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” Kate whispers making Ava

could see it in her

see what that has to do

consider me his

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

all her feelings leaving nothing

towards the door but then stopped.

house” Travis answered.

you’ll get that talk

drive you” I

but she’s got to understand. No

still Noah’s mother and she is hurt. Not

me down. “No need. I’ll use the Uber

saying anything else, she turned and left. We stare at the place she just stood a

be close to me.

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

and leaves before we’ve had the chance

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

Ava who was basically ignoring them. It was weird seeing this side of her. Most of the time she would

over with” she says

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

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 be inevitable if we continued with them so we

her brows were furrowed as

didn’t take it well that we had ousted them so they went into hiding.

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

already knew. I look at

to Ava and the same dead and cold look is still on

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

going to take Noah

it Ava, you’re not taking this

this meant? How much danger she

with us planning her funeral

I don’t see

+15 BONUS

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

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

speak

three of you, not me. Everyone in this damn

this family, so what’s the use

if she died?”

cut through the air leaving us.cold.

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

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

her eyes

there’s someone you should worry about, someone whose safety should be your priority then. it’s the woman beside

pauses then faces the rest. Staring each

fucking need it and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal

mother gasps and we stare at her in surprise.

1. looks like Ava has just

stares her down, trying to intimidate

down but not

want everything to be about you” she seethes

we’re discussing right now. I’ve lived without these people’s protection for as long as I can remember, I don’t know