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

something missing. I could

that has to do with

consider me

but Ava doesn’t pay any

her feelings leaving nothing behind

towards the door but then stopped. “Where is my

house” Travis answered. His eyes drilling

“Looks like you’ll get that talk

drive you” I

but she’s

is hurt. Not forgetting that she

the Uber like I had planned

she turned and left. We stare at

be close to me. So

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

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

and drive off. Breaking every speed limit, we get to Kate’s house just in time

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 small talk

get this over with” she says in

partner with me. I agreed because I thought it was a good

solid company. It was later that we realized that the company belonged to a criminal gang. Neither James nor I wanted anything illegal to touch our companies. We knew that

dragged the word, her brows were furrowed as if

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

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

at

then turn to Ava and the same dead and cold

her voice is cool as she

up. “I’m going to

taking this seriously” I say through gritted

she know what this meant? How much danger she

planning her

am and like I said I don’t

+15 BONUS

growled portraying the same frustration I was feeling. “You were shot today shouldn’t

that I was in the right

to speak but Ava

you, not me. Everyone in this damn city knows

use of going after someone

if she died?”

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

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

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

her eyes

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

the rest.

and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal with it

her in surprise. Unable to recognize the woman standing

1. looks like Ava

to intimidate her. In the past

but not

everything to

people’s protection for as long as I can remember, I don’t know why they’re all