Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

Ava

“I still don’t understand why I have to go. Why can’t I just stay here with you?” Noah complains. A frown marring his handsome face.

He’s been sore about this whole thing since I told him that he’ll be leaving with his grandparents. At first he was excited about it but then he became saddened when he realized that neither I nor his father would be joining him.

His school had been understanding of our situation His teacher even agreed to send lessons to mother so that he isn’t left too behind.

“I already told you baby, this is a grandparents–grandson kind of vacation…it’s just for you and you grandparents.”

After talking to the chief he assured me that they’ll be sent somewhere tropical.

“You’re going to a beach. Haven’t you been begging us to take you for a vacation?” I add with a

mischievous smile.

The word ‘beach‘ immediately catches his attention. All the complaints he had, now lost.

Noah is obsessed with the ocean. He loves beaches so much that he once cried for a whole week

after we returned from a vacation in the Maldives. He’d wanted us to move there. When we refused

he’d pleaded for us to just leave him there.

I smile at the memory. So grateful for the happiness and joy Noah has filled my life with.

“You’re not lying to me are you?” he asks, pulling me back from my thoughts.

“Would I ever lie to you?”

“No” his frown turns into a full blown smile. His grey eyes shining in happiness. “I guess it’s okay then. I’m not mad at you anymore”

“Why were you mad at me?” I ask

“Because you refused to come with me, but it’s okay now. You can always join us later”

I wanted to tell him I won’t be joining him but I stop myself. I wasn’t going to risk him going back.

to being sad and moody again.

“Now, come one let’s go or we’ll be late” I take my handbag and sling it over my uninjured shoulder

While I grab his small suitcase, he grabs his duffel bag and rushes downstairs Carefully, I bring

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I was just about to order an Uber when my door bell rings. I rush to open before Noah can. He has a

tendency to open the door without first asking who is on the other side. No matter how many

times I caution him. No matter how many times I tell him to ask first and not to open if the person

on the other side doesn’t answer or he doesn’t recognize his or her voice. He just never listens.

Opening the door, I groan when I see who is on the other side.

Why did it seem like that the moment I decide to get over Rowan is when he seems to be

everywhere I turn?

“Dad!” Noah rushes past me and throws himself on his father.

“Hey buddy” Rowan greets him then hugs him close.

He sniffs him. Breathing his scent in. I once asked him why he does that and he told me Noah’s

scent just calms him. Like how fragrances calm other people down.

He puts him down and faces me. Noah rushes back to the living room. His excitement making

him hyper.

I’ve been asking him this question

days.

He shrugs his shoulder.

you to the airport” he says as he gestures to my injured arm as a way

explanation

him. Like always, his face gives nothing away. I now understand that he is

to me. I’m the only one he looks at coolly.

a sort of friendly

that. I’ve

was lie. The last thing I wanted was to be stuck with him in a

to get to

His cold voice sending shivers

wonder why I fell for him. He is cold,

for the hills screaming when I first started

doing everything in

leave, I’ll meet you at

to my house and throwing

I won’t allow

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to chest. His eyes flash and his

to let him intimidate

that fucking order and get your ass into my car” he growls through clench

begins to rise and I clench my fist. Usually

but I no longer give a

fucking puppy you think you can fucking command” my voice was starting to rise. I

me. For years I kept my mouth shut because I didn’t want to fracture. what I thought we had. But

he says in a

you two fighting again?” Noah’s voice cuts through the

at us sadly. Damn it! I hate Noah seeing this side of us.

with us fighting all

aren’t. We just can’t agree on something” I side

coldness on his face has disappeared. Just like me, he would

for Noah. Including tolerating my

your mom wanted to go with an Uber’since she can’t drive

with a

just

deep breath and cast my eyes heavenward. Damn him for throwing me under

he

in defeat. “Alright, fine” I

I do for

and rushes back to the leaving room before coming back

I tell Rowan and then leave to

and then pick things up. I give the room one last glance

in place before

falls from my hand. Rowan wraps an arm around me and steadies me before I can fall. I jump away from him

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you to wait at the foyer”

to do you know this”

“Let’s just go”

I can. Then he picks Noah’s abandoned suitcase, turns around and leaves I watch him wondering what has gotten into him. Not once has he helped me before. He was acting strangely and I didn’t like

I get my feet moving and lock the door, Rowan and Noah were already seated in the car. Reluctantly, I approach the car and

watching. some cartoon. Once he’s focused on something it’s hard to get his attention. Another ten minutes in and I was going crazy. I’m

turn on the radio but Rowan stops me

arm?” he asks His eyes were on the road but he looked at me briefly when he asked. the

when a man does the one arm driving? Shaking those thoughts from my mind I focus my

“Fine”

than just a one word answer?” he asks

I? You’ve never been interested in anything I’ve said before. In fact you would go to great lengths to tune me out”

push it back down. I’m set on healing from

that we would just get where we are

was asking for you, haven’t

my nerve Rowan. Can you just ignore me

He was getting pissed. Probably because I wasn’t acting

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wants. Trying to be like Emma. I did everything I could to be the wife he could fall in love with. Now I had shed that skin and he