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”

talk. It’s about you father” Kate whispers making Ava turn

missing. I could

she stared at her mother. “I don’t see what that has to

consider me his

tore from her mother’s throat but Ava doesn’t pay any attention to her.

feelings leaving

moved towards the door but then

mom’s house” Travis answered. His eyes

like you’ll get that talk

drive you”

earns me a frown from Emma but she’s got to understand.

was still Noah’s mother and she is

use the Uber like I had planned and

left. We stare at the

at any opportunity to be close to me. So

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

before we’ve had the chance to talk”

Breaking every speed limit, we get to Kate’s house just in time to see Ava closing the door

ignoring them. It was

she says in irritation

with a business proposal that he wanted to partner with me. I agreed because I thought it

that the company 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 reported them to the

furrowed as if she was confused

the gang members were among the most wanted, they didn’t take it well

him because he was the one that had approached them even

already knew. I look at Emma to find

same

how any of this has to do with me” her voice is cool as she looks at

going

Ava, you’re not taking this seriously” I say

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

planning her funeral

said I don’t see how

+15 BONUS

frustration I was feeling. “You were

glares at him. “All it tells me is that I was in the right place

goes to speak

you, not me. Everyone in this

family, so what’s the use of going

if she died?”

us.cold. This was so unlike her. What

turns to look at me. Her eyes are devoid of any emotion. It’s like she was dead on

me. I hated that I couldn’t see any emotion

her eyes

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

pauses then faces the rest. Staring each and every one

I don’t fucking need it and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal with it by myself. I’d rather die than accept any of your

and we stare at her in surprise. Unable to recognize the

1. like Ava has just

springs up and stares her down, trying to intimidate

but

such a little bitch, just like always you want everything to be about you”

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 I’d rather