Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

6. A new version

Rowan

There is something that happens inside you when you see your ex–wife, the mother of your son, shot and bleeding on the cold cemetery ground. Something I never thought I would feel towards Ava. 1

When I saw the men with guns pointing at us, I didn’t fucking think. I knew Noah was safe with my parents so my instincts took over and I dived for Emma. I would die for her and I was prepared to do just that..

I was relieved when the shooters ran after seeing the police but my relief was short lived when one of the officers shouted for an ambulance. I turned around wondering who was hurt, only I didn’t expect it to be Ava and seeing her hurt almost brought me to my knees.

It was a flurry of events after that. The ambulance arrived and the officer refused to let Ava go until he made sure she was safely in the able arms of the doctor.

I was pissed at his reluctance to let her go, she was my wife, I mean ex–wife but more importantly I was pissed at myself. I should have protected her. If something worse had happened to Ava, how would I have explained it to Noah? How would I justify the fact that I had failed to protect his mother?

So here I was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. So fucking worried because we hadn’t gotten a word since Ava was rushed to the emergency room. No one had come out to inform us of the prognosis.

“Please let her be okay” Kate, her mother whispered.

This is the first time I’ve heard any emotion in her voice when she talked about Ava I guess losing her husband and then almost losing her daughter softened her a bit.

We were all here with the exception of Noah Travis was seated next to Kate who was next to

Emma

I sat down unable to control the anxiety inside me. I needed her to be okay for Noah’s sake. I kept telling myself

I don’t know fo

ow long we were waiting, but when I looked up I saw Ava. She was over at the nurse’s station handing off papers. Her left arm was in a sling as she took her credit card and put it in her bag.

With difficulty, she managed to get out her phone, while still holding her bag. You could see that it wasn’t an easy task by the frown on her face.

+15 BONUS

“Ava” I called as she was about to walk past us. Her eyes still on her phone.

She looked up. I immediately noticed that something about her was different. I couldn’t place my

finger on it but it was there.

“What are you doing here, did someone else get hurt?” she asked. Her voice flat and devoid of any

emotion.

“How are you doing?” her mom asked instead of replying.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m not dead yet”

Her answer took everyone by surprise. Not only because of how she worded, but because of how cold it was.

I decide to cut in. “Where are you going”

“Home” was her only answer.

“Your hand is in a sling, you can’t drive” I reason.

“That’s why I called an Uber”

father” Kate whispers making

could see it in

what that has to do with me,

consider

Ava doesn’t pay

all her feelings leaving

towards the door but then stopped. “Where is my

mom’s house” Travis answered. His eyes

sighed. “Looks like you’ll get that talk

you”

frown from Emma but she’s got to understand. No matter my

she is hurt. Not forgetting that she

the Uber like I had planned and

she turned and left. We stare at the place she just stood

would jump at any opportunity to be close to me. So we were all

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

and leaves before we’ve had the chance to talk” Kate says

off. Breaking every speed limit,

parents, Gabe and Ava who was basically ignoring them. It was weird seeing this side of her. Most of the time she would try to make small talk with them even when they

we just get this over with” she says in irritation as she

to me with a business proposal that he wanted to partner with me.

belonged to a criminal gang. Neither James nor I wanted anything illegal to touch our companies. We knew that it would be inevitable if we continued with them so we found a way to terminate the contract, and

Ava dragged the word, her brows were furrowed as if she was confused about where this

among the most wanted, they didn’t take it well that we had ousted them so they went into hiding. We thought that since the police were involved they

to make him pay then came after his wife and children. They blamed him because he was the one that had approached them even though he didn’t they were involved in illegal business. We thought that

Gabe and my parents already knew. I look at Emma to find shock and

to Ava and the same dead and cold

voice is cool as she looks at

“I’m going to take

taking this seriously” I say

How much danger

with us planning her

am and like I said I don’t see how this involves

+15 BONUS

I was feeling. “You were shot

that I was in the

to speak but

not me. Everyone in this

what’s the use of going after someone he wouldn’t care one

if she died?”

the air leaving us.cold. This was so unlike her. What the

devoid of any emotion.

at me bothered me. I hated that I couldn’t see any

her eyes

someone whose safety should be your priority then. it’s the woman beside you. She was his perfect

the rest. Staring each and

turns out I’m danger I will deal with it by

and we stare at her in surprise. Unable to recognize

1. Ava has

trying to intimidate her. In the

down but not this

everything to be about you” she seethes

know which hole you’ve been hiding dear sister but nothing is ever about me. It’s always you but that’s not what we’re discussing right now. I’ve lived without these people’s protection for as long as I can remember, I don’t know why they’re all of a sudden interested in my safety. It’s fake and