Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

Chapter 0497 “Why did | let you two talk me into staying?” | ask in frustration while glaring at Gabriel and Lilly. “Now we are late.” The two didn’t look apologetic at all. Lilly was smiling, her eyes shining in happiness, while Gabriel was grinning. They both look satisfied with themselves.

I sigh in defeat, wondering what I'll do with these two. | can clearly see it. The father- daughter duo will always work together to overwhelm me. They'll always gang up on me.

I mock-glare at Lilly. “Where's the loyalty?” “You have to admit that it was fun, right?” She says instead, placing her hand on both mine and Gabriel's seat.

She's so happy. In fact, she's been a lot happier since we came back here. Sure, we used to be happy, but not this happy.

Lilly had a relationship with Liam, but it was nothing like what she has with Gabriel. Maybe

it's because he is her real father. Maybe it's because they have a lot in common. | don’t really know. All I know is that their relationship just flows easily, unlike what she had with Liam.

It's hard to explain honestly, but | am so happy to see this free with Gabriel. She hasn't forgotten Liam, though. She has his picture on her bedside table, and | once found her talking to him. It broke and mended my heart at the same time when | heard her telling him that she missed him, but he shouldn't worry about | us because we were happy. | went back to our room and cried for like an hour. | She was right, though. We were happy, but most importantly, she was happy. Lilly is coming out of her bubble shell, and it's beautiful to watch.

“Mom?” | twist and look at her. “You are right, it was fun.” Gabriel and Lilly had convinced me to stay and have lunch in celebration. We were

celebrating that | had agreed to make the house our home.

It had been fun to order food and eat it on the floor in an empty house without a single piece of furniture. | think it will be one of my treasured memories. Gabriel had not minded sitting down on the floor with his expensive clothes when Lilly suggested that we should have lunch there.

After that, we spent the rest of the time exploring the estate. Lying on the grass and just basking in the sun. Playing hide and seek with Lilly. It was fun, and, at that moment, | completely forgot about the dinner.

“This is so bad,” | murmur, pulling myself from the memories. “What is your mom going to think of me? | am the host, yet we are late.” “Stop worrying,” he assures me, a smile still firmly in place. “She isn’t going to think anything except that we all look happy.” I want to believe him, but | can’t. The worry is still there. Still nagging at me. We've met twice with his parents, but we didn’t spend that

much time with them. This dinner is supposed to be intimate, and | didn't want to give her a bad impression of me.

Thirty minutes later, we were pulling into the building. Gabriel parks the car, and the three of us get out. We ride the elevator up all the while, | am praying that they haven't arrived, given that we were minutes late.

“I'm not even decently dressed for diner,” | murmur, my heart pounding so hard that I'm sure the whole damn building can probably hear it.

“Harper, you are worrying too much,” Gabriel tells me, his hand on the door handle. “Just relax. Everything is going to be okay.” The moment he opens the door, | dash to our bedroom to change into something more suitable. It isnt a formal dinner, so | settle for a pair of loose-fitting jeans and a camisole.

| finish and get out of our bedroom just as | hear the door open. | take a deep breath and calm down before heading towards the living room.

| reach there in time to see Gabriel hugging his mom.

“I'hope we didn’t keep you waiting,” his mom tells him with a soft smile.

“Not at all, mom. We had a sort of family outing and didn’t realize that time had flown by. Harper was worried about you guys arriving before we did.” I sigh and roll my eyes. Did he really have to tell his mother that? He could have just pretended that we were here on time.

Taking another deep breath, | walk in.

“Hello,” I greet, and both his parents turn to me.

“Hello to you too, Harper,” his mother says, pulling me into a tight hug before kissing both my cheeks.

She pulls away, and her husband takes her place. | give him my hand; he takes it, but then he tugs it and pulls me into a hug while patting my shoulder.

~~ “Grandma, grandpa!” Lilly comes out of her room, running and shouting. | step away from Gabriel's dad in time for Lilly's body to crash into his.

He lifts her up and hugs her. Gabriel's mom steps beside her husband.

“Give me my grandbaby,” she demands, before pulling Lilly out of her husband's arms.

After hugging her, she walks with her to the sofa, Gabriel's father following behind. Once they are seated, they begin chatting.

“Seems like they've completely forgotten our existence,” Gabriel whispers, standing next to me with a big smile on her face.

“Of course, Lilly is their grandchild.” “But | am their son,” he complains.

I roll my eyes at his childishness. A side of him that | didn’t even know existed.

“An overgrown baby, if you ask me,” | murmur.

“Yes, | am their precious baby boy. That should tramp the grandchild card.” “Seriously? You have a twin brother. There is nothing special about you. You and Rowan are both equal.” He turns and glares at me as if | have offended him. "No, we are not. I'm younger” “By three and a half minutes.” | He shrugs. “Still younger. Which makes me their precious baby boy.” | “I can’t deal with you right now. | am going to check on the food.” | say this before walking away with a little smile.

Like | said, this childish side of him is new. | didn’t know that it even existed. Is it weird that | like it? His cold and hard exterior made him seem untouchable. This side of him makes him more human, and | love it.