he nods his head. Though a bit reluctantly.

I don’t know much about him now, but what I can tell is that he doesn’t have a support system. That’s what he probably needs. Someone or some people in his life that will bring him out of his shell. Ones who’ll show him life is to be lived.

Isn’t that what happened with me? Letty and Ethan came into my life and basically showed me the light. Sure, what Ethan did was F***ed up, but I will always be grateful to him for showing me that there was more to life other than pain and heartache.

“Friends?” I ask pushing my hand forward for him to shake.

“Friends” he gives me a small smile. 1 Even as we shake hands, I can’t help the uncomfortable feeling running amuck in my chest. I don’t sense danger from him, but something tells me that Calvin was meant to move here. He has secrets which were bound to come out and when they did, they would shift everything

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 179-I was so bored. So freaking bored. It isn’t bad during the weekends because Noah is around, but during weekdays it is unbearable.

Letty and Corrine obviously worked throughout the day. So did my parents. I had hired Mary to take care of the daily running of The Hope Foundation. Even if I were to go there, there would be little for me to do except maybe sign documents that needed my approval.

We had become good friends with Calvin over the past week. I learned that he has his own building and

construction company. He started it about two years ago and so far he said it was doing well. So he also wasn’t available during the day.

I was so bored that I’ve started thinking of going back to work. I was five months along so I still had time before my due time came. Instead of that, I pick up my phone and dial the number. 1 “Hey Mrs. Derray, how are you doing?” I ask.

We lived in the same neighborhood and she had called me a few days ago. She had a teenage daughter in highschool who was failing biology. She had asked me if I could tutor her.

“I’m good dear. I’m happy to hear from you, and how are you?” her voice is cheerful and it brings a smile to my face.

‘I’m good thank you” I pause a little. “I was calling to ask if you’re still interested in my tutor services” I hope that she hadn’t found someone else. Even if she had, I still had others who had requested me to tutor the kids.

“Oh definitely yes. It has been stressing me out and I admit to praying that you would change your mind” When she had asked, it had been at the beginning of my leave. I’d turned her down not knowing how bored I would get just staying at home doing nothing.

“Perfect then. How about after school hours? She can come by my house after school” I tell her happily.

It’ll be in the afternoon, but I didn’t mind. Maybe I could help with our S** toy business. I couldn’t be associated with it, but that doesn’t mean I can’t help.

While Letty and Corrine focused on their jobs during the day, I can do research on the products we want to sell.

That’s fine with me. Will you charge weekly or per session?” she asks, still in her cheerful voice.

it’ll be free dear. It’s a way for me to pass time since I took a long leave from work” The line goes quiet for a while and I almost think that she hang up.

“Are you sure?” she finally speaks after a while.

“Yes. tell her to come over today and we can start immediately” I didn’t need the extra cash. I mean, the money I had in liquid cash and assets were enough to make sure at least three of my next generations lived in comfort.

So yes, I was damn sure that I didn’t need the money. Beside, teaching is a passion for me. Not a way for me to earn a salary.

“O–okay dear. Thank you so much. She’ll be over once she gets back from school” she stammers obviously still shocked that I didn’t ask for a dime.

“You’re welcome” I hang up after that, then call three more parents that had requested the same from me. They were also stunned when I told them that I would be doing it for free. They kept asking if I was sure about this.

It’s after the third parent that I realize that they don’t know much about me except that I was a teacher. I lived in a middle–class neighborhood. Unlike the higher class who keep up with gossip, most of these people are far too busy working to provide for their family to spend their time and energy following gossip magazines and all that.

fartoo That made me happy. Because I like being treated like any other person. I don’t want others treating me differently just because I was rich.

After making the calls, I sit down with a smile on my face. I feel like I accomplished something today. I feel more relaxed and at ease. For the first time since shit went down the drain, I felt like everything was going to work out.

I honestly felt like doing a happy dance. I was so happy and so excited for some reason. I don’t know why, but I just felt good.

Moving to my bedroom, I go to take a shower and change.

I take a hot shower, feeling my b*dy relax even more. I spend a few more minutes under the cascading water before getting out.

I search through the pile of clothes in my closest. I went shopping and bought new clothes after I gave away those that Rowan bought.

Preferring a cream figure hugging dress, I put it on and check myself in the mirror. I looked S**y M pregnancy has done wonders for m

 

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 180-decide to do my make up today. I go for the nude look. After that I do my hair, preferring to curl it instead of wearing it straight. Satisfied with how I looked, I take my ballet shoes and put them on. I was just about to leave when my phone rings.

I don’t recognize the number, but I pick it up none the less. 1 “Hello?” “Hello, Ava. It’s Ethan” his gruff voice says through the phone.

Even without him introducing himself, I would still have known it’s him. I memorized his voice during that time I was deliriously happy with him. It was during the time he spoke to me with so much emotion and care that I had felt wanted. If only it had been real and not a game he was playing.

Shaking those thoughts, I push away the painful memories.

“Hello Ethan, how are you?” I ask, my voice controlled.

I’ve never visited him again. We’ve only spoken through letters. Mainly with me updating him on what’s going on with my pregnancy.

“I’m good” he answers, then keeps quiet.

It’s awkward for a while. This was the man I had no trouble telling my thoughts.

Now everything felt tense and awkward.

“Have you spoken to mom and dad?” I ask after a while, just to break the tension.

It feels so weird calling them that while talking to Ethan. They raised him and they were his parents too. Which just makes everything weird because we were now expecting a child together.

“No” comes his one word answer.

“Why? They are dying to talk to you, Ethan. Why won’t you just see the?” Mom and dad try to hide it, but I know they’re hurting. Don’t get me wrong, they’re still pissed at what Ethan did, but they still love him, You can’t unlove a child you’ve raised for more than twenty years.

“You know why, Ava” he answers in a sigh.

Yes, and you reason is so F***ing stupid! Can’t you see you’re hurting them?

Haven’t you hurt them enough? Don’t you love them? Why then would you do this to them?” I fire the questions one by one, feeling frustrated by his stubbornness.

I continue speaking when he doesn’t say anything.

“Just talk to them, please, I’ve never asked you for anything except this. I don’t like seeing them mask their pain when they tell me that you refused to see them yet again” I plead with him.

He lets out a sigh. “You have to know that I can never deny you, Ava.” He pauses. “I’ll talk to them” “Thank you” I don’t let it show in my voice, but I smile. Happy that he is going to communicate with them. Hoping they can reconcile.

“This isn’t why I called you” “Okay” I drag out.

“I heard what happened to you and I wanted to make sure you and the baby are fine” his voice is soft and it brings back memories I’m trying to forget.

Gosh. If only he hadn’t turned out to be a F***ing liar. Maybe we would have had a future together.

I wanted to ask him how he find out, but this is Ethan we are talking about. He has eyes and ears everywhere.

“Yes, the baby is doing well. I actually have an appointment today. I was just getting ready to leave for it.” “Is it weird that I am dying to hold her?” he ask and I hear a hint of happiness for the first time since everything went to shit.

“Her? You think it’s a girl?” “Yes. I’m convinced it’s a girl” he answers sheepishly. I can imagine him rubbing his hand on the back of his head.

I chuckle at that. “I guess Noah isn’t the only one rooting for a baby girl” “I guess not. Are you okay with that or do you wish for another boy?” I think about it for a while before answering. “It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a boy or girl, I already love him or her And it was true. I was not in the right frame of mind when I found out I was pregnant. I didn’t know how to react or behave given what Ethan did, but I fell in love with my baby. It didn’t matter who the dad was.

After all, Rowan hurt me more than Ethan and I still loved Noah.

have to go. I don’t want to be late for my appointment” I tell him. “I’ll write you another letter to tell you. how it went “Okay, Ava… And about Reaper, don’t have worry him. I promise you he won’t hurt you and he will leave you out of his revenge plan. Take care, Ava.” He doesn’t give me time to answer before he hangs up the phone. I get my purse and leave for my appointment all the while wondering what he meant about Reaper leaving me alone. Did he do? Or did he have him killed or something?