A Divorce He Regrets

A

ic had insisted on me leading this project, not only because it would rile Alexander up-though that alone was enoug

s, after all, my first major project, and here I was, staring down the man who once shredded me in ways I

e'd picked together, as though it were some token he kept for himself. I felt a swell of sadness, the bitter, familiar ach

exander Sullivan's accusations. He stood across the room, rigid as always, and I felt the old urge to read his face, to searc

posure. "Before we sign," I said, watching him with a

though I kept my own eyes locked on Alexander. I wouldn't let myself look

t cool, indifferent. "A

. The irony made me almost smile, but I held my expression, my tone steady and firm. "I want to s

ion-broke through the iron in his gaze. But as quickly as it came, it vanished, rep

rly dismissive. "This is business, Raina. You're here

at he didn't want to deal with, to sidestep anything he didn't control. Before Dominic could step in, I

e one who needs this deal as desperately as you do. And I can always change

now, that I could stand here and dictate terms. For years, he'd bee

g my arms as I waited. "Are you going to keep making

of insults. I knew this must feel like betrayal to him, and yet, a part of

e bit out, his voice dripping with frustration. "I'll arra

re was something about the way he said it, like I was some inconvenience he had to tolerate. Like I was beneath him. And that familiar ac

but when he turned to me, I gave him only the coldest of glances. "Hu

mask, almost made me laugh. This newfound confidence felt l

h me, whispering, "Ar

t but resolute

way as if to say he trusted me to handle

ay," he said, his voice biting, a clear attempt to regain his upper hand. But before I could respond, my driver p

behind," I

hands grew clammy, my mind whirling. Why were we headed this way? It wasn't until we

out, my voice a trembling whisper. It felt like betrayal all over again.

His voice was infuriatingly calm, c

avier than the last, my heart pounding so loudly it nearly drowned out everything else. I co

reached

hospital bed, was my son. My beautiful, precious Liam. A machine beeped softly beside him, tubes and wir

r him, even though I couldn't bring myself to touch him. "Liam..." The whisper left my lips,

t broken, barely a whisper

th him? You. You're what's wrong. If you hadn't disappeared, maybe he wouldn't

ou're the one who took him from me!" My voice shook, and I took a step back, my hands balling into fists. "You're the one w

really wanted to be there for him, you wouldn't have run off to God-

uth, to make him understand. But I knew it would be useless; he'd already made up his mind. The man

me?" I demanded, my voice brea

you should have done years ago. Perform your motherly duty." He stepped clos

the demand pressing down on me. But even more than the demand was the sheer

lt like a slap, a reminder of just how little he tho

sk me to fulfill any 'duties' now," I said, each word a knife honed with years of pain. "You'r

he stand here and cast judgment, as if he hadn't been the one to cast me aside so ea

ing the flicker of something in his eyes-surprise, maybe even

wait for his reply. I couldn't bear any more of his arrogance or

the years of absence, and the helplessness, one thou

fulfill motherly duties when he wa