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”

It’s about you father” Kate whispers making

something missing. I could see it in her

her mother. “I don’t see what that

didn’t consider me his

but Ava doesn’t pay any attention to her. It’s like she

leaving nothing behind but

door but then stopped. “Where is my

answered. His eyes drilling into

like you’ll get

you” I

but she’s got to understand. No

and she is hurt. Not forgetting

Ava turns me down. “No need. I’ll use the Uber like I had planned and meet

We stare

jump at any opportunity to be close to me.

she rejected my offer.

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go before she gets home and leaves before we’ve had the chance

we all jump into my Cadillac Escalade and drive off. Breaking every speed limit, we get to Kate’s house just in time to see Ava closing the door behind

get out. Getting inside the house we find my parents, Gabe and Ava who was basically ignoring them. It was weird seeing this side of her. Most

over with” she says in irritation as she takes a

came to me with a business proposal that he wanted to partner with me. I agreed because I thought it was a good investment”

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

were furrowed as if she was confused about where this was

were among the most wanted, they didn’t take it well that we had ousted them

he was the one that had approached them even though he didn’t they were involved in illegal business. We thought that they were bluffing with their

already knew. I look at Emma to find shock

same dead and cold

is cool as she looks at

stands up. “I’m going to take Noah and

not taking this seriously” I say through gritted

she know what this meant? How much danger she was in.

planning her funeral

like I said I don’t see how this involves

+15 BONUS

the same frustration I was feeling. “You were shot today shouldn’t that tell

him. “All it tells me is that

Kate goes to speak but

not me. Everyone in this damn city knows that none

me part of this family, so what’s the use of going after someone he wouldn’t

if she died?”

air leaving us.cold. This was so

look at me. Her eyes are devoid of any emotion. It’s

looked at me bothered me. I hated that I

her eyes

worry about, someone whose safety should be your priority then. it’s the woman beside you. She was his perfect little princess, so

faces the rest. Staring each and every one

ass concern. I don’t fucking need it and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal

at her in surprise. Unable to recognize the woman standing

1. Kate looks like Ava

springs up and stares her down, trying to

but

always you want everything to be about you” she

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 I’d rather not have fake people around me…Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go