Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

The silence that descends is heavy. They both look at me in complete shock. Their mouths

open

and close wordlessly. As if they can’t form any word.

Damn it. I knew this was a bad idea. What if they hate me? What if they hate Ethan? I let

out a long

sigh. I also couldn’t keep it a secret from the forever.

“E–Ethan is the fa–father?” mom stammers, tears filling her eyes.

“Yes. I didn’t know that he was my adopted brother when I started a relationship with

him.”

“But he knew!” dad booms, standing up angrily. He was fuming. It was easily written all

over his

face. “Is this why he doesn’t want to see us? I didn’t think he had gone this far. That he

fucking

seduced you knowing very well you’re our daughter”

I’m surprised. I have never ever heard dad curse.

“He didn’t seduce me. I jumped into the relationship willingly” I tell dad, feeling my cheeks

turning pink for some reason.

Sure, I wouldn’t have gotten into a relationship with him had I known the truth, but he

didn’t

seduce me. Everything that happened between us was consented. 4

“He tricked you Ava.” Mom sighs. “Your dad is right. Ethan knew the truth, but you didn’t.

He

basically seduced you knowing very well he’s your adopted brother. That was wrong of

him.

Really wrong”

“I know and I’m disgusted when I think about it. He won’t stay in prison forever and I did

give him

2/17

explain that their father is your son? Adopted or not. Fihan is still your au

This has been one of my biggest worry I don’t want my child to vise me in a negative way

come tell them the truth, but that would mean making his or her dad seem like a fucking

sickne

Mom stands up and comes to sit next to me. She pulls me into her arms and huge me

close Heel my eyes start to fill with tears

Damn hormones a

“It’s okay baby, don’t worry about it. We still love you and we will love the baby” Dad

adds, joining

US

We stay in each other’s embrace for a while before separating

“Another grandbaby. This is so awesome. I better start shopping” mom says excitedly, her

face transforming with the smile that takes over.

She was literally jumping up and down like a school girl.

“How many people can brag that they’re grandmas at forty three? I am a young and chick

grandmother and I still energetic enough to run around with my grandkids”

Dad and I laugh in amusement as mom twirls around in my living room like a ballerina

Standing up, dad pulls her into his arms and kisses her. He then spins her as mom laughs

in joy

I smile at them. This is the kind of marriage I’d wanted. The kind of love I’d craved for. I

feel a pang in my heart, but I don’t let it bother me. I’d already let go of those fantasies.

I’d accepted that

their kind of love wasn’t in the cards for me.

After that, they stay a little before they leave. I felt like a burden had been lifted from my

shoulders. My biggest fear had been that they would reject my child. Seeing how in the

end they were excited to have an additional grandchild eased something inside me.

Soon Noah arrives and I get busy helping him with homework and making him snacks. I

like being organized, so I sort his uniform for the next day and everything he would need.

I had just finished when there was a knock on my door. Dragging my feet, I leave Noah’s

room and go to open the door.

“Ava Sharp?” the delivery man asks.

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Damn it I need to change my last name. The Sharp’s name no longer belonged to me.

Yes

“I have a delivery for you

I roll my eyes. I don’t get why they always have to say that. I mean, I already can tell

you’re here to deliver something. It’s obvious.

“I didn’t order anything” I tell him.

“Not my problem

Rude. Maybe he saw me rolling my eyes at him. Before I can say anything, he shoves the

box into my hand and walks away.

I watch his back in shock. Memorizing the name of the company he worked for. I didn’t

order anything, but I sure was going to give them a one star rating and a scathing review.

Taking the box inside the house, I close the door and head to the living room.

“What’s that?” Noah asks, eyeing the package.

“I don’t know”

I debate whether I should open it or not. There is still danger looming around from the

reapers. What if it was a bomb or something?

I don’t get a chance to debate too much on it because Noah jumps up, takes the box and

tears it

open.

“Noah!” I shout. My heart in my throat.

If it had been a bomb we would have been blown into pieces. Didn’t he have a sense of

safety?

“You do not open packages that you don’t know anything about!” I snap at him, trying to

calm my

erratic beating heart.

He just shrugs his shoulder. “I was curious, so I opened it”

He looks inside and his face turns into distaste. “I thought there would be something cool,

but it’s

nothing but a bunch of dresses”

Wait what?

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I take the box from him and check inside. I remove each one of the piece of clothes. Slowly

realizing that each piece is one from the mom and baby shop. They were all the clothes I

had tried and liked. The ones that I’d wanted to buy before shit happened with Rowan.

How the hell… I stop the thought as realization sinks in. Rowan. The bastard must have

bought

them.

“They’re really nice dresses mommy. You’ll look beautiful in them” Noah says, just as the

thought

of burning them crosses my mind.

“Thank you, my love” I force a smile on my face. “I’m going to prepare dinner. Finish up so

you can

take a shower”

Leaving the box of clothes, I head to the kitchen. I still wasn’t sure what to do about the

clothes. I

didn’t want anything from Rowan. If we’re being honest, this is the first I’ve ever gotten

from the

man.

Thinking of the clothes made me think of the scene at the changing room. I still don’t

know what

the hell had gotten into him. Something just wasn’t right. He was behaving so unlike

himself.

I hated the desire I saw in his eyes. I hated that I felt his hardened dick pressing against

my

stomach. Rowan has never found me attractive. Never looked at me like he wanted to eat

me up,

so what the hell has changed.

“Ava”

I swivel around at his voice. Staring at him in shock as he stood at the door to the kitchen.

“What are you doing here and how the hell did you get in?” I ask, feeling my early anger

start

rising up.

“Noah let me in” he answers stepping forward.

I didn’t want him in my house. I didn’t want him in my life. He can’t treat me like trash for

nine

years then all of a sudden have a change of heart. It doesn’t fucking work like that.

“Get out!” I snap in anger.

“Ava”

“Get out of my fucking house, Rowan” 2

I try to hold it back, but the shit he put me through comes barreling back up. I don’t see

him now.

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“Listen to me, Ava”

“Like you listened every time I told you I was drunk and you didn’t believe me? Or every

time I begged you to give us a chance, but you wouldn’t listen. Wouldn’t give me the time

of day!” I take a deep breath trying to calm down.

“I’ve heard enough from you to last me a life time. I left you like you’ve always fucking

wanted, why can’t you do the same for me? Haven’t I already paid enough for loving you!

What more do you

want from me?”

Tears threaten to fall, but I hold them back. I won’t let him see me lose it.

“You’ve always thrown your love for Emma in my face. She’s here Rowan. You can have

the love of

your fucking life and leave me the hell alone. Don’t come to my appointments, don’t take

me shopping, and don’t buy me clothes. Just ignore me like you always have” I finish and

collapse

against the kitchen counter. 2

I see something flash in his eyes. Pain, regret, sorrow? I don’t know and right now I don’t

care.

“Are you too fighting?” Noah asks, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.

His eyes are hard. His mouth compressed in a thin line.

“No we’re not” I sigh tiredly. “Your father was just leaving”

I glare at Rowan. Giving him the silent command to leave. Hopefully he will never step foot

into

my house again.

Noah nods and leaves. Rowan turns to leave, but then stops.

“I’m sorry Ava. So fucking sorry” his tone is hard. Almost like he was fighting his emotions.

“Just leave Rowan and take the clothes you bought with you”

“No”

I resist the urge to stomp my foot at his stubbornness and throw a pan at his head.

“Fine! I’ll just give them away to charity”

“Do as you wish Ava. They are your clothes” with that he walks out of the kitchen.

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i hear murmurs and then a while ister 1 hear the front door open and close. I breathe a

sigh of relief now that Rowan’s suffocating presence was gone.

As I make dinner, I harden my heart. Builiding fotress walls around it. I don’t know what

game Rowan was playing, but I’ll be damned before I allow my heart to get involved with

him again.