The Ex-Wife He Can't Get Over

elyn

lm, speaking words meant to comfort. I sat still in the l

ek. No matter what I did-top of my class, full scholarship, job promotions-it never seemed to

oment she came into our lives. She wasn't even family-at least not by bloo

d

Said she needed the money for Scarlett's college fees. I had to pack everyth

st time I reall

d holidays. Even then, I stayed just long enough to smile, s

dn't feel sorrow. Just the same dull a

doctor visits, reading bedtime stories through a sore throat-but somehow, his world always

d more time with Lucas. Make up for the days w

t

sure there was any

tepped into the back hallway and made my way toward the office behind

tle everything t

t. Yes, of course. Let me

r. I reached into my b

have enough, b

er. Not even as a person, really. But she

was the e

welcomed here-clearly, I wasn't-but b

didn't owe

as I handed over the car

late message from a friend or

as E

do and can't attend y

t I wasn't shocked. I couldn't even say I was disappointed anymore. This was just how it was with him. No matt

with clients. Flights he

as a wife. Not as anything

deliver a single document in person. And now, with my mother gone, all

died tomorrow, Ethan

ush home. Maybe he'd send a brief message to s

No silence. No

lik

to show up for my mother's funeral-and c

me to brace for it. But it sat there, hea

direction unless it was to hand off Lucas like a chore. And even my son-my

ilent. Alone. Watching life go on around me wh

ice, down the hallway with walls lined with muted flower arrangemen

; it was better to enjoy my own company th

rea, a soft voice from t

t moments ago a

aus

eadline running across the bottom: Business Mogu

stoppe

e he

ha

ollowed him as he stepped forward and handed them to her-Scarlett. She wore a soft b

s. It wasn't a polite smile-She loo

Et

ing-her name, I think-and his voice cra

hug

rminal, like no time had passed. Like this

m him at my mo

ven a

This he ha

important matter"

't spare five minutes

a meeting. Not

Sca

l along. If it weren't for what happened ten years ago-if it weren't for th

othing. That if I just tried hard enough, stayed patient enough, gave

with her-so open, so gentle, so pres

never

one pretend

ain. My hand didn't shak

like I was writing instructions for

get a

s for a second longe