Behind My Ex-husband Cold Eyes

iliarity but now felt distant, like a stranger trying to piece together the fr

but her heart betraying her calm exterior. "Why afte

uilt, or perhaps the faintest trace of sorrow. It was gone as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the

ured. "I made a terrible mistake, Tiana. I left when I shouldn't have. I hur

back into our lives and expect everything to magically fall into place, Sebastian

't ready back then. I wasn't the man I needed to be for you or for Ivy. I left

polished, as if he had said them a thousand times to himself, preparing for thi

Why did you leave without a word? Without a trace? We didn't even hear from

ll of painful memories. Sebastian's eyes flickered brie

u both by stepping out of the picture. I didn't want to drag you into a life that I couldn't offer you, a

ou don't get to make decisions for me, Sebastian. You don't get to decide wh

. I was scared, Tiana. And I was selfish. But I'm asking for a chance to make it right. Not just

imple? You think you can just walk back in and everything will be fine? You don't understand, Sebas

st time. I don't expect to. But I want to try. I know I don't have the right to ask for anythin

er wanted to believe him, to believe that he had changed, that maybe there was a chance for them to rebuild somethin

bout Ivy. It's about me too. I'm not the same person I was when w

to forget. I don't expect you to just let me back into your life with open arm

t years trying to move past the hurt, trying to forget the life they had once built together. And now he wa

g. "I can't promise that I'll ever forgive you for what you did.

sk of both relief and resignati

d to be careful, for her own sake as much as Ivy's. Sebastian's return had opened a door to a past sh

time. "And I need you to understand that this won't be easy. You can't

I'm willing to do whatever it takes to

-but also as if a new, heavier burden had taken its place. She had made a decision to

and glanced back at Sebastian. His eyes followed her,

pped out into the morning light, determ

er mind. Sebastian's words echoed through her thoughts, each sentence a sharp reminder of the hurt he had caused her. But she couldn't deny the flicker of hope

he was truly ready to be the man he claimed to be now. And more importantly, before she could

t any longer. The past had a way of catching up with you, no matter how hard you tried to outrun it. And now, the future was unfolding before h

by the conversation with Sebastian. She tried to push it to the back of her mind, focusing instea

on the kitchen table. Ivy, ever perceptive despite her young age, had learned to read her mother better than anyone. After all, Tiana had always b

sat together on the couch, watching a movie. Ivy's small hand reached

of hair from Ivy's face. "I'm just tired, sw

et the subject drop, curling up besi

't focus on the film.

n taken aback by how vulnerable he had seemed, how his usual confidence had faltered for a brief moment

heir shattered dreams alone, and no amount of regret or remorse could erase that. But at the same time, she couldn't deny the possibility that maybe-

t for another day, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, her stomach

el

carrying a certain urgency. "I know you're proba

she wasn't sure if she was ready to face him again. But then she thought of Ivy. What if th

g slowly. "I'll meet you

before she had a chance to reconsider. She grabbed her coat, gather

ening the harsh edges of the world around her. She spotted Sebastian standing near the

miliar weight of his gaze, a look she hadn't experienced in years. Her heart

o talk," she said, kee

g. This isn't just about me and you anymore. It's about Ivy. I didn't just leave you-" He paused, as though struggling with the right wo

You weren't there. You weren't there when she cried for you. When she asked me where you were. I had to lie to her. I had to tell her you were busy,

r forgiveness, but I'm asking for a chance to make it right. I won't make any promises I can't keep, bu

in of his abandonment, but now, faced with him again, it all came rushing back. But there was something else now too. A part of her wanted to believe him, to let him in,

ifting to meet his. "I don't know if I can trust yo

spend the rest of my life trying t

ncomfortable, as the weight of their shared

both need time. I can't promise anything right now. But I'm willing to let

I'll take whatever time you're willing to give me

s fragile reconciliation would unfold. But for the first time in years, she allowed herself a slive

etween them. She wasn't sure how things would end, but one thing was certain: the road a

t her day at school, Tiana found herself lost in thought, the conversation with Sebastian replaying in

ake the feeling that things were changing. That Sebastian's return, though long

came next, they would be stro