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”

we need to talk. It’s about you father” Kate whispers making

was something missing. I could see

mother. “I don’t see what that has to do with me, the

didn’t consider me

doesn’t pay any attention to her.

off all her feelings leaving nothing

the door but then stopped. “Where is my

house” Travis answered. His eyes drilling

sighed. “Looks like you’ll get

you” I

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

still Noah’s mother and she is hurt. Not forgetting that she was

use the Uber like I had planned and meet you

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

Usy, she would jump at any opportunity to be close to me. So

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

gets home and leaves before we’ve had

speed limit,

park the car and 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 of the time she would try to make

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

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

a criminal gang. Neither James nor I wanted anything illegal to touch our companies. We knew

brows were furrowed as if she

most wanted, they didn’t take it well that

promised 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 they were bluffing with their threats that’s until they

look at Emma to find shock

and the same dead

any of this has to do with me” her voice is cool as she looks at us. Her eyes piercing us

going

Ava, you’re not taking this

know what this meant? How much danger she was

with us planning her

and like I said I don’t see

+15 BONUS

same frustration I was feeling. “You

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

to speak but Ava

you, not me. Everyone in this damn city

this family, so what’s the use of going after someone he

if she died?”

the air leaving us.cold. This was

eyes are devoid of any emotion. It’s like she was dead on the

me bothered me. I hated that

her eyes

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

created” she pauses then faces the rest. Staring each

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

we stare at her in surprise. Unable to recognize

1. Ava has just slapped

trying to intimidate her.

but

you want everything to be about you”

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 not have fake people around me…Now if