Ch. 21..30

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 21-A mess Rowan Today I was hoping to have a wonderful evening with Emma, but that was blown to shits when I saw Ava out on a date with Ethan.

“Rowan?” Emma calls me but I just can’t get my brain to function.

There, Ava stood in the arms of another man. At first I thought that my eyes were playing tricks on me. I had been happy because seeing Ethan out with another woman proved he was a weasel.

That was until I realized said woman was Ava She was stunningly beautiful. A sight I have never seen before. Her flawless skin was on display and the little black dress she had on showed her curves.

Sure I’ve seen her naked before but this sight hit me differently. She had dressed up, something she never did when we were together. Probably because I never asked her out and never bothered with her.

I watch as Ethan pushes a piece of her hair behind her ear. That gets my blood rushing, but not like watching him caress her cheek before kissing her forehead. Seeing him doing that has me seeing red She smiles at him. A smile that for an unknown reason almost brings me to my knees.

“Rowan, you’re hurting me!” Emma snaps.

It’s only then that I realize that I had tightened my hand around her. I loosen it before turning in the direction of Ava. Our eyes collide but she quickly averts them, before stepping into Ethan’s car.

I wanted to rage. To destroy something, someone actually. I wanted to hit Ethan to a bloody pulp. I was mad at him and at my reaction at seeing him with Ava Emma wrenches her arm from mine before stomping away angrily.

Before I can stop her, she hails a taxi and leaves.

I didn’t understand my anger. Now more than anything I understood that there was something going on between Ava and Ethan. I hated it.

My mind was so fucking torn, and I was confused as shit. I know Emma didn’t deserve this after all the shit I put her through, but also I didn’t know how to explain why all of a sudden her sister affected me so much.

Getting in my car, I drive off and head towards her condo because I know that’s where she’ll be. It doesn’t take me long before I’m parking outside her building.

She gave ine a spare key, so I unlock the door and get in. I find her seated on the sofa, staring at nothing.

“Emma?” I call to her gently.

She turns to look. Her blue eyes red and puffy. I feel like an asshole. This is the woman I’ve loved since I understood what love is. Yet here I was hurting her, after promising never to do it again.

“What are you doing here?” she composes herself, Hiding away her pain.

“I’m fucking sorry for earlier…” “Are you?” she asks, her eyes piercing mine. “Do you know how painful it was to watch you pinning over my sister? How hard it was to watch you drool over her then get pissed off when you realized that she was out with another man” The guilt that eats at me is ravenous. Either way, I still couldn’t help how I reacted to seeing Ava. I should have and I probably could have. Seeing her like that wasn’t something I was prepared for.

“Emma…” she cuts me off and stands up She begins to pace, her hand gesturing wildly. Something she does when she’s pissed but doesn’t know how to deal with it.

“Did you fall in love with her during your marriage? Is that it? Then why the hell did you ask me to give your another chance if you knew very well that your love for me was already dead?” she demands.

“I’m not in love with, Ava” I growl out.

I think I would know if I were in love with her. 2 “Are you sure? Because from where I’m standing, the way your behave towards her suggests otherwise” “We were married, of course I care for her but that’s it” If that was the case, then why did I feel like I wanted to murder someone every time I think of Ava and any other man? I shake those thoughts away. I wasn’t ready to answer them “You’re a goddamn liar. You’re in love with her, just fucking admit it” she shouts angrily then proceeds to throw a book at me.

I dodge it just in time and it hits the wall behind me instead.

“Will you calm down and let me explain” I snap, feeling my temper rise.

“I don’t want your st* pid explanation. It’s bound to be lies” she shrieks. “Just leave, Rowan I can’t deal with you right now.” She collapses on her sofa and continues staring at the blank Tv. I wanted to stay but I don’t think it is a good idea so I leave instead I had no direction as I drove My head was a fucking mess. Caught between two women. I know that Emma was hurting but I couldn’t bring my mind to focus on her wanted I now had everything I’ve ever wanted. Yet here was, ruining the fragile relationship I had with Emma Ava has always been unwanted. The wrong sister. So why the hell was she twisting me up all of a sudden? I hated being confused and that’s exactly what Ava was fucking doing to me.

I finally stop my car, only to realize I was parked outside Ava’s house. How I ended up here, I don’t fucking know Now that I was here, the need to see her consumed me. I felt like I would go crazy with the st* pid need. One I didn’t even understand in the fucking place.

Getting out, I rush towards her door and knock urgently. Hoping that she was home.

“Did you forget something?” she opens her door and stops to look at me in surprise.

I bet I was the last person she expected to see at her door. I don’t give her the chance to speak before pushing her inside, locking the door and crashing my lips to hers I take her lips with a need that almost brings me down to my fucking knees. She gaps in shock and I take the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Feeling her in every damn fiber of my body.

Wrapping my hand around her tiny waist. I pull her closer, bridging the gap between us.

I needed more. I was about to lift her up and wrap her legs around my hips, when she pushes me Then she slaps me.

“What the hell, Rowan?” she screams. Her eye are wide and her lips are swollen. She looked thoroughly devoured.

The slap she gave me brought me back to my senses. She looked as shocked and confused as I was. Without giving her answer, I open the door and stomp out. Banging the door behind me. I was beyond angry with myself.

I get back to my car and drive off. Still confused about what just happened.

Ava was right.

What the fuck was I doing? Because I sure as shit no longer knew

 

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 22-ot giving up Emma I haven’t moved an inch since Rowan left I felt like the walls were closing in on me and I had no escape. No way to numb the pain I was feeling inside Everything hurt and I didn’t even know how to stop it. I didn’t know what to do or how to react Why was this happening to me? That’s the question I keep asking myself, but there is no ansnes for it. There is no hint on why I was still going through shit even after getting the guys I feel the trickle of tears as they fall down my face. I hated being weak. I hated crying I rub the tears away angry at myself for letting them fall in the first place When daddy died, I was broken. I was his princess and he was my hero I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with him because I moved to a different city, but when we did, it was awesome I thought I wouldn’t recover his death. That there wasn’t a bright side to it. Then Powan and I talked. He told me that he and Ava were divorced and asked if I could give us a chance I have been in love with him since I can remember. I never stopped loving him even after he broke my heart. My love for him kept burning throughout the nine years we were apart. That’s how strong it was My family had kept me in the loop on things between Rowan and Ava. I knew that despite being married and no matter how Ava tried, Rowan kept her at a distance. He was cold to her and he never fell for her. He always asked after me. That his feelings for me were still obvious All these things considered, I didn’t understand why right now he was all of a sudden interested in her life. Did my family miss something when it came to them? Something was just not adding up I stand up and start pacing I felt like I was going crazy with so many unanswered questions !

needed to talk to someone Someone who would help clear my doubts.

Picking up my phone, I call the one person that knows all there is to know about my life. She answers on the first ring “Hey, darling how is happily ever after treating you? she greets, excitement in her voice Molly has been my best friend since we started Uni She was my anchor and support system after everything went down with Rowan She was the one that helped pull me back together it wasn’t for her pushing, I would have continued being depressed and failing my classes I owe my career to her “Not that great” I whisper sadly I thought that I would finally get my man. That everything was finally falling into place and I would soon have my dream. Instead here I am worrying and questioning everything.

“What do you mean? I thought everything was going great. Rowan asked you for another chance, didn’t he?” she questions, her voice ringing in confusion.

She could join the club because I was just as confused as she was.

“They were, at first, but now I’m starting to doubt things. To doubt his feelings for me” . It makes my heart ache to think that everyone might have been wrong about his feelings. That at some point he might have developed some for Ava. I don’t know how I would survive if that ends up being the case.

“Tell me why you are in doubt and then we can work from there” she says softly and calmly.

I am one of the best lawyers. I study the facts before coming up with an attack plan. I make sure I am able to think clearly so that I can disable my enemies. Yet, when it comes to Rowan, everything I’ve learned is thrown out of the window.

“Rowan has been obsessive with Ava. He thinks I don’t know but for the past weeks, he’s been constantly checking on and calling her. He hired bodyguards for her, bought her a brand new car and hired someone to look after her” I never told him that I knew because I wanted him to tell me himself. I didn’t understand why he was doing all these things if he truly didn’t give a fuck about her. In my head, that was going beyond what’s normal for an ex–husband to do for his ex–wife.

“Why would he do all that? Did something happen to ‘she who shall not be named‘ or something?” I can tell she’s puzzled. I can even imagine her brows pinched as tries to come up with an answer.

“Seems like she’s a target, she got shot during daddy’s burial and a couple of weeks ago, her car got blown up and she was injured” I tell her everything that happened “Personally, I think she did all these things to steal Rowan’s attention from me” I finish Like I said before, Ava isn’t anyone of importance to us, so why would anyone be after her?

Molly sighs, “If I were there, I would have smacked you Emma. You’re a damn lawyer and yet you want to believe your sister is capable of doing all that to herself just to get Rowan?” 1 “It’s because I’m a lawyer that I believe it. You can’t imagine what lengths women would go to, just to get the attention of their exes after said exes have moved on” I’ve had my share of serving ex- wives and girlfriends after they harmed others and their supposed loved one all in the name of winning back their men.

“People do crazy things when in love, and crazy is Ava’s middle name” I add.

When we were teenagers, Ava did everything and anything to get Rowan’s attention She even went as far as sabotaging our dates, ruining any diess I picked when I was going to meet Rowan and once she put green hair dye in my shampoo Those were just some of the tame things she did. She didn’t stop until she finally managed to break Rowan and I up.

“I’m not Ava’s biggest fan because of what she did to you, but I think she wouldn’t stoop that low… Besides, isn’t she the one that asked for the divorce?” Molly asks.

I go to tell her that it might have been a manipulative trick she used, but she doesn’t give me the chance to speak.

“I understand that you’re worried but Rowan has been married to Ava for nine years. They also have a son. He may not be in love with her but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t care for her. After what you’ve told me happened to Ava, it’s normal he would be worried and want to look after her” She made sense, but I still couldn’t help feel that something is just not right with him.

I get that, but that’s not my worry. My concern is how he behaves when he sees her with another.

man. There is this cop called Ethan and he’s sniffing around Ava. The two times we saw them together, Rowan’s behavior was volatile. He almost broke my hand today after he saw Ethan and Ava standing really close outside a restaurant” I tell her feeling completely defeated.

She’s quiet for some time, while I try my best to drown the pain I felt today. You have no idea how fucking hurtful it is to see the man you love, completely pissed at seeing the woman who broke us up, with another man.

“Define volatile” Molly demands.

“He looked possessed. Like he was about to blow. The only reason he would behave like that, is if he was possessive of her. To be possessive in that manner, means you have deep feelings.

Feelings that go beyond just caring about someone simply because she’s the mother of your kid” i tell her I don’t want to think of that possibility, but I also can’t help myself. Could it be really possible that he was in love with her and didn’t even know it?

“Look, I don’t know what to say because this shit is complicated. From where I’m standing you have two options, you can either give him up or fight for him. There is no way everyone was wrong when they said he was still pinning over you” 1 I don’t even think twice when I answer. “I’m fighting for him. Ava ruined us once and took away nine years of our lives. I won’t let her do that again” Molly lets out a breath. “I was afraid you would say that, but Emma..” she inhales. “If that’s the case, then you’ll have to come clean. You’ve kept it a secret for so long that you’ve started fooling yourself into believing it. No great relationship is built off of lies” t I hate that she was reminding me of what I was yet to tell him. I knew she was right but I didn’t know if it was the right move.

Pretending was better than acknowledging the truth. I knew if they ever found out, they would loose their respect for me. They would realize that I wasn’t perfect. I couldn’t have that, because being perfect is the only advantage l’had over Ava.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 23-Attacked I had just finished cleaning up when my phone rang. For some reason, I always find cleaning relaxing. It’s a way for me to take my mind off what’s stressing me out.

Since I was back on my feet and could fend for myself, I let Lydia go. She was a great help, but I didn’t need a nurse anymore. Plus I preferred to be independent.

I cross the room and pick up my phone. For a moment, I’m tempted to hang up when I see Letty’s name flashing. I was still a bit pissed at her but a part of me also understood her. I would also do anything for the man I loved, including trying to bring him and his estranged sister together.

“Hey” I answer walking up to my room.

“I’m so sorry, Ava. I crossed the line even after I made a promise to never speak about Travis” the emotion in her voice caught me off guard.

She sounded genuine and a little bit sad. I was surprised and I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t used to people apologizing to me and actually meaning it. As a matter of fact, none of those around me has ever apologized when they wronged me.

“Letty…” She cuts me off before I can finish. “You were right. We can’t expect you to just forget. To just pretend like he hasn’t hurt you for years. No amount of remorse from him is enough to erase the emotional pain he put you through. I love him, God, do I love him, but my love can’t blind me to his faults and his awful treatment of his own sister. You’re a beautiful soul and yet he crushed you with his cruelty so how can I ask you to just forgive him years of mistreatment? It wouldn’t be fair. Our friendship has come to mean a lot to me and I don’t want to ruin it” I sigh. Already feeling tired and emotionally drained. It would be so much easier to just forget and move on, but that’s the thing about being hurt. It’s never easy to forget about it. 1 They say that time heals all wounds. I say that it’s all crap. This kind of pain stays with you for life. You simply find a way to co–exist with it or to numb it. The wound inflicted doesn’t always completely heal.

“Look, Letty, I get where you’re coming from and I get how hard it must be for you. I like being you friend, I really do, but I also don’t want to cause any problems between you and Travis. The last thing I want and need is Travis hating me more than he already does” 1/4 “He doesn’t hate…” This time I’m the one that interrupts her. “Please let’s not go there. He has made it clear multiple times that he does and I accepted that a long time ago” I mean, it’s easy to get used to it when your family, husband and in laws hate you. It hurt like a bitch but I got used to it and made peace with it.

She lets out a breath before speaking. “I don’t want our friendship to end, okay? I’ll just have to find a way to keep both relationships separate from each other” I don’t see how that will work. She’s bound to get tired and give up. It’s hard to stand in the middle of two people you treasure but don’t see eye to eye.

I go to tell her exactly that when my phone vibrates with another incoming call. I smile. Feeling like my old self since everything went down with Letty a couple of hours ago.

“I’ve got to go, Letty. Noah is calling and I want to talk to him before he goes to sleep” I let her know, eager to talk to my son.

“Sure, I understand” she pauses. “We’re okay though? I swear I’ll keep my promise and won’t mention Travis again” “Yeah, we’re okay. Don’t worry about it” I tell her, meaning every word.

“Thanks” she says excitedly. “I’ll let you have your time with Noah. Tell him I said, Hello, and have a goodnight” “You too, Letty” I hang up the phone and take a deep breath. Since Noah had already hanged up, I call him back.

“Hello?” I freeze at the sound of mother’s voice coming from the other side.

I haven’t talked to her since that day at the airport. Among all the people who hurt me, hers hurt more. A mother is supposed to love and cherish her kids, yet I got nothing from my own mother. I mean how could she just turn her back on me? How could she treat me like I was nothing?

Now that I have my own child, I can’t understand how she was able to do it. I can’t ever imagine turning my back on Noah.

“Ava, how are you?” she asks softly, her voice trembling a little.

Nothing comes out of my lips. I remain mute. Not because I have nothing to say to her, but because I have so much to say and neither of it is good. I’d rather keep quiet than say something I can’t take back. O “Please say something? Anything…I just want to hear your voice” she whispers, her voice thick.

I still don’t say anything. My throat clogs with emotion. This is the mother I always wanted. A few years back, hell a few months back, I would have jumped at this opportunity, but it’s too late now.

“I know you don’t want to talk to me, so I’ll just put Noah on the phone. Just know that I love you, Ava” 2 I didn’t mean to, but I scoff at her words. If what she’s shown me my entire life is love, then I don’t want it. I’ve seen firsthand what her kind of love can do and I want nothing to do with it.

I hear her call out to Noah and soon enough, my boy is on the phone with me.

“Hi, Mommy” he says. This time though he isn’t his usual excited self.

“What’s wrong?” i ask with concern “Nothing, I just miss you so much. It’s fun being here but I want to come home, when can I come home?” His sadness kills me. I wanted him home more than anything, but his safety comes first.

I was about to answer when I heard a crash downstairs. I sit up on my bed.

“Noah, let me check something downstairs then I’ll call you back” I tell him distractedly.

He answers with an okay and then hangs up. Once he does, I grip my phone and head downstairs. I wanted to believe that it wasn’t anything. That maybe a cup fell or something stupid like that, but I couldn’t.

Grabbing a vase, I tip toe down stairs towards where I heard the noise. My heart stops for a second when I see the broken glass of my back door, which was now open. Someone had just broken into my house and deep down I knew it wasn’t just a common burglar. 3 Jerkily, I pull my phone out about to call the police, but I don’t get a chance before someone hits me on the head.

“This time, I’ll make sure you’re dead” I hear an unfamiliar voice say right before I fall to the ground.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 24-I had just finished cleaning up when my phone rang. For some reason, I always find cleaning relaxing. It’s a way for me to take my mind off what’s stressing me out.

Since I was back on my feet and could fend for myself, I let Lydia go. She was a great help, but I didn’t need a nurse anymore. Plus I preferred to be independent.

I cross the room and pick up my phone. For a moment, I’m tempted to hang up when I see Letty’s name flashing. I was still a bit pissed at her but a part of me also understood her. I would also do anything for the man I loved, including trying to bring him and his estranged sister together.

“Hey” I answer walking up to my room.

“I’m so sorry, Ava. I crossed the line even after I made a promise to never speak about Travis” the emotion in her voice caught me off guard.

She sounded genuine and a little bit sad. I was surprised and I didn’t know what to do. I wasn’t used to people apologizing to me and actually meaning it. As a matter of fact, none of those around me has ever apologized when they wronged me.

“Letty…” She cuts me off before I can finish. “You were right. We can’t expect you to just forget. To just pretend like he hasn’t hurt you for years. No amount of remorse from him is enough to erase the emotional pain he put you through. I love him, God, do I love him, but my love can’t blind me to his faults and his awful treatment of his own sister. You’re a beautiful soul and yet he crushed you with his cruelty so how can I ask you to just forgive him years of mistreatment? It wouldn’t be fair. Our friendship has come to mean a lot to me and I don’t want to ruin it” I sigh. Already feeling tired and emotionally drained. It would be so much easier to just forget and move on, but that’s the thing about being hurt. It’s never easy to forget about it. 1 They say that time heals all wounds. I say that it’s all crap. This kind of pain stays with you for life. You simply find a way to co–exist with it or to numb it. The wound inflicted doesn’t always completely heal.

“Look, Letty, I get where you’re coming from and I get how hard it must be for you. I like being you friend, I really do, but I also don’t want to cause any problems between you and Travis. The last thing I want and need is Travis hating me more than he already does” 1/4 “He doesn’t hate…” This time I’m the one that interrupts her. “Please let’s not go there. He has made it clear multiple times that he does and I accepted that a long time ago” I mean, it’s easy to get used to it when your family, husband and in laws hate you. It hurt like a bitch but I got used to it and made peace with it.

She lets out a breath before speaking. “I don’t want our friendship to end, okay? I’ll just have to find a way to keep both relationships separate from each other” I don’t see how that will work. She’s bound to get tired and give up. It’s hard to stand in the middle of two people you treasure but don’t see eye to eye.

I go to tell her exactly that when my phone vibrates with another incoming call. I smile. Feeling like my old self since everything went down with Letty a couple of hours ago.

“I’ve got to go, Letty. Noah is calling and I want to talk to him before he goes to sleep” I let her know, eager to talk to my son.

“Sure, I understand” she pauses. “We’re okay though? I swear I’ll keep my promise and won’t mention Travis again” “Yeah, we’re okay. Don’t worry about it” I tell her, meaning every word.

“Thanks” she says excitedly. “I’ll let you have your time with Noah. Tell him I said, Hello, and have a goodnight” “You too, Letty” I hang up the phone and take a deep breath. Since Noah had already hanged up, I call him back.

“Hello?” I freeze at the sound of mother’s voice coming from the other side.

I haven’t talked to her since that day at the airport. Among all the people who hurt me, hers hurt more. A mother is supposed to love and cherish her kids, yet I got nothing from my own mother. I mean how could she just turn her back on me? How could she treat me like I was nothing?

Now that I have my own child, I can’t understand how she was able to do it. I can’t ever imagine turning my back on Noah.

“Ava, how are you?” she asks softly, her voice trembling a little.

Nothing comes out of my lips. I remain mute. Not because I have nothing to say to her, but because I have so much to say and neither of it is good. I’d rather keep quiet than say something I can’t take back. O “Please say something? Anything…I just want to hear your voice” she whispers, her voice thick.

I still don’t say anything. My throat clogs with emotion. This is the mother I always wanted. A few years back, hell a few months back, I would have jumped at this opportunity, but it’s too late now.

“I know you don’t want to talk to me, so I’ll just put Noah on the phone. Just know that I love you, Ava” 2 I didn’t mean to, but I scoff at her words. If what she’s shown me my entire life is love, then I don’t want it. I’ve seen firsthand what her kind of love can do and I want nothing to do with it.

I hear her call out to Noah and soon enough, my boy is on the phone with me.

“Hi, Mommy” he says. This time though he isn’t his usual excited self.

“What’s wrong?” i ask with concern “Nothing, I just miss you so much. It’s fun being here but I want to come home, when can I come home?” His sadness kills me. I wanted him home more than anything, but his safety comes first.

I was about to answer when I heard a crash downstairs. I sit up on my bed.

“Noah, let me check something downstairs then I’ll call you back” I tell him distractedly.

He answers with an okay and then hangs up. Once he does, I grip my phone and head downstairs. I wanted to believe that it wasn’t anything. That maybe a cup fell or something stupid like that, but I couldn’t.

Grabbing a vase, I tip toe down stairs towards where I heard the noise. My heart stops for a second when I see the broken glass of my back door, which was now open. Someone had just broken into my house and deep down I knew it wasn’t just a common burglar. 3 Jerkily, I pull my phone out about to call the police, but I don’t get a chance before someone hits me on the head.

“This time, I’ll make sure you’re dead” I hear an unfamiliar voice say right before I fall to the ground.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 25-Wanted dead I open my eyes to find myself in the living room, my hands tied to the back a chair. “Ahh, you’re awake. I was wondering how long it would take you to wake up, after all, I prefer having my victims conscious when I kill them” the man’s voice sends chills down my spine. He rounds the corner and I get to see him. At least parts of him since he had his face covered. He was a big and burly man. His arms alone, looked like they can crush a person’s head. He screamed danger and not because I was currently his victim. There was just something menacing about him. He takes a seat in front of me, with a glass of wine in his hand. My glass and my wine. He looked so comfortable, like this was his house. I try to get free, but the ropes are tight. “You can try all you want but you’re not getting away from me this time” he chuckles. “You’ve caused me enough trouble and I don’t like trouble” “Who are you and what do you want from me?” I ask him. Maybe if I can get him to talk I can get something from him and buy myself some time. There is no way no one noticed someone breaking into my house, right? “Let’s just say I’m someone who really wants you dead” The urge to roll my eyes is strong. I mean, it’s kind of obvious he wants me dead. That’s why I’m. currently tied to a chair in my own house. “Are you one of the goons that are after my family? You got the wrong person if you think that killing me will mean anything to them” He laughs loudly. Full on belly laugh. As if I said the funniest thing in the world. Fuck! I was hoping he would be part of the criminal gang that killed father. It would be so much easier to reason with him. To make him see that I don’t mean a thing to Rowan or my family. If I’m wrong and it’s not the gang after me, then it means I am totally screwed. “No darling, I’m not part of any gang, but someone promised me a very good pay if I delivered the news of your untimely death” he tells me gruffly. 4 I stare at him with shock. “Someone is paying you to have me killed?” “I won’t get paid till I get the job done and that’s why I need you dead, you understand that right, darling” “Stop calling me darling!” I ground out. My heart is beating wildly. I can’t wrap my head around the fact that someone wants me dead so badly that he or she is offering payment if the job is done. I mean, I’m not anyone important, so who the hell would want me dead? I have no enemies, well except for Emma, but Emma wouldn’t go to that extent just to get me out of the way, right? We’re related by blood. Despite everything that has happened between us, she wouldn’t want me dead. (2) “Are you sure about that? People do crazy things in the name of love” my mind whispers. Damn it! I was now beginning to doubt my own sister. How fucked up was that? I’m pulled back to my thoughts when the sound of glass shattering hits my ears. I turn to the intruder. “Oops, sorry” he mocks with a devious smirk on his face. The bastard had broken my glass intentionally. He stands up and starts pacing but not nervously. “Now, how to do it. There is so many ways to kill you” he turns to face me. “Do you have any preference on how you would like to die?” I cringe inside. I needed to leave. The man was clearly a psycho and I wasn’t going to wait here hoping for Calvary to arrive. Besides, if my neighbors had seen anything, wouldn’t the police already be here? “No preference? I guess I’ll just have to slit your throat. There is nothing more satisfying like watching the life of your victim leave their eyes” he says with an evil glint in his eyes. He takes out a knife and starts flicking it up and down. I had only one chance to escape, so I better use it well. I push myself backwards as hard as I can. I crash, my head hitting the floor hard. Pain radiates through my skull. Making the throb even worse. I breathe in through the pain. Shit, the movies made this seem so easy. It wasn’t. 215 “What the fuck?!” he growls in shock. With the chair broken, I’m free. I don’t give myself or him time to react. I get up quickly and start running towards the door while untying my hands. I don’t get far because he crashes into me. Making me collide with the wooden floor. He turns me so that I am facing him. “Did you honestly think it will be that easy to escape me?” he taunts. Bringing my legs up, I knee him in the balls, making him release a shout. I take off again not caring where I’m going. I just wanted to be away from him. He recovers quickly, because soon after I feel a hand wrap around my ankle. He tugs and I fall with a thud again, hitting my chin against the floor. He’s on me before I can recover. “You bitch!” he shouts before slapping me hard across the face. For a moment, I see stars and my vision blurs. Being hit by a man fucking hurts. “Just because of making things hard for me, I’ll have my fun with you before killing you” he says evilly. I didn’t need an interpreter to tell me what he meant. I feel his hands on my hips as he tries to drag my pajama pants down. Fear encases my bones. Is this how I was going to die? Raped then murdered in my own home. I fight him, but he pins my hands to my side. I still don’t stop. “Please stop. If money is what you want then I can give it to you” I plead. His hand was now inside my pants. His touch on my skin made me feel like retching. It felt like slimy warms were crawling on me. 1 He chuckles. “I don’t know who you’re trying to fool but I know you don’t have money. Not the kind of money I’m being offered, anyway” He goes back to his ministrations. Just when I think all hope is lost, I see the lamp I had dropped when he hit me on the head. I reach for it and smash it against his skull. 2 He lets out a roar and falls back. The knife he had planned to use to kill me falls from his pocket. Not wasting any time, I take it and strike, plunging it in his thick thighs, right as my front door busts open. 3/5 We both freeze in shock. With a curse, he recovers, quickly stands up and runs. Leaving through my back door Drake comes rushing through my kitchen door with two other men, I don’t recognize. He’s bleeding from the head and looks like he’s about to collapse. “You two get him. I want him caught at all cost” he tells them and they rush outside where the man escaped through. Drake comes and helps me up just as we hear sirens. He leads me to the living room where he helps me take a seat, The police rush in, followed closely behind by Rowan and Ethan. “Search the place” the chief officer commands and the police scramble to do his bidding, all except Ethan. My head was killing me. My chin was throbbing and I could already tell that my face was beginning to swell. “How the hell did you let this happen, Drake?” Rowan snarls coming to my side, while Ethan takes the other. “I’m sorry boss, he ambushed me and hit me on the back of the head.” he answers looking down. He was disappointed in himself, you could tell. “What’s going on?” I ask softly, rubbing my temples. “Drake was supposed to be protecting you!” Rowan answers through clenched teeth. “What?” “He was supposed to watch over you, make sure you weren’t harmed and he failed.” Rowan was angry and I just didn’t have time to deal with him. If I hadn’t been attacked and I was more myself, I would have questioned why he had Drake tailing me and why he didn’t consult me first before making the decision. I was too tired though and I just wanted to sleep. “Are you okay?” Ethan asks, his hand softly touching mine. Concern in his voice. His question and actions draws Rowan’s attention to us. His jaw clenches even harder when he “My head hurts” I whisper softly and tiredly. Fighting back the emotions that threatened to consume me. I was almost raped and killed. I still couldn’t wrap my head around that. I just wanted comfort. To lay my head on someone’s shoulder but I didn’t know whose it should be. Rowan, the man I’ve known and loved all my life or Ethan the man that is slowly starting to mean something to me. Instead of choosing either, I decide to lay my head on the back of the couch and close my eyes for a minute. It was now just starting to sink in that someone actually wanted me dead. That they had promised a huge amount of money if the man succeeded. Question is, who the hell wanted me dead so badly?

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 26-Rushing to her Rowan “Boss?” Drake called, his voice unusually shaky.

I disengage from Emma, who was lying on my chest while we watched a movie. It had taken a lot to finally get her to forgive me. I didn’t mean to hurt her more than I already have. I wanted things to go back to how they were when we were younger.

I was still confused as fuck and I didn’t know what the hell I was doing. Kissing one sister while in a relationship and in love with another. I can still feel the taste of Ava’s lips days after but just like with everything about her, I push her and the kiss to the back of my mind. 1 I’ve waited so long to be with Emma. I wasn’t about to ruin my chances with her again. Whatever I was feeling for Ava was nothing. Apart from Noah, Emma was my world, she has always been. I wasn’t going to let anything get in the way of that again.

“What?!” I ask him in irritation, pissed off that he interrupted my date night with Emma.

Today I was supposed to spend the night at her place. None of us wanted to go out, so we decided on a movie instead.

He hesitates for a moment, which was uncharacteristic of him.

“Spit it out Drake, I don’t have all fucking night” Emma looks at me in question, but I just shake my head at her. I stand up and move a few feet away and she goes back to watching the movie.

“An intruder broke into Ava’s house. I think it’s the same person that has been after her” “What?” I snarl.

I don’t hear anything after that. My heart is beating wildly. Fear gripping me like a fucking vice. I start moving. Putting my shoes and coat on.

“Ro, what’s wrong?” Emma asks worriedly.

I see her mouth moving but her words don’t register or make any sense. I just had this need to leave. To go and make sure that Ava was safe. That she was okay.

“I need to leave” I mumble and open her door.

I hear her calling my name but I ignore her. My mind and focus on getting to Ava as soon as possible. It’s like someone else was in control of my body.

I was on autopilot as I got down to the underground parking and get into my car. My heart breaking over and over again as I imagined the worst case scenario.

How the fuck did he get into her house? Where the hell was Drake? I was going to fire his sorry ass and beat the shit out of him if so much as Ava’s hair was harmed.

Breaking all the speed limits, I get to her house just as the cops do. I notice neighbors coming out of their homes, probably wondering why the cops were here at almost eleven o’clock at night.

I get into her house and my heart stops when I see her. She had a cut on her forehead, her lip was split and the left side of her face red, as if she had been hit.

Rage consumes me. It wasn’t that long she was in the hospital and now this. I was going to kill whoever did this to her and I was going to make it fucking painful.

I take a seat on her right and turn my eyes to Drake. My fury directed at him, the need to bury him. alive consuming. He was supposed to be watching over her. What the fuck was I paying him for if he couldn’t look after her?

“Are you okay?” the question draws my attention back to Ava.

Ethan was holding her hand tenderly. I wanted nothing more than to rip her hand from his. He had no right holding her like she was his.

“My head hurts” she replies softly.

I know Ava, and I know she was fighting back tears. I can’t imagine what she felt when she was attacked. All alone in her house.

She closes her eyes and leans her head back against the couch.

“Hey, keep your eyes open, talk to me…tell me what happened” “I’m really tired and I just want to go to sleep, Rowan” her voice is small.

The vulnerability in her tone almost brings me down to my knees. I wanted nothing more than to pull her in my arms and hold her. Which was just weird because I’ve never felt anything like this towards Ava.

“I know but you have to wait for the paramedics. We have to make sure you’re okay” I wanted to ran my finger down her cheek but I stop myself. The action would just confuse the both of us further.

“Okay” she replied and opens her eyes.

Brian cuts in. “Don’t worry, they’ll be here any minute, meanwhile do you mind if I asked you a couple of questions?” Ava shakes her head and then winces.

Fuck! I run my hand through my hair. She was hurting and it was wreaking havoc inside me.

“Good. Can you describe to me what the man that attacked you look like?” Brian asks her.

1 She takes a deep breath. “He had a mask on, so I can’t tell you how he looked. But he had shaggy brown hair, he was fairly tall, maybe around six foot tall and he was built like a tank” “Anything else?” “No…that’s all” “Did he say anything? Like why he was after you?” “Yes, he said he wasn’t part of any gang but that someone promised to pay him a huge amount of money if he killed me. He didn’t mention a name or who he was working for though” her hand was shaking by the time she finished speaking.

The more I heard the fucking scared and angry I became. I didn’t want to imagine that someone was after her, but here was the proof. Staring right at us.

“So, I was right after all. Her attacks have nothing to do with the threats that were made on both families. Which means someone else is after her” Brian says more to himself than us.

“But why would anyone be after her?” Ethan asks the question that’s been running rampant in my head.

It didn’t make any fucking sense. Ava didn’t have enemies mainly because she kept to herself. Her life consisted of her work and our son. So why would someone want her dead? And who could the person be? (3)

“That’s what I can’t figure out for now” Brian answers frowning. “The fact that whoever it is, is will go to any length to make sure the job is done” I was about to speak when an officer interrupts us.

“Sir, we found blood on the kitchen floor” he says.

Brian turns to Ava. “Is the blood yours or your attacker?” “Probably his. I managed to hit him with a lamp and then stab him with his knife” For the first time since Ava’s case began, Brian smiles. “This is just perfect. Swipe the blood as evidence. We can run a DNA match on our systems and figure out who it belongs to” The cop quickly rushes back to do as he was told. Finally, maybe we can get this bastard and when we do, he won’t live long enough to get to his trial date. I’ll make sure of that.

Jim and Mike enter the room.

“We weren’t able to get him, boss” Jim informs me and Drake curses.

“How is it that a man that has been stabbed is able to escape you?” I asked in annoyance.

Mike gulps. “My guess is that he knows the area well, that he has been keeping in the shadows and watching her for some time. It’s probably the reason why we never noticed him” “That makes sense” Brian adds. “He might have even been watching her for months and used the Reapers‘ involvement as the perfect cover up.‘ Reapers‘ Angels is the criminal gang that had threatened us.

“They were probably hoping to kill her that first time and no one would have been the wiser. We would all have thought that the Reapers were responsible for her death” Ethan concludes.

“Exactly” Brian agrees, snapping his fingers.

I feel Ava shaking beside me just as the siren’s for the medics are heard. Seconds later they rush in. Two of them head for Ava while one heads for Drake. Both Ethan and I move to give them space to check out Ava.

My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket. I curse when I see Emma’s name flashing. Damn it! I had completely forgotten about her. I feel my frustration building up. Frustration at this situation with Ava and my relationship with Emma.

This time I’m not sure she’ll be an forgiving especially if she learns that I left her the moment i beard that Ava was attacked My reaction was was the problem. Even I can tell that my reaction was too strong especially for someone who claims to have no feelings towards his ex wife.

How the hell was I going to explain to Emma that Ava meant nothing to me when I rushed to het the minute I heard she was in danger? Fuck my life. Things had just gotten more complicated

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 27-Lucky woman Anonymous POV. I am pissed off. That is an understatement. I am beyond pissed off, I was downright furious. Once again she managed to escape me. Once again she survived when she was supposed to be dead. “Tell me how the hell she’s still alive?” I ask Ben. “I swear I almost had her this time, I was this close to ending her but her bastard bodyguard arrived and saved her” he muttered. Did the guy think that I was stupid? That I didn’t know what the hell happened. I have gotten nothing but excuses from him since this whole operation started. Three times he failed to deliver her dead body. The only thing that was positive about this, is that I haven’t paid him yet. Imagine if I had paid him and yet he hasn’t delivered. He was going to get half a million dollars if he got the job done. That money should have motivated him enough to do his job and finish it within the time limit we agreed. I take a swig of my whisky. Frustration clawing at me. “Really? You almost had her, is that the reason why you are bleeding?” I clipped feeling angrier every minute I talked to the idiot. “I promise I’ll get her next time. She won’t escape me again” he speaks, his eyes cast to the floor. “She’s already escaped you thrice!” I boomed, feeling the need to end is pathetic life. He doesn’t speak. Instead he continues staring at the ground like it was interesting. He had set me back big time. This job was supposed to be done months ago and yet here we still are, with Ava alive and breathing. I asked around and was told he was good at his job. That he would be able to deliver. So far I’ve gotten nothing from him except for empty promises. “How is it that you’re unable to kill one fucking woman? How hard could it be to end her life?” It’s something that I’ve been wondering. How lucky can one be to escape death thrice? The third time is supposed to be the charm and yet she was still not dead. A bit banged up but that was all. “I don’t fucking know” he snarls, frustration written all over his face. “Killing someone has never been this hard, I usually get the job done on the first try” I start pacing in agitation. This was supposed to be easy. She was in my way. The only thing that was standing between me and what I wanted. I had hatched this plan the moment I realized that to get what I wanted I needed her gone. @ At first I wanted to make it look an accident. The last thing I needed was to have cops on my back after I went through all that trouble to get her out of my way. An opportunity to cover my tracks presented itself in the form of Reapers‘ Angels. Their involvement provided the perfect cover up. Now though, they had discovered that it was all a ploy. That the Reapers‘ weren’t involved at all Soon they would be after Ben and then me. I didn’t go through all this trouble just to lose in the end. “Fuck!” I boomed, throwing my glass and smashing it against the wall I was running out of time. Right now I was supposed to be enjoying the fruits of my labor. I was supposed to be living the life, but instead I was not anywhere close to my goals. In fact it seemed I was galaxies away from it. “Give me one last chance” he pleads. I sneer, “So you can fail again? I don’t think so” What is it about the Ava that death doesn’t seem to want to claim her? I don’t believe in any deity, but by the looks of things it seems there is someone above looking after her. It’s not normal for someone to survive three attempts on their life unless there is divine intervention. She was the luckiest bitch I’ve ever met. Her luck was starting to get on my nerves. I’ve never lost before. I always get what I want, but Ava’s death is proving to be difficult. “I’d like to see you do better” he scoffs, interrupting my thoughts. Hearing him mock me like that, my anger reaches its limit. Grabbing whatever I could get my hands on, I throw it in his direction. He doesn’t get a chance to duck. The bottle of whiskey hits him straight on his arrogant face. I smile when I see blood trickle down his eye. His pain eases my anger just a little bit. “Do you want to repeat what you just said?” He closes his mouth and clenches his teeth. Looking at me with unconcealed anger, he shakes his head. At least he knows how to keep his mouth shut. “There has to be a way to take her out quickly. I’ve already wasted enough time on her” I mutter more to myself. If it wasn’t for the fact that I needed her dead for my plan to work, I wouldn’t have bothered. Ava was trouble and I was afraid that the more I tried killing her and she survived, the more I risked being caught. That can’t happen, because it means losing everything I’ve worked hard for. “Look, she has already proved that she isn’t easy to kill. If we add the fact that now the cops were involved and she is receiving protection from her billionaire husband, then it makes my work a whole lot difficult” his voice brings me back to the present. I clench my hands in bitterness at the mention of Rowan. I had already figured all that out. I didn’t need him pointing it out for me, but I guess he wanted to make himself seem useful or something. 4) I take a seat and think. If this was going to work then I needed a new plan. The old one definitely failed, so I needed to come up with something different. Something that will take her out once and for all. So far I’ve been focusing on her alone, this time I don’t care who I have to take out in the process. If I have to bring down a whole building down just because she’s inside, then that’s what I’ll do. Provided she dies, i don’t care who dies along with her. A smile breaks free and my heart settles down. Feeling calm now that I had a solution or sort of a solution. “You’re smiling, have you come up with a plan” my eyes focus on Ben. He looks at me expectantly. His blood was collected for DNA. I needed to deal with that before they match him. He has a criminal record so it won’t be hard to connect him. I couldn’t have that. 3 “As a matter of fact, yes” I smirk and stand up He smirks back. Satisfaction radiating on his face. This time around, Ava was going to die. Even if I have to kill her myself.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 28-A kiss Ava. +15 BONUS I am still recovering from my attack. I am mentally and physically battered and I just want all this to be over. Three times someone has tried to kill me. Three times I managed to survive. I just don’t know when my luck will run out because at this point whoever wants me dead seems hell–bent on making sure I don’t see Noah again. I shiver when I remember how close to meeting my maker I had been. He had been right there in my house. He’d planned to rape me there before killing me. Tears fill my eyes and it takes everything in me not to let them fall. I’ve cried enough this past few days. I was tired of it, but I just didn’t understand why. Why would anyone want me dead? I haven’t wronged anyone, well except for Emma. Even with her, she was now with Rowan so that should have absolved me of my sins. I didn’t deserve what was happening to me. My greatest fear was that they succeed. It would mean that I don’t get to see my boy growing up. That I would miss all the milestones in his life and it saddened me. The thought of that potential future broke my heart into a million different pieces. “Are you okay miss?” someone asks me. I look up to find an elderly woman staring at me with concern. Her kind eyes assessing my face. It was still a bit bruised but at least the swelling had gone down. Now I just had the healing lip, black eye and purple cheek. “I’m okay, thank you” I try to smile, but I just don’t feel like it. I’ve been in a kind of funk since my attack happened. I’m just going through the motions. Nothing feels real, it all just feels like a bad dream. I was still waiting for myself to wake up. Deep down I know that this is real, but a part of me thinks if just pretend then it will all go away. “You don’t look okay…Do you want me to call someone for you?” she asks. If only everyone was like this woman, then the world would be a better place. I’m a stranger to her, yet she approached me in the middle of an isle in a store because she noticed that I was losing it. “There is no need. I’m okay, just a bit overwhelmed” I assure her. She looks at me skeptically. I force myself to smile. I was grateful for her concern, but I just wanted to be left alone. She gets closer and squeezes my hand. “Things will get better. Always have faith” With that she gives me one final look before leaving. I heave a sigh of relief before going back to looking at the rows of soup containers. “Wow, you look like hell” the annoying mocking voice cause me to turn sharply. Damn it, I wasn’t in any mood to deal with her. I try to ignore her, but like always it seems like she wants to pick a fight. “Did someone finally put your in place when you tried stealing her man too?” Christine, Rowan’s secretary sneers. I clench my hands in fists. She was baiting me and I knew it. Everyone in the city knew what happened to me. Someone had managed to leak the story and the media had been running wild with it. They had also managed to find out about the previous attempts on my life. So far Rowan. was trying to find out who had leaked the story after he had buried the other two. Christine has never liked me. She would always take any chance she got to put me down and tear me a part. Of course Rowan never believed me when I told him she was a bitch to me. He always took her side, claiming that I’m the one that probably provoked her first. 2 “I’m not sure what you’re trying to achieve when I know you know full well exactly what happened to me” I tell her calmly. “I’m not trying to achieve anything just stating facts. I wouldn’t be surprised if whoever wanted you dead was a woman you tried stealing her man, after all, that’s what you are good at. Stealing other women’s men because you’re a slut” 1 I run my eyes down her body then back up. She looked elegant and impeccable like always while I looked like I had gone a few rounds with a MMA fighter. “All these years and you still tell me the same things, don’t you ever come up with something new? It’s tiring hearing the same shit over and over again” I mock. She looks at me shocked, Probably because I talked back. It’s something I’ve never done. Always afraid of fighting back and getting on Rowan’s bad side. This time though, I had nothing to lose. She recovers quickly and gives me an evil smile. “How does it feel to lose Rowan? Does it hurt knowing that he’s with your sister right now?” Of course it hurts, sometimes, but I’m slowly starting to let go of him. I’m slowly starting to kill the love I have for him. It also helps that Ethan distracts me from thoughts of my ex–husband. “Christine, you did everything to get me out of the way thinking Rowan will notice you. Even when we were married, you tried your best to seduce him but he never reciprocated. Sure, he didn’t love me but I was his wife while you were nothing but a mere secretary one he had no interest in. So, I pose the same question back, how does it feel to know you will never be his woman? That he will never see you as anything other than his secretary. How does it feel to know that he doesn’t consider you woman enough? That he preferred to fuck me even though he hated me rather than take you as his mistress? And how does it feel to know that you won’t stand a chance now that Emma was back?” I smirk, feeling happy that I finally spoke up. “You ugly bitch!” she snarls before lunging at me. I manage to side step her in time and she trips on her extremely high and expensive heels. Getting up quickly she comes at me. I don’t think when I take the carton of milk in my cart and throw it at her. I watch as it drenches her dress. Both of us staring in shock. With what I can only describe as a war cry, she comes at me. Seething and screaming like a banshee. I take whatever I can get my hands on and throw it at her. We attract a small crowd and one or two of them had their phones out. It was a damn mess. Just as she was about to slap me, someone grabs her by the waist. Another on grabs me and pulls me in the opposite direction. “Let me go!” I scream. They don’t listen. Not until I’m pushed outside the store. The other guy soon arrives with Christine, who was kicking and screaming. “You two are banned from this store. If I so much as see you near it, I will call the cops on you” a man who I assume is the manager seethes before he walks back inside the store. “This is all you damn fault” Christine screams. “My fault? I’m not the one who attacked first. I was just defending myself from a deranged woman who wanted to harm me” 3/5 “I swear you’ll pay for this Ava. Mark my words” with that she turns and stomps away. I sigh and head towards my beat up car. I get up and drive home with mixed feelings. Happy that I had finally put Christine in her place and angry that I had let her taunts get to me. It’s not a secret that she’d always wanted Rowan. Rowan never noticed her and her desire though, so she took out his rejection out on me. I push those thoughts away and focus on driving. For the first time since this day started, I feel happiness when I pull into my driveway and see Ethan seated on the steps to my house. I park my car and get out. “Where were you?” he asks standing up. “I was worried when I called you and you didn’t pick up” “Sorry! I forgot it at home when I went to the store to buy some groceries” I answer him as I open the door. I usher him inside and lead him to the kitchen. “Really? So where are the groceries?” I look at him sheepishly. “I got into a fight with someone and I got kicked out of the store. In fact they banned me from ever stepping a foot there” “What?!” he snarls. “I know it was foolish of me but Christine has been bitch to me for as long as I can remember. I was just tired of putting up with her” I answer in a low voice. I waited for him to berate me for my actions. It’s something that Rowan would do. He would tell me to stop acting like a child and to grow up. To stop seeking attention by getting into fights with his secretary. To my surprise, Ethan pulls me into his arms. His hand resting on my hip. He tips my chin up so that I’m staring at his hypnotizing blue eyes. “I’m glad you are okay, that she didn’t hurt you” he begins. “You should never feel bad for defending yourself, Ava. Whether it’s mentally or physically. I’m proud of you, proud that you finally put her in her place” I’m mesmerized by him. His eyes, his strong jawline, his lips. It’s like he cast a spell on me. I watch in a trance as his head lowers. My heart beating wildly in my chest. His lips connect with mine, his tongue tangles with mine, sealing our mouths together.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 29-Hurting my baby Are you sure about what you’re doing Ava” Letty asks me in concern was getting ready to go to Noah’s acheel Today was the parent teacher meeting that was held analle and was supposed to meet Roman there hey had called to know if we could hang out since we haven’t sem nach sein wie When!

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what do you mean women like me ask in avance and shit ano “Whoa, who is rushing things now? Today will be our second date, Letty. It’s too early to figure out all those things don’t you think? We’re still in the trial base” I was going to have dinner with Ethan at his apartment. He had invited me over after we shared our first kiss, promising to cook me the best meal I’ve ever tasted.

She sighs as if she’s dealing with a stubborn child. “I just want you to be sure you’re dating him for the right reasons. Using one guy to get over another never works. It just makes shit complicated.” “I hear you” I tell her dismissively. “Now, I have to hang up since I’m about to leave” “Fine. We’re still on for Wednesday, right?” “Definitely” After saying goodbye, I hang up. I check the time and it was one in the afternoon. I was still irritated with this meeting. I mean, who holds a parent/teacher meeting on Saturday. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they schedule it for afternoon?

After taking what I need, I lock up and leave. I get into my car and drive off.

As I drove, I couldn’t help but think about what Letty said. She was right, I had no experience with the dating scene. I didn’t know what Ethan wanted or expected. Did he want a relationship or just a fuck buddy?

What did I want? Was I using him or did I genuinely want him? I didn’t want to confuse things or myself for that matter. I was determined to get over Rowan, but was I going about it in right way?

I didn’t want to hurt Ethan, especially if he is genuinely interested in having a relationship with. me, but parts of me fear that I’ve grown an unhealthy attachment to him.

He makes me forget about Rowan and my love for him. I’m afraid that’s the main reason I’m drawn to him.

I drive to the parking lot, turn the ignition off and get out. I survey the expensive cars lining the lot. I begin walking and notice some of the parents sneering at me. Of course my car wasn’t expensive and I wasn’t dressed head to toe in Gucci.

This is one of the things I hated about this world. These people placed social status and the size of your bank account above everything else. They look down on people who they view as poor and they don’t even bother hiding their disdain for them.

I’ve grown up around wealth but I swore from a young age never to be like them. Never to place money above the value of another person.

I take a seat that was available and wait. I watch as the other parents and their children walk in and out of the school.

I check my watch. It was already three and Rowan wasn’t here yet.

Taking out my phone, I call him. It goes straight to voice mail. With each second that passes, I feel my anger rise. Two hours later, I’ve had enough so I call Gabe.

“Hello?” he answers gruffly.

“Hi, Gabriel, it’s me, Ava…” he cuts me off before I can finish.

“I know it’s you, Ava, I have your number” I’m quiet for a while. Surprised that he had my number given he used to blame me for ruining his brother’s life and destroying his chance at happiness with Emma.

“Uh, okay” I mutter unintelligently before recovering. “Listen, I’m looking for Rowan. Is he with you? We were supposed to meet with Noah’s teacher. He is not here yet and his phone is off. I’ve been here for three hours. Mrs. Smith is done with the other parents and she’s ready to leave” When she told me she was almost done, I begged her to give me a few more minutes to try and reach Rowan “He’s not with me. He took Emma somewhere” he tells me almost apologetically, but I don’t need his sympathy.

“Okay, thanks.” I don’t give him a chance to say anything before hanging up.

I was in trance. Wondering what had gotten into Rowan that he forgot something so important.

When Mrs Smith calls me again, I go in. It seemed like Rowan wasn’t going to show up anyway.

Since Noah wasn’t physically here like the other kids, we settle on a video call with him. He’s excited at first, but then his face falls when he realizes that Rowan wasn’t present.

The entire time Mrs. Smith talks about Noah’s excellent and stellar performance in school, my anger rises up. Noah was sad and his face showed. I hated seeing him like this.

By the time we’re done, I was beyond furious.

I force a smile and thank Noah’s teacher before leaving the classroom.

“Why didn’t he come mommy? He promised me he would. I wanted him to hear what a good student I was. That I was top of my class” he says sadly, tears filling his eyes.

I wanted to reach out and hold him but he was thousands of miles away. novelbin “I’m so sorry, baby….May be he got caught up with work” “But he promised me!” he shouts through the screen. “He said he will never break his promises and he did” he was full crying now and it tore me down to pieces.

Mother and Joyce, Rowan’s mom came to comfort him. I wanted to be there for him and it killed me that I couldn’t.

“He’ll make it up to you, my love….remember he loves you and he has never missed any of your functions” I try to soothe him.

He doesn’t answer. Just continues staring into nothing with silent tears running down his face. He looks so lost. When he doesn’t move or say anything, Joyce tells me that they’ll look after him before ending the call.

I stomp out of the school and head towards the parking lot. Most cars were already gone.

I was just about to get into my own when I see Rowan’s black Mercedes drives in. He parks, gets out and rushes to me.

“I’m so fucking sorry I’m late…is the meeting over?” he was dressed casually, something that is very rare for him.

“Obviously, given it’s almost six thirty four fucking hours after you were supposed to be here” 1 shout isted on murder “I know you’re angry, but…” “Angry doesn’t begin to cover what I fucking feel right now Rowan” “Ava…” “No! Do you know I had to call Gabe? Imagine my shock when I learned you were out with Emma. I don’t even fucking care that you were with her.

You promised you will be here. I was waiting like a damn fool for you when you were out with her during a meeting our son was looking forward to!” I ran my hands through my hair.

A teacher walks past us. She gives us a small wave before climbing into her car. I tried mastering a smile but I just couldn’t.

“You’re right and I’m sorry” he says remorsefully.

“What happened Rowan? You never ever forgot something that concerned Noah. Now Emma is back and she takes priority? So much so you forget Noah? Is this how it’s going to be now that she’s back?” I ask him, calming down but not entirely.

“It’s not going to happen again” he fists his hand in determination.

“But that’s the thing it’s already happened, what’s stopping it from happening again?” He doesn’t answer. Just stares at me with a scowl on his face and fire burning behind his eyes.

“I won’t let you hurt my son Rowan, whether internationally or unintentionally. Noah’s comes first and if you can’t put him first then give me full custody. I had to watch his heart break when he realized you weren’t coming. Let this be the first and last time you hurt him, because if you do I will fight you.

Noah is my son, my world. Hurt him again and I will forget you’re his father. Doesn’t matter if you own this city, I will rain so much hell on you, you’ll be left wishing you never met me. Don’t fucking mess with me” I let my anger and determination seep into my voice.

He looks taken aback by my outburst and threat. He stares at me like he didnt know who I was. I ignore that look

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 30-Hurting my baby Are you sure about what you’re doing Ava” Letty asks me in concern was getting ready to go to Noah’s acheel Today was the parent teacher meeting that was held analle and was supposed to meet Roman there hey had called to know if we could hang out since we haven’t sem nach sein wie When!

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what do you mean women like me ask in avance and shit ano “Whoa, who is rushing things now? Today will be our second date, Letty. It’s too early to figure out all those things don’t you think? We’re still in the trial base” I was going to have dinner with Ethan at his apartment. He had invited me over after we shared our first kiss, promising to cook me the best meal I’ve ever tasted.

She sighs as if she’s dealing with a stubborn child. “I just want you to be sure you’re dating him for the right reasons. Using one guy to get over another never works. It just makes shit complicated.” “I hear you” I tell her dismissively. “Now, I have to hang up since I’m about to leave” “Fine. We’re still on for Wednesday, right?” “Definitely” After saying goodbye, I hang up. I check the time and it was one in the afternoon. I was still irritated with this meeting. I mean, who holds a parent/teacher meeting on Saturday. As if that wasn’t bad enough, they schedule it for afternoon?

After taking what I need, I lock up and leave. I get into my car and drive off.

As I drove, I couldn’t help but think about what Letty said. She was right, I had no experience with the dating scene. I didn’t know what Ethan wanted or expected. Did he want a relationship or just a fuck buddy?

What did I want? Was I using him or did I genuinely want him? I didn’t want to confuse things or myself for that matter. I was determined to get over Rowan, but was I going about it in right way?

I didn’t want to hurt Ethan, especially if he is genuinely interested in having a relationship with. me, but parts of me fear that I’ve grown an unhealthy attachment to him.

He makes me forget about Rowan and my love for him. I’m afraid that’s the main reason I’m drawn to him.

I drive to the parking lot, turn the ignition off and get out. I survey the expensive cars lining the lot. I begin walking and notice some of the parents sneering at me. Of course my car wasn’t expensive and I wasn’t dressed head to toe in Gucci.

This is one of the things I hated about this world. These people placed social status and the size of your bank account above everything else. They look down on people who they view as poor and they don’t even bother hiding their disdain for them.

I’ve grown up around wealth but I swore from a young age never to be like them. Never to place money above the value of another person.

I take a seat that was available and wait. I watch as the other parents and their children walk in and out of the school.

I check my watch. It was already three and Rowan wasn’t here yet.

Taking out my phone, I call him. It goes straight to voice mail. With each second that passes, I feel my anger rise. Two hours later, I’ve had enough so I call Gabe.

“Hello?” he answers gruffly.

“Hi, Gabriel, it’s me, Ava…” he cuts me off before I can finish.

“I know it’s you, Ava, I have your number” I’m quiet for a while. Surprised that he had my number given he used to blame me for ruining his brother’s life and destroying his chance at happiness with Emma.

“Uh, okay” I mutter unintelligently before recovering. “Listen, I’m looking for Rowan. Is he with you? We were supposed to meet with Noah’s teacher. He is not here yet and his phone is off. I’ve been here for three hours. Mrs. Smith is done with the other parents and she’s ready to leave” When she told me she was almost done, I begged her to give me a few more minutes to try and reach Rowan “He’s not with me. He took Emma somewhere” he tells me almost apologetically, but I don’t need his sympathy.

“Okay, thanks.” I don’t give him a chance to say anything before hanging up.

I was in trance. Wondering what had gotten into Rowan that he forgot something so important.

When Mrs Smith calls me again, I go in. It seemed like Rowan wasn’t going to show up anyway.

Since Noah wasn’t physically here like the other kids, we settle on a video call with him. He’s excited at first, but then his face falls when he realizes that Rowan wasn’t present.

The entire time Mrs. Smith talks about Noah’s excellent and stellar performance in school, my anger rises up. Noah was sad and his face showed. I hated seeing him like this.

By the time we’re done, I was beyond furious.

I force a smile and thank Noah’s teacher before leaving the classroom.

“Why didn’t he come mommy? He promised me he would. I wanted him to hear what a good student I was. That I was top of my class” he says sadly, tears filling his eyes.

I wanted to reach out and hold him but he was thousands of miles away.

“I’m so sorry, baby….May be he got caught up with work” “But he promised me!” he shouts through the screen. “He said he will never break his promises and he did” he was full crying now and it tore me down to pieces.

Mother and Joyce, Rowan’s mom came to comfort him. I wanted to be there for him and it killed me that I couldn’t.

“He’ll make it up to you, my love….remember he loves you and he has never missed any of your functions” I try to soothe him.

He doesn’t answer. Just continues staring into nothing with silent tears running down his face. He looks so lost. When he doesn’t move or say anything, Joyce tells me that they’ll look after him before ending the call.

I stomp out of the school and head towards the parking lot. Most cars were already gone.

I was just about to get into my own when I see Rowan’s black Mercedes drives in. He parks, gets out and rushes to me.

“I’m so fucking sorry I’m late…is the meeting over?” he was dressed casually, something that is very rare for him.

“Obviously, given it’s almost six thirty four fucking hours after you were supposed to be here” 1 shout isted on murder “I know you’re angry, but…” “Angry doesn’t begin to cover what I fucking feel right now Rowan” “Ava…” +15 BONUS “No! Do you know I had to call Gabe? Imagine my shock when I learned you were out with Emma. I don’t even fucking care that you were with her.

You promised you will be here. I was waiting like a damn fool for you when you were out with her during a meeting our son was looking forward to!” I ran my hands through my hair.

A teacher walks past us. She gives us a small wave before climbing into her car. I tried mastering novelbin a smile but I just couldn’t.

“You’re right and I’m sorry” he says remorsefully.

“What happened Rowan? You never ever forgot something that concerned Noah. Now Emma is back and she takes priority? So much so you forget Noah? Is this how it’s going to be now that she’s back?” I ask him, calming down but not entirely.

“It’s not going to happen again” he fists his hand in determination.

“But that’s the thing it’s already happened, what’s stopping it from happening again?” He doesn’t answer. Just stares at me with a scowl on his face and fire burning behind his eyes.

“I won’t let you hurt my son Rowan, whether internationally or unintentionally. Noah’s comes first and if you can’t put him first then give me full custody. I had to watch his heart break when he realized you weren’t coming. Let this be the first and last time you hurt him, because if you do I will fight you.

Noah is my son, my world. Hurt him again and I will forget you’re his father. Doesn’t matter if you own this city, I will rain so much hell on you, you’ll be left wishing you never met me. Don’t fucking mess with me” I let my anger and determination seep into my voice.

He looks taken aback by my outburst and threat. He stares at me like he didnt know who I was. I ignore that look