Ch. 81..90

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 81-You get to choose Rowan.

“Are you going to brood forever?” Gabe asks in annoyance.

I don’t pay him any attention. Just continue staring at the amber liquid in my glass, contemplating how things went downhill with Ava so fast.

I’m not naïve enough to think that she was acting irrationally. She was acting like a normal person would. A person who’s been hurt over and over again by people she loved. (2)

There’s this strong need inside me to soothe her pain. To take all her hurts away. To heal her. How can I do that, though? When I’m the one that fucking put it–there in the first place.

“You can’t continue like this, Ro. If she’s not giving you the time of day, then leave her the hell alone! Emma wants you for crying out loud. Hell, It’s not like you’re lacking when it comes to the women that want you,” he grumbles, plopping his ass down on the chair. 2 I don’t acknowledge his stupid tirade. Instead, I send him a glare. “If my current mood bothers you so much, you can fucking leave.” He doesn’t understand, and I am in no mood to make him understand. My entire being has recently decided that it doesn’t want Emma. Nor does it want any other woman who is not Ava.

I used to despise her. Used to think that there was no way I would ever want her. Famous last fucking words because she’s all I think about right now. She’s taken over every inch of my thoughts and fantasies..

Karma sure is a fucking bitch, ain’t she? Just when I finally acknowledge that I do want her, she decides that she wants nothing to do with me. The fact that she’s having a baby with another man is proof enough of her determination to move on. novelbin I used to be the only man that has ever touched her. The only man she knew quite intimately. I never used to take that for the fucking gift it was. Now, someone else knows how she tastes, and I fucking hate that Ethan gave her something that I used to deny her while we were married.

Shaking those thoughts away, I stand up and walk to the large windows of my office. Thinking of any other man touching her drives me crazy. It’s pure fucking torture. I guess now I have an inkling of how she felt when I used to hold Emma between us.

1/4 +15 BONUS Fuck! How can I make her see that I don’t mean any harm? That I don’t want to hurt her, instead, I want to heal what’s broken You want to heal what’s broken, yet you can’t accept that you love her? A voice taunts. ‘When are you going to realize you just don’t do such things for a woman unless you fucking love her?

I ignore those words. Refusing to drown too much in them Yes, I did feel something for Ava. I’m not even sure when or how they developed. Even if I were to tell her that right now, do you know how insincere those words would seem? She probably wouldn’t even believe me. Not after how I have treated her for the past nine years.

My door opens, but I don’t turn.

“Now, what has gotten you in such a foul mood?” Gabe asks.

I don’t need to turn around to know that it’s Travis he’s talking to. We’ve been friends since we were all in diapers. We know each other like the back of our hands.

“Ava” Her name makes me turn around. My focus on Travis.

He looks tired, lost, and utterly defeated. He has lost weight these past few weeks, and it’s worrying all of us.

“What happened?” I ask, my voice sounding gruff even to my own ears.

“I went to ask her for help concerning the company. She refused.” He sighs.

I’ve told him I could help, but he refuses. The Howell’s kept to their promise. Sharp Corp was sinking and if nothing was done soon, it wouldn’t last even two months before it completely collapsed.

The only reason our company was still standing was because we were as powerful as the Howell’s. Their pulling out and getting their loyal investors to do the same hadn’t affected us that much.

I wasn’t foolish enough to think it would end there. They may not have been able to destroy our company, but I’m fucking sure they’ll look for another way to get their revenge. I won’t even fight. them. They were right to come after me. I deserve everything they plan to do to me for the way I treated their daughter.

“Is that what has you so dejected? That she refused to help you.” Gabe looks at him in sympathy.

Travis lets out a long, tired breath. “No. It’s what she said She said she didn’t consider me her family. In other words, I was nothing to het” I see the pain it causes him, but I don’t feel any sympathy for him. We were horrible to her. Her treatment towards us was less than we deserved.

“What did you fucking expect? I keep asking you guys that question,” Gabe grumbles.

“I know. I don’t know why I keep expecting her to be as she was. Every trace of the old Ava is gone. The only time you see glimpses of her is when she’s with Noah.” Travis slumps in his seat, looking defeated.

My phone rings, drawing my attention from their conversation. I didn’t recognize the number. For a moment, I thought of ignoring it, but I thought otherwise.

“Didn’t I tell you I’d get back at you” the familiar voice says.

“What the fuck do you want?” I ask angrily, not in the mood to fucking play his damn games, Ronny also known as Reaper chuckles. “Don’t you want to know what, or more specifically, who I have?” I’m not one to be fazed, but damn it. Reaper was a crazy fucker. The fact that he sounded so cocky worried me.

“Spit it out, Ronny, I don’t have all day” My voice was calm, but a certain kind of panic was rising inside me. He had someone I cared about. That alone was starting to drive me crazy.

“Since you’re so eager to know, I’ll tell you.” He pauses as if trying to rise suspense, but all he was doing was pissing me off. “I have two beautiful ladies with me. The love of your fucking life and the mother of your kid” My heart stops for a minute before it starts to beat erratically. Travis and Gabe must have sensed something was wrong because they stop their conversation and focus on me.

“What do you want?” My whole fucking body was frozen as if I was encased in a block of ice.

“It’s simple really. I want you to choose who gets to live and who dies. I’ll spare the one you choose and kill the other one. Aren’t I being nice? You get to walk away with one of them instead of me killing all of them” 3/4 Fuck‘ This was worse than I expected The fucker was clearly out of his fucking mind.

Remember, time is ticking “Tick, toc, tick, tock,” he says right before the lines goes dead.

“What is it” Gabe asks me, seeing my bothered look.

“Ronny has Ava and Emma” I pause, taking a deep breath to try and calm myself. “He asked me to choose.” “Fucking shit!” Travis shouts, his voice reverberating through the room.

This shit was fucked up.

I was going to do everything to get them both back safe and sound. But if push came to shove I knew in a heartbeat who I would choose. Only problem is, would I be forgiven for costing the other her life

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 82-Royally fvcked “You can’t be senous Emma asks as shell shocked as I was I felt my heart beating wildly Panic fisted my chest, making it hard for me to breathe. If I had thought that Ronny or Reaper, whatever the fuck he goes by, kidnapping us was bad, I was wrong because what he planned was way worse.

“Oh, I am. You father should never have messed with me neither should Rowan. It’s time to get my revenge” Ronny smirks evilly sending chills down my back.

He had called Rowan right in front of us and told him to choose. I still can’t believe that his plan was that only one of us would walk out of here alive.

I felt like everything was crushing in on me. Fear was wreaking havoc inside me and I couldn’t think clearly. I was sure that my face was swollen from that bastard hitting me and my lip had split. I chose to focus on that pain instead of the impending doom.

“Don’t you have anything to say, Ava?” Ronny asks with the same cold smile.

I avert my eyes. I couldn’t form a thought let alone say anything. This was the fifth time I was facing death. With how unhinged Ronny seemed, I was afraid that I wouldn’t come out of this alive.

I internally shake myself. Shoving those horrible thoughts away. I couldn’t think like that. I had Noah and a baby to think about. For their sake I was going to fight to stay alive.

“Maybe you’re afraid that Rowan will choose your sister” he taunts. “Is that what has you so worried?” “She’s not my sister!” I snap, getting my fire back.

He chuckles with no humor in the sound of his voice.

“No matter. This is going to be a fun game. I want to see your ex–husband break because either who he chooses he’s going to get the other dead and that will be on him. The guilt will be his undoing” with those parting words, he walks away. Closing the door behind him.

“What are we going to do?” Emma whispers but I don’t answer her.

Ronny was right. I was afraid because I knew that I wasn’t the one Rowan would choose. Emma has always been important to him and I doubt that has changed.

1/6 +15 BONUS He would go to hell and back for her, so I knew I didn’t stand a chance of him choosing me over Emma I had to get out. To escape 1 knew that my parents would do anything to find me, but I was afraid that they would be too late Rowan’s heart and mind has always been dominantly on Emma. If I stayed here I wouldn’t stand a chance.

With those thoughts in my head, I start struggling to get out. I couldn’t push myself backward to break the chair. First of all, it would hurt and second, it would probably put my baby in danger The only option left was to try to get myself free from the ropes.

I first survey the room. Good. There were no cameras. Of course they wouldn’t be because these men probably thought we can’t escape. This was going to make things easier.

The more I twisted my arms, the more the rope cut into my wrists. I curse in pain, but I don’t stop.

Time was ticking.

“What the hell are you doing?” Emma asks looking at me puzzled.

“What does it look like I’m doing?” I ask her sarcastically. “I’m trying to get free.” “But why? Rowan will come for us” she states firmly as if she actually believes what she’s saying.

I look at her like she’s dumb and at this moment I actually feel like she is.

“Maybe the drugs you inhaled affected your brain cells but we both know that if push comes to shove, Rowan is going to choose you. I have a son and another baby on the way. I’m not going to wait twiddling my thumbs while Rowan plays god all because father was stupid enough not to do a background check before signing a contract with the Reaper!” She looks at me in shock. Unable to believe what I just said. I know that it was rude speaking ill of the dead, but I am frustrated. I’m in danger and so is my unborn child. If only father had them investigated before signing a contract with them then I wouldn’t be in this damn mess.

“I can’t believe you just said that about daddy!” “Lucky for me because I don’t really give a fuck what you think” I snap.

Can’t she just keep quiet and let me concentrate? With each moment that passes that I am not free, my anxiety rises even more.

She glares at me, but keeps quiet. I heave a breath of relief. Now I can focus on getting my hands 2/6 +15 BONUS I don’t know how long it was when I gave up My hands were shaking My wrist were burning and I could tell that they were bleeding. It’s like the more I tried to free them, the deeper the rope dug into my ski“.

I let out a heavy breath. I hate to do this, but I had no other option. At this point it was either that or risk being the one that got killed.

“I have a plan that might work” I turn to Emma and tell her grudgingly. It felt like a blow to my ego, but considering what’s at risk, my pride can go to hell.

“Now your need my help? Didn’t you just tell me that I should shut the fuck up and that you didn’t really care what I think?” she asks smugly. O The need to lash out at her is great, but I hold back. I’m not stupid enough to antagonize her when I clearly need her help.

“Are you going to help or not?” I ask instead, not willing to admit that I might have gone a little overboard.

She stays quiet and just stares at me. Blue eyes clash with brown. She’s assessing the situation. Assessing whether it’s wise to assist her mortal enemy. I almost take back my request when she finally speaks.

“What do you need me to do?” I sag in relief. Maybe there was hope for us after all.

“I can’t untie myself, but maybe you can.” I begin. “If we can turn our chairs so that our backs are facing each other and we get close enough, maybe we can untie each other” I hope to God it works because I have run out of ideas.

“Fine” she says before she starts twisting her chair.

I had thought of just hoping up and down on it, but Emma’s approach was better. It produced minimal noise so I was sure even if there was someone outside, they wouldn’t really hear us.

It takes a couple of tries and we almost fall over a few times, but we finally manage to get in the right position.

“Please hurry up” I plead as I do my best to untie her too.

3/6 +15 BONUS Some time had passed and with each second, I was afraid that Ronny would walk in at any time and declare that Rowan had chosen Emma so I would have to be killed.

We finally get the ropes untied. My body relaxes but not completely. I won’t be able to relax all the way urt. I am out of this place.

Hurrying up, I untie my legs. When I stand up, I almost fall over. The ropes had cut off blood supply so my legs were a bit numb.

“What do we do next?” comes Emma’s question tinted with a bit of nervousness.

I didn’t really have a plan. So I was just going to make it as we go.

“Now we escape” I start to walk towards the door when I realize that she wasn’t following me.

“Are you coming?” I ask without turning my whole body towards her.

“I’m not sure. What if Rowan comes and doesn’t find us? What then?” Just because we helped each other get untied, doesn’t mean we are friends or anything. She has to stop relying on others to save her.

“Look, what do you think will happen when they find out I’ve escaped? They’ll take the option from Rowan and just kill you instead. You can stay and risk it or we can go together, either way I’m leaving” with that I turn and resume my walk towards the door.

Slowly opening it, I peep out just to make sure there weren’t any guards. There weren’t. I open the door further to step out just as I feel Emma behind me.

I get out and survey the place. We were in a junk yard. I smile at our luck. This meant there were a lot of places to hide from Reaper and his men.

“We have to find the exit. From there, I believe things will be easy” I tell Emma as we start moving.

She nods her head in agreement and walks beside me. We’re careful as we look for an out. Keeping ourselves hidden and making sure we don’t walk in the open.

“Where the hell is the exit?” Emma was exasperated. It was easy to tell.

We’ve been walking for a few minutes. Even though we haven’t come across any goons, we also haven’t come close to finding the exit.

4/6 +15 BONUS “Maybe we should rest a little” I was beginning to get tired. My face was hurting, so were my hands and feet That thought is immediately shot to the ground when we here a blaring alarm. Its sound ringing loudly ross the yard.

My heart starts pounding. Fuck. This was bad. I’m fucking sure that they’ve realized we have escaped “Go, go, go” I insist as I pull Emma forward. She had a look of total fear. Like she had just seen her life flash before her eyes.

We rush forward blindly. We didn’t know where we were going. All we knew is that we couldn’t get caught no matter what.

I kept looking behind me. Making sure that Emma wasn’t out of sight. That was a big fucking mistake.

Colliding with a body, I stumble, but catch myself before I can fall. Terror squeezes my heart as I stare at the man that hit me earlier.

Shit! We were royally fucked.

“Did you honestly think it would be that fucking easy to escape?” he asks, taking out a gun and pointing it at me.

I feel Emma gasp in fear. She was shaking and I could feel her trembling.

“Yes” I tell him with a fake bravado.

He walks slowly towards me. His gun’still pointed at me.

“I don’t like you smart mouth or your sass. Maybe I should just kill you and save your ex–husband from having to choose” I make a split decision. He was close enough and it could work. Using the defense techniques I was taught in defense class, I quickly knee him in the balls.

He falls down groaning and cussing. Without really thinking I take the gun he had dropped, remove the safety lock and fire.

“That’s for hitting me” I shoot his right thigh. “And that is for how much it fucking hurt” I then shoot his other thigh.

5/6 +15 BONUS He hollers in pain His deep voice travelling through the space. I have never shot anyone, though 1 did practice with Ethan a few times. Seeing the bastard bleed was oddly satisfying.

“It came from over there” My satisfaction doesn’t last long when I hear the voice. Still with the gun in hand, I motion for a shaken Emma to move. We weren’t even that far away when they came across the shot goon.

“Fucking get them!” he shouts, his voice tinged with pain.

All hell breaks loose as they start to fire. I pull Emma behind a beat up car as bullets fly in all direction Fuck. This was bad. This was worse than bad, it was fucking terrible.

“Fuck it Ava. I shouldn’t have listened to you.” She starts ranting, but I know it’s to cover her fear.” I swear Ava. If you get me killed, I’ll hunt your sorry ass” I ignore her and focus. After a few minutes, the shooting stops. My breathing turns to as normal as it can get. Standing up, I pull Emma up.

“Let’s go before the find us” I had only taken a couple of steps when I felt a presence near us.

“Ava!” the scream drives fear inside me.

I’m shoved to the side and fall just as a single shot rings through the entire yard.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 83-Rescued Fuck, it hurts Emma screams in agony, making me come out of my shock just in time to see the man raise his pistol.

I scramble to take the gun that I had dropped and immediately fire. He drops to the ground I get up and rush to Emma, who was writhing on the ground.

I don’t even check if the man was alive or dead. Right now, it didn’t fucking matter to me. Not when I’m pumped full of adrenaline and Emma was bleeding on the ground.

“I’m dying aren’t I?” she asks with tears filling her eyes.

I could have told her to stop being a cry baby, but I don’t. Not when she’s the one that shoved me and took a bullet that was meant to be mine.

“No, you are not” I respond as I examine her.

She’d been shot in the shoulder, and it was bleeding a lot. I was worried. First of all, she might just bleed to death, and second, we were still in danger. Someone was bound to find us eventually.

“You’re lying!” she hisses when I put pressure on the wound. “If I’m not dying then why the hell does it feel like I am?” I don’t answer. Choosing instead to focus on stopping the bleeding. As teachers, we are required to know basic first aid. The bullet was still lodged inside, so I couldn’t remove it. Not without knowing the extent of the damage. Instead, I rip the hem of my dress and tie it tightly around her shoulder.

“Damn it, I should have just stayed in that fucking room” she grumbles, glaring at me. Her eyes showed the pain that she was trying to hide.

“Come on. We have to keep moving” I say as I slowly help her up and we start moving.

Fuck. Rowan was going to kill me. Not only did I put Emma in danger by dragging her into my escape plan, but I also got her shot. I didn’t know how to face him when we manage to get free.

Sure, others might reason that it was Emma’s decision to take the bullet for me. That I didn’t ask her to do it, but Rowan might not see it that way. He will take one look at his bleeding precious, Emma and blame me.

Sighing, I pull her up straight. I was currently supporting her weight. She was leaning into me as 1/4 pace we were going I estimate that it won’t be long.

I don’t know for how long we were walking. Maybe an hour or a few minutes, I couldn’t tell, because it felt like an eternity. I was starting to get tired from carrying both our weights. My legs were aching, my hands were shaking and my head was pounding. Emma had now almost slumped all the way forward and she was weakening from the blood loss.

“Maybe we should rest” I pant.

“Yesss. That’s a gooood idea” she slurs, tipping forward, almost tripping both of us.

I look for a hidden place, before gently lowering her down. I then sit next to her and lean my against the old car.

head This place was like a fucking maze. It felt like we have just been going round in circles from the moment we escaped that room. I was so tired and hungry that I didn’t care if they found us. I just wanted some pain meds, food and a nap.

“Emma, I’m not sure we can escape” I tell her but receive no answer.

I face her. Her eyes were closed and her mouth slightly open.

“Emma?” I call again, but she still doesn’t answer.

My heart starts going haywire and panic begins setting in.

I shake her and her body 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.

2/4 what we have here a weaver say “Twed of running? Or is your friend dead already?

Lees 7 sig scary song than saving at with nothing but evil intent. For a moment I see my life and 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 “ease” 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. novelbin “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.

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 84-My choice Rowan 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 fucking 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. (2)

I take her face gently into my hands. Her cheek was swollen, and so was her eye. It had already bruised, and her lip 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 fucking pregnant.

“Rowan, are you not listening to me” Her tone is exasperated, and I know if it weren’t for the fact that she was 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 +15 BONUS 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 fucking born.

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 lips. 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 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 d stop her from worrying about her. She was a fucking 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 kiss 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.

2/6 +15 BONUS “Need help?” I question after watching her struggle to get up.

“Yes please” she answers, looking at me tiredly.

I bend dow, 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 fucking 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 kiss 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.

“What?” I growl at him. Couldn’t he fucking 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 fucking furious. As long as he was still out there, none of those I care about would be safe.

“Just fucking 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.

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.

3/6 “We are here” I say when she opens her beautiful eyes.

+15 BONUS 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.

4/6 +15 BONUS 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 fucked up every effort I made, and it made sure that she’ll never trust me. I can’t deny it anymore. I fucking 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 nuanbeding “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 body was covered from the waist down, and the cut on her lip was stitched. novelbin “How’s Emma?” is the first thing she asks me.

Damn the woman for being a real fucking 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 sorry” 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.

5/6 +15 BONUS 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 knew if I stayed, I would end up dead, so I decided to escape. It was the only way to make sure my baby and I survivedTM I didn’t say anything at first. If I thought seeing her hurt broke me, then I was a damn fool because her words fucking 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 fucking mind, heart, and soul. How then can I be hurt and mad that she believed I would pick Emma over her?

1 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 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” 5 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 85-His Unbelievable words 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.

“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” 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” 2 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?

1/5 finally nd myself of it.

Ava +15 BONUS He goes to say something, but I am just done. I don’t want to hear it. I don’t want him to make up pretty little lies. I don’t want any new changes. I just want to go back to how things were before When they all hated and despised me. D I know some might wonder why I would want such a thing, right? After all, isn’t this what I’ve always wanted? For them 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. 3 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 kisses 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 fuck 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.

2/5 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 Emms But not Howan Never Rowan How does he expect me to believe him? For nine years he along with everyone else has told me that I am nothing. That I meant nothing to him. So how does he expect to flip 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 1 were done. It wasn’t my place to try and figure him out.

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.

I 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.

3/5 +15 BONUS “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 a second away from him because I knew today would have gone differently. If it had. I wouldn“: nave been alive to see him. novelbin “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 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.

4/5 +15 BONUS “Darling?” her soft voice calls from behind. “It’s time to go home, my love” 1 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 as we walk. I don’t have to be told who they belonged to.

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 86-Friends? 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.

“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 kisses 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. 1 1/5 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 of 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.

Falling for whatever game Rowan is playing would 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.

1 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.

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.

“I heard 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 novelbin 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…” 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 women, so trusting them is a bit difficult for me” 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 fucking painful” he whispers while trying to mask the pain that was chocking him.

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. 1 “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.

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 fucked 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.

4/5 +15 BONUS Even as we shake hands, I can’t help the uncomfortable feeling tunning amuck in my chest 1 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 87-Don’t woITY 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.

“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 sex 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 “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.

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 body 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 sexy.

My pregnancy has done wonders for my ass. I can’t help but look at it in satisfaction.

I 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.

“Hello?” “Hello, Ava. It’s Ethan” his gruff voice says through the phone. 1 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 fucking 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” 2 “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. 1 “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 fucking 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 4S 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. 12)

“I 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?

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 88-Showing up Rowan I sit or the bench nervously as I wait for Ava. I know she’s going to be pissed, but I can’t help this intense need to be around her. This intense need to be there for her. novelbin She’d refused to tell me the date for her next appointment, so I went ahead and got it myself. I know that makes me a fucking bastard because Lkeep pushing, but I am used to getting my way. And right now, what I want is to be by her side.

If I had my way, I would have gone and picked her up. Instead I decided to come here instead seeing as I’ve already gone against her wishes.

It’s been so long since I’ve been this nervous. The first and last time I was this nervous was when I had sex for the first time. I was thirteen and didn’t know exactly what the fuck I was doing. It had been terrible given I had blown my load within seconds, leaving the girl I was fucking unsatisfied.

Pushing those thoughts away, I focus on the door. I was a bit early. I knew I had to wait a while before she arrives.

“Rowan? What are you doing here?” her voice pulls me from my thoughts.

I don’t know how long I’d been seated in that bench waiting for her. I’d been so focused that I had missed her arrival.

I turn to face her and my breathe catches. She was so fucking beautiful. She didn’t even have to try. How the hell had I never noticed this before? How the fuck did I think that she couldn’t hold a candle to Emma?

Some might say it’s the pregnancy glow, but I fucking disagree. Emma did her make up every day.

She wouldn’t leave the house until she looked perfect.

Ava on the other hand didn’t have to try. I’ve seen her without make these past few weeks. With dark circles under her eyes. Yet she never looked more perfect to me.

I clear my throat before answering. “I told you I’d be there for your every appointment” I see a cloud pass over her face. She was pissed. Really fucking pissed. She was going to blow up on me, but it honestly didn’t even bother me.

My eyes freely and casually run down her figure. She was wearing a figure hugging dress that not After roaming her body, my eyes go back to her captivating brown ones. She opens her mouth and I know she’s about spew shit Telling me to leave. Before she can do that, I stand up, wrap my hand around her face, bring her body next to mine and kiss her forehead.

She freezes Her body locking as she’s stunned by my actions.

My lips linger on her skin for a little while. I know I should let her go, but this just felt so fucking right. It’s like she was always meant to be in my arms and she would have been if I hadn’t been so fucking foolish and stubborn.

I gently let her go. Her eyes were wide and her mouth dropped in shock.

“What the fuck Rowan?” she asks angrily when she recovers. “Why the hell did you do that?” “Because I wanted to. So I did” I say with a shrug.

Before she can say anything else, her name is called. She gives me a scathing glare before she stomps away. I follow her with a small smile. My eyes trained on the swing of her hips.

Getting to the doctor’s office, we find everything already set up.

“Good to see you, Ava” doctor Raven say with a smile before turning to me. “And you too Mr. Woods” “You too Raven” Ava replies while I just nod my head.

I was surprised to find out that Doctor Raven is the same doctor Ava went to when she was pregnant with Noah. That she’s the same doctor that delivered Noah and now she was going to do the same for this baby.

“You know the drill dear, just go over there and change, then come back and we can see how our little bean is doing” Taking the dressing gown from her, Ava goes into the changing room. Minutes later she emerges and then lays down on the bed.

“Today we are going to do a transvaginal scan before doing the normal scan.” Doctor Raven says.

“Is there something I should be concerned about?” “No, it something I do for all my patients. It’s just to make sure the cervix is healthy.” She smiles at Ava. “Now, I’m going to insert this into your vagina, let me know if it gets uncomfortable for you, okay?” 2/6 she’s forgotten. I’ve seen her naked before She pulls her legs up and Doctor Raven goes to work. Once she’s done, she does the normal scan before switching off the machines.

“Everything is good. You’re doing well and so is your baby. I’m glad this pregnancy is easy unlike with Noah’s case” Doctor Raven says as Ava sits up “What do you mean as with Noah’s case? Did she have a difficult pregnancy?” fuck, what the hell did I miss while I was busy drowning myself in alcohol because I had lost Emma.

Raven opens her mouth, but Ava cuts her off before she can say anything.

“Nothing” Ava’s rushes to say, but I know she’s lying because of the way her voice gets high- pitched at the end She then jumps down and literally runs to the changing room.

Doctor Raven, gives me a sad smile before leaving the room. After a couple of minutes, Ava comes back fully dressed. She doesn’t say a thing as she takes her belongings and leaves. I follow behind her like a lost puppy.

We get to reception area. She gets the date for her next appointment and gets the pictures of her baby.

My phone rings and I take it absent mindedly.

“What?” I knew who the second picture belonged to. Ethan. I hate that she’s in contact with him, but I also applaud her for her maturity. If it had been me in her situation, I would have kept the baby away from Ethan 5 Ava is an angel. She decided to do the right thing when it came to both Noah and the child she is expecting. After all, I wasn’t a saint during the nine years we were together, yet she still let me have access to Noah. She never even told him anything bad about me though I was a complete bastard to her.

“Sir, the China investors are here. They are insisting on a meeting” my secretary says.

“I thought they were supposed to arrive next week” They were. That’s what was scheduled, but they just showed up out of nowhere” I groan in frustration. I hate it when my plans are sidetracked It pisses me off when someone can’t keep to what was agreed “I’m not going to disrupt my plans because they woke up and just decided they’re going to move up the meeting. They can wait till I’m done with what I’m doing or they can leave and come back when they were fucking scheduled” Those guys have been a pain in my ass since they sought us out. They were desperate for a collaboration and usually when someone is desperate that is not a good sign. I’ve been thinking of dropping them, but Gabe told me to give them a chance.

“Uh–okay. I’ll relay the information” I hang up after that. I turn just as Ava walks out of the clinic.

“Who’s got you so angry?” she asks with a smirk. Almost as if she loves seeing me pissed off.

“Just got a call from my secretary about some investors.” I see the way her face shuts down at the mention of my secretary. A dark cloud passing over her face.

“You should really fire her. Christine is a fucking bitch and not only to me, but others who she deems below her.” I smile. “I already fired her and hired a new secretary” “When?” “After the night of the dinner gala. I didn’t like how she talked about you” She looks shocked. I mean Christine had been my secretary for years. I just didn’t know she was a complete bitch. Scratch that, I didn’t care that she was a total bitch to Ava.

My smiles falls, when I realize how I let others and myself disrespect her. She’d been my wife.

The mother of my son. I should never have let that shit slide.

She doesn’t say anything after that. Just looks at me like she can’t figure me out.

“What did Doctor Raven mean when she talked about your first pregnancy?” I ask remembering what was said in the clinic.

“Can’t you just let it go? It doesn’t matter Noah is now healthy and everything went well. It’s all in the past” she averts her eyes, but I her voice catches and I know it’s painful for her to talk about it.

“Ava? Just tell me. I want to fucking know” I insist. I was desperate.

Going to all these appointments with her, I realize how much I missed when she was pregnant with Noah. I never even got to hear his heartbeat the for the first time.

Her eyes flash. Masking the glimpse of pain I saw in her eyes.

“Tell you what Rowan? That I was an eighteen year old pregnant girl who was scared and alone? That sometimes my blood pressure would spike up and I’d get admitted due to stress? That the constant hate from my family, my husband and in laws was too much that I fell into depression? How about the fact that the Raven told me with how my health was deteriorating, there was a chance my baby wouldn’t survive?” 1 She takes a deep breath before continuing. “I rarely saw you at home and when you did come all you did was tell me was how you hated my guts. I gave you an escape that day, but you didn’t take it and heaven’s do I wish I had fought harder to run away and get away from all of you. You told me you hated me without realizing that even though I loved you, I also hated you right back. Coming to that bar was the biggest mistake of my life. You, Rowan are the biggest mistake of my fucking life, but the thing is I can’t take it back and I wouldn’t if given a chance because that means regretting Noah, and I can never regret him.” “Now if you’re done rehashing the past and opening wounds that I’m trying to heal, I’m gonna leave. Have a nice fucking day, because you just ruined mine” (4)

With that she turns away and leaves.

I can’t believe that we almost lost Noah. That all the mistreatment from me and the other caused her health to deteriorate. We were busy hating her, while she was suffering all alone. It breaks me knowing I had a hand in destroying her heart.

I watch her as she gets into her car. My heart constricting at what an asshole I had been. I didn’t realize it then, but I wasn’t the only one who was suffering. I refused to see her side. Refused to see her pain. She was eighteen for fucks sake.

She leaves. I’m left staring at her car until it disappears.

Running my hands through my hair, the gravity of the pain and hurt I put her through hits me like a ton of bricks. There was so much pain in her voice. So much anger. How the hell was I going

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 89-chapter will update soon

 

Ex-Husbands Regret Chapter 90-Late Realizations. Rowan.

I stare at the door, wondering what the hell I was doing here. I should give Ava her space, but fuck it. I can’t seem to stay away from her. I’m drawn to her in a way I can’t fucking explain.

Knocking, I wait rather impatiently for the door to be opened. A minute later, the door opens revealing Noah.

“Dad” he throws himself at him and I catch him. “I thought I would have to wait till Saturday to see you” I hug him close to me. Feeling myself relax and melt. “Hey buddy” How could I ever have hated Ava? I wonder. She gave me the best gift when she gave birth to Noah. I should have appreciated her then instead of punishing her. The night I thought was the worst night of my life, brought about the best gift I could have gotten.

I didn’t see it then because I had my head so up my ass I couldn’t see straight. My eyes are opened now. I see it so fucking clearly. Ava was right. I used to regret that night not realizing that without there wouldn’t be Noah and no matter what, I would never regret my son.

that night happening “Come in. Mom is in the shower. She said she needed to soak her tired, aching bones.” He informs me. “I’m having my dinner and there is enough. You can have some if you haven’t eaten dinner yet” He leads me into the kitchen. He gets on the stool and resumes eating after pointing to the food. I shamelessly take a plate and pile food on it.

I didn’t appreciate it when we were married. Taking the small things for granted. I admit that I’ve missed her cooking.

“So…Mom is a real catch” Noah begins making, me turn to him.

“Yes” I agree, not really sure where he was going with this.

“A lot of good looking guys want her…just a few days ago there was a man here who’d come to visit her. I wonder who’ll get her as his wife” he says it so casually, but I see the smirk he is trying to hide.

“What man?” 415 BONUS I try to contain the jealousy, but it’s fucking hard. The need to scream that Ava is mine is intense. “I don’t remember his name, but mom said that he was her new friend” the smirk is still in place as he say that “He was scary looking but I liked him, now I don’t know who I like better for mom. Him or Uncle Cal. He had tattoos which Uncle Cal doesn’t and from what I know women dig tattoos and abs I glare at him, but he just chuckles Fuck it. I know he was trying to make me jealous and I should let it go, but I can’t. I have never liked my son less than I did at that moment.

“Noah, who was at the door?” her voice comes from the other room, interrupting me before I can say anything.

She walks into the kitchen in a robe. Her hair is wet and her face is free from makeup. She looks so damn beautiful that I can’t put it into words. The robe leaves nothing to the imagination and I want nothing but to tear it from her body.

“Rowan? What are you doing here?” she ask, her face changing into an indifference mask.

I hate that too. She used to be so expressive, now I barely know what she’s feeling or thinking.

“Rowan?” she calls again.

I don’t know what to fucking tell her. How am I supposed to tell her that I missed her? That I just wanted to see her.

“I’m out of here. Don’t forget to tell me when you’re leaving, dad” Noah breaks through the tense atmosphere.

He doesn’t wait for us to say anything before he flees the room. Within seconds we are left alone.

“Who is the man Noah was talking about?” I ask standing up and getting close to her.

“What man?” she tries backing away from me, but there is nowhere to go.

“The one among your many suitors” my voice turns hard. I was jealous and pissed off because I wanted her to my fucking self. (2)

“I don’t know what you’re talking about or what he was talking about.” She sasses. “Could you just leave? It’s late at night and you shouldn’t be here” “And why is that? Is it so you can entertain one of the many men who Noah seems to think are interested in becoming your new husband” I growl.

I was pushing it. Pushing her, but I just didn’t care. Not when envy was boiling in my blood. Or bitterness was clouding my brain cells.

“What is wrong with you? I don’t entertain any man” she whisper–shouts at me.

It doesn’t faze me as I walk closer to her.

Wrapping my hands around her waist, I bring her closer to me. I feel every inch of her body. Her belly and her breast are pressed close to my chest and abs. I harden when I feel the hardened peaks of her breast.

What I felt was more than arousal. It was something else. Something much more potent.

“Get you fucking hands off me” she shrieks but I still don’t let her go. Instead I press closer to her while being mindful of her baby bump.

She tries to push me away, but I’m solid. She can’t move me. Not only because I was stronger than her, but because I couldn’t pull myself off her even if I’d wanted. She felt perfect in my arms. I could stay with her like this forever.

“Not a chance, Ava. Why would I when this is exactly where I want you? You’re mine” “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not yours. I’ve never been yours. Now let me go before Noah finds us like this and thinks we are getting back together” “Noah will be happy. About the other thing, you will always be mine and I won’t let you whore yourself to other men when you fucking belong to me” 14 Her eyes twitches. Fire burning inside her brown orbs. I don’t see her hand move. The punch comes as a surprise, so because of the shock I release her. 1 “Whoring myself? First of all, I was a fucking virgin when we slept together for the first time in case you’ve forgotten. Second, I can fuck whoever I want. I am a free woman and nothing is holding me back from sleeping with men who actually want me. Men who aren’t thinking of the love of their fucking life while they’re buried deep inside me” (4 I knew those words were going to come back to bite me in the fucking ass. 3 “Ava…” +15 BONUS “No! What the hell do you want Rowan? Because I just don’t get it. You yourself told me that you slept with me while imagining Emma. You told I was just an object for scratching an itch. That I would never be the woman you want, so what the hell are you doing here? Why won’t you leave me the hell aione?” There are so many things I want to tell her. To explain to her. The words instead get stuck in my throat. I don’t know how to express my feelings to her.

“I do want you, Ava. So fucking much” my voice turns soft and it shocks both of us.

“Why now? We were married for nine years. Nine fucking years. How then can you be this- this” she struggles to find the right word.

“This what?” “Interested. How can you all of a sudden be interested in me when you’ve ignored me for the entire length of our marriage? It’s just not making any sense.” She had me there, but how can I explain something that I didn’t understand myself? I don’t know where my feelings came from or when they came to be.

“Is it too difficult to accept that I want you?” I ask instead.

“Yes it is! You’ve hated me for so long, so yes, it’s hard to believe that you are now attracted to me.

It seems so farfetched.” The words were on the tip on my words. The name of the emotion I’ve been trying to figure out.

The feeling I have for her.

“Please leave Rowan. You’re just confused. Even if you are attracted to me, it doesn’t mean anything.” “It means something. It means we have something to work with” I insist almost to the point of begging.

“No it doesn’t. Not when I can still clearly hear your voice in my head telling me that you were using my body as a substitute for Emma’s” I want to say more, but I know that she already has enough of me. She was already drained and I was making things worse for her.

“Okay then, I’ll leave for now. Please just call Noah for me so I can say goodbye” She nods her head and goes to cell our son Hosh comes back, but Ava doesn’t Ignoring the questioning look on his face, 1 tell him good bye before leaving I make sure he’s locked the door before driving away This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. I wasn’t going to give up on her that easily It was as I was driving that the realization hit me. I had to pull over so that I don’t get into an accident as the gravity of everything hit me My heart almost collapses in itself, as I’m finally able to name the feeling I have for Ava. The feeling I was too blind to realize what exactly it is.

Love Fuck. I love Ava. 7 That realizations comes with fear and crashing quilt. I all but destroyed her heart. I fucking killed the love she had for me. How the hell was I going to fix that?

I was a dumb shit. I fucking love her, but would she ever believe me or even give me a chance?

Karma was truly a fucking bitch.

Evelyn M.M +15 BONUS Important Notice Hey loves, I want first of all to thank you for all your continued support. You’ve all been so amazing with your love for this book. It wouldn’t be where it is without your love and support.

Thank you for the gemstones, comments and reviews they have come a long way in helping to rank this book. With that being said, pretty please vote if you haven’t already and remember to leave a review if you’ve come this far with me.

I also want to let you know that I’ll be taking a break this coming week. I’m supposed to be moving to a new place and I haven’t done any packing yet. I won’t stay gone long. A maximum of one week should be enough to finish what I’m required to do and then I’ll be back after that.

Lastly I want to address the issue of updates. I’ll be updating daily in November except on the weekends. Because of your insistence, I’ll be alternating between two chapters a day and one. I h ope that will be enough since my goal is to complete it by December. I don’t want it dragged out. W ith how tight my schedule is, it’s the best I can do. I hope you can understand.

That’s all for now. Thanks for your understanding, I’ll be seeing you in a few days. Bye, take care and stay safe.>