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

missing. I could see it in

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

didn’t consider me

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

off all her feelings leaving nothing

moved towards the door but then stopped. “Where is my

house” Travis answered. His eyes drilling

“Looks like you’ll get that talk

drive you”

me a frown from Emma but she’s got

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

“No need. I’ll use the

and left. We stare at the place

opportunity to be close to me. So we were all

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

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

jump into my Cadillac Escalade and drive off. Breaking every speed limit, we

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 with

she says in irritation as

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

signed the required documents thinking this was a 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 it would

her brows were furrowed as if she was

of today. “Turns out 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

your father. They promised to make him pay then came after his wife and children. They blamed him because he was the one that

and my parents already knew. I look at Emma to find shock and fear

Ava and the same dead

is

going to take

this

meant? How much danger she was in.

with us planning her funeral

I

+15 BONUS

I was feeling. “You were shot today shouldn’t

me is that I was in

Kate goes to speak

the three of you, not me. Everyone in this damn city knows that

the use

if she died?”

us.cold. This was so unlike her.

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

the way she looked at me bothered me. I hated

her eyes

it’s the woman beside

then faces the rest. Staring each and

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 protection” she finishes

we stare at her in surprise. Unable to recognize

1. like Ava has just

and stares her down, trying to intimidate her.

but not this

like always you want everything to be about you” she seethes

sister 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