Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

The housekeeper cinto the den with a message that set Fitch's teeth on edge. “Sir, Ms. Bennitt is at the front gate. Should I let

her in?”

Fitch felt an immediate distaste at the thought of seeing her. He had pegged her as a stable sort, never imagining she could stir up

such scandal.

“No,” he replied, his voice sharp with finality. After his brief response, he grabbed his coat from the rack and exited through the

back door.

It wasn’t until he pulled up to the pet store that he realized why he had driven there.

Ozzy was gone, and in a way, it was on his conscience. It only seemed right to get a new puppy for Zoey as a gesture of

atonement.

But as he walked among the rare breeds, his gaze kept being drawn to a memory of a scrappy little gray mongrel that somehow

seemed more sincere, more beautiful than the ones before him.

Hesitating only a moment, he chose a pristine white pup and, carrying it in a crate, inquired about Zoey’s whereabouts.

Learning that she was in the hospital, he immediately set off in that direction.

Halfway there, he realized that he wouldn't normally do such a thing for anyone else. His brow furrowed as he pondered whether it

was his involvement that had dragged Zoey into this mess to begin with.

Pressing the accelerator, he continued toward the hospital.

Zoey's fever had broken, and she was awake, though her lips were cracked and bloody. She said nothing, staring blankly at the

ceiling, haunted by dreams of Ozzy wagging his little tail, and then of Wendy heartlessly dropping him from a height. Pain throbbed

a place that

her life: everything she tried to hold onto inevitably

and placed it beside Zoey. “Drink ssoup;

sit up, her stomach churning at

clutched her stomach, “Cornelia,

her distress, Cornelia nodded. “I'll leave for now and check on you

lost too

and the fever, Zoey had lost a significant amount of

a smile but found it impossible to

and zoned out, wearing a hospital gown with the window ajar, letting in a

threaten to break her.

followed by its opening. She assumed

look up.

door closed, and a familiar presence made her turn. Standing by the door

this had been yesterday, Zoey wouldn't have been able to stay composed, but now,

ever truly liked Fitch? Liking him was exhausting, painful, and she never

you,” he said, his voice as detached

moment of supposed amends.

Zoey blinked, uncomprehending.

given it was the first the'd cto

and flung it at

word he had hurled

“Get out.”

eyelashes quivered, his brow

reaching for a cup and throwing it at his forehead with

get out,” she repeated, her voice

to rage, but then he saw something in her eyes—a lifelessness that unsettled

standard-size hospital gown hanging loosely

when she looked at him, the light that used to shine

unable to comprehend this

the best he could muster

a gesture of politeness in response to the scandalous videos that had surfaced