Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M

39. Underneath the surface

“What?” Emma whispers besides me in shock

The whole room is quiet. Everyone is completely surprised. No one saw this coming. No one

imagined that Ava would be the founder of such a large organization.

Hell, I was married to the woman and I had no clue That leaves a lot to be fucking said about me if

I didn’t know this about Ava

‘Did you know this?” Gabe asks, eyes and mouth wide.

“No” I growl pissed that I had missed such a thing.

I watch as she pushes back her chair She stands up and Ethan stands up with her while offering

her his hand with a smile she places her hand on his and he walks her towards the stage. I

clench my jaw when he places his hand on her exposed back when he helps her up the stairs.

Once she’s there, he steps down. She gives Mary a hug before she steps up to the podium

She smiles before clearing her throat

“Hi” she chuckles nervously “For some reason it’s easier for me to address a room full of rowdy

teenagers than a room full of adults”

This earns her a couple of smiles and laughs from people.

I don’t think there is anyone here who doesn’t know me and it there is, my name is Ava Sharp

Like Mary said, the reason we are here today is to celebrate all of you for your continued help in Hope Foundation Being a teacher, you see a lot of things at school Kids with bruises inflicted by abusive patents, kids going hungry because they don’t have lunch money, kids with tattered

clothes and shoes because their parents are so poor that even coming to school is a luxury and

kids who are homeless and live on the streets” she says, hei voice captivating her audience

pay this much

way i could fetarted with one boy in my class, then another, and another Behere kurmit I hat mote dono dozen children t was helping That’s where

safe haven for thein A place where

with buiding The Hope House and God blessed me

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#

began four years ago, we have expanded The Hope Houses

all ranging from a few months old to eighteen. We make sure

foundation is to help them. To give them hope for a better future. To give them hope that it doesn’t matter where they came from, they can still make it. To back them up as they make their way through life. So from the bottom of

and for every single donation. I pray for more blessings upon you” she finishes

away from the podium.

stand up to appreciate her. They continue to clap until she steps down from the

the podium. “That’s all for today, please have

have thought

underneath her surface?

that she was the founder of the largest children’s organization” Travis mutters, his eyes

was still seated at their table, but Ava was talking to some kids who had been waiting for her. One of them was a young

Gabe adds, the shocked look

grasp. It was like she had this whole secret life that I never knew about. I never miss a

on the seat that Christine had exited. I

I’m just exhausted, you’re Ava’s family

anything else, just picks up her tablet and begins typing something on it

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that Caleb Kingstone of Kingstone technologies?

he know

at where her gaze was directed. It was on the young man with Ava.

familiar

CEO and already has made a name for himself in the business world. At only twenty, he was already a success story. His techs were increasingly popular and he had earned himself a spot

I would have been worried about him taking my number one spot as the top entrepreneur in

money.

up with the idea of having his own company, Ava backed him up. She gave him the startup capital he needed. No one believed in him back then, except for Ava. Now his company is fast growing and it’s

shocking revelation. We stare at her. Each of us trying to absorb what she just told

snorting. “So in other words you’re saying she’s taking advantage of the kids under her care to

I’ve had enough of

you stop with the fucking snide remarks” I growl, hitting

when I glare at them. Emma looks at me like she’s never seen me before, but I was just so fucking sick and

have you been living?” Mary asks Emma in a sneer. “Ava doesn’t need anyone

are you talking