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

wasn't a place that didn't

her life: everything she tried to

in with a steaming bowl of broth and placed it beside Zoey.

blinked slowly and tried to sit up, her stomach churning at the

as she clutched her stomach, “Cornelia, could I have a moment

check on you later. The nurses will bring your meals. Try

you've lost

fever, Zoey

but found it impossible

leaned back and zoned out, wearing a hospital gown with the window

threaten to break her.

snapped her back to reality, followed by its opening. She assumed Cornelia had forgotten something

look up.

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

have been able to stay

Liking him was exhausting, painful,

white dog inside. “To make it up to you,” he said, his voice as detached

moment of supposed amends.

Zoey blinked, uncomprehending.

mistook her silence for shock, given it was the first the'd cto see her of

of soup and flung it

turn to deliver the word he had hurled

“Get out.”

eyelashes quivered, his brow furrowed. “What did

it at his

she repeated, her voice eerily

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

how much she had withered, the standard-size hospital gown hanging loosely on her frame. Her eyes no longer held

she looked at him, the

unable

best he could

a gesture of politeness in response to the scandalous videos