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”

I could see it

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

consider me his

tore from her mother’s throat but Ava doesn’t pay

leaving nothing behind

door but

house” Travis answered. His

you’ll get that talk

you”

from Emma but she’s got to

is hurt. Not forgetting that she

down. “No need. I’ll use the

else, she turned and left. We stare at the place

at any opportunity to be close

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

before she gets home and leaves before we’ve had

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

was weird seeing this side of her. Most of the time she

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

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

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

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

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

his wife and children. They blamed him because he was the one that had approached them even though he

at Emma

the same dead and cold

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

“I’m going to

taking this seriously” I say through gritted

what this meant? How much danger she was in.

planning her

I don’t see how

+15 BONUS

feeling.

is that I was in

goes to speak but Ava cuts her

not me. Everyone in

me part of this family, so what’s the use

if she died?”

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

eyes are devoid of any emotion. It’s like she

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,

faces the rest. Staring each and every one

and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal with it by myself. I’d rather die than accept any

in surprise. Unable

1. Ava has

trying to

down but not this

you want everything to be about you” she seethes

these people’s protection for as long as I