Attracted By My Ex-wife

The place was enveloped in a pleasant warmth.

Playful banter filled the air as Anne and Kevin poked fun at Sam and Emily. Even Eddy and Sally joined in with their own witty remarks. It was rare for the East Mountain Villa to be so full of life.

It was as if Kevin was once again learning to smile after knowing nothing but coldness for the past two years. His smile and laughter grew more and more frequent as the hours passed.

After dinner, they maids served some cut-up fruits for dessert. It was already late, but they had barely noticed the pass of time as their conversations deepened into the night.

They were still enjoying each other's company when Emily said, "It's time for us to go back, Anne."

She snuck a furtive wink at Sam and squeezed his hand lightly. Kevin and Anne had just been reunited after being apart for such a long time. Emily wanted to give them their space.

Sam quickly picked up on her intentions and nodded, "It's way past bedtime for the children too. We'll go ahead and let you rest."

"Are you two lovebirds in such a hurry to have your date?" Anne said. Her face was a little flushed from drinking a few glasses of wine, and her voice had a lilt to it as she spoke. "I still have a lot to say to Emily. Can't I borrow your girlfriend for a while?"

"Anne," Emily chastised her lightly. She was used to Anne's antics, but she felt a little embarrassed, and frankly a little sorry for Kevin. "Why do you always make fun of me? You and Mr. Kevin haven't seen each other in a long time. I think the two of you have more things to talk about."

"Emily is right," Kevin, who had been silent, answered. He turned to Anne with an almost cold expression and continued, "I'm sure you will have plenty of time to catch up. I also have a lot to talk about with you."

"You... But we aren't..." Anne began to protest.

But before she could finish her words, the sound of the doorbell rang across the room.

"I'll get it!"

Eddy jumped up excitedly and rushed towards door.

"Dad!" His voice floated from the end of the hall. "Grandma is here!"

It was Selma.

At the mention of her name, an uneasiness settled upon Anne. Two years ago, Selma had welcomed her and treated her well, but Anne was only too aware that it was because she was pregnant with Kevin's child. A lot could have changed in the long stretch of her absence, and Anne had no idea what Selma thought of her now.

Still, it would be common courtesy to see her, now that she had come here.

Kevin was taken aback by his mother's sudden appearance as well. He knew that Selma had been out on a business trip. She shouldn't have been back for another three to five days, but here she was now.

Anne recovered quickly and stood up, going by herself to the door to greet Selma. The others naturally followed her to the porch.

"Mom, I thought your trip would take a few more days," Kevin said. A frown creased on his forehead as he watched Selma, who was dragging her suitcase. "You should have told me you were coming back sooner. I would have sent someone to pick you up."

"Send someone to pick me up?"

Selma scoffed, eyeing Anne from head to toe as she stood next to Kevin.

She did not bother with pleasantries, nor did she try to hide her distaste. Her sharp eyes raked over Anne's figure. Anne could almost feel the cold graze of her glare. She had an inkling that her sudden arrival had something to do with her own return, and that Kevin and the others had been caught in the crossfire of her anger.

treated warmly—she knew that she and Selma were cordial at best. Still, where was all this animosity coming from? Shouldn't it be a happy

holding a grudge

calmness and greeted her as if

"Mom."

was timidly hiding behind Kevin. "Sally, call

like the fierce-looking woman in front of her, but she obeyed her mother's words. "Hello,

eyes shifted from Anne

could not decipher his own mother's anger. Sally did as she was told

mulled this over, his eyes met Anne's and

you calling

any warmth. Sally shrank back behind Anne,

ask you instead.

her chest as she looked down at Sally, almost as if she was

could you say that? Sally is my daughter and your granddaughter!" Kevin said, stepping

you are still a happy family? And how

voices alarmed Sally and she burst into tears from the

could you say that

the sight of his sister’s tear-streaked

Stay out of this. You don't understand." Selma pulled Eddy forcefully to her

"Mom."

the end of her tether. She could stand here all day and listen to Selma curse at her and call her whatever name she saw fit, but it was a different matter altogether if her children were involved. She could not just stand back and keep on listening to her attack her daughter. Her fists

if she had been the one wronged? She could have looked past the fact that Selma was slandering her to her face,

another thought came to her. Who was spreading these rumors?

have been

would

as she spoke again. "I can guarantee you that Sally and Simon are our children—Kevin and mine. We can take a paternity test, if you still insist on believing all these nonsense. I have nothing to hide. As for your personal opinion about me, there is nothing I can do about it, but please don't say these things in front of the kids. They might not

"You bitch!"

words touched a sore nerve,

hissed, then turned to Kevin. "Kevin, listen to this woman! Are you

Kevin’s forehead deepened as he struggled to hold on to

one trouble after

else than to envelop himself in the warmth that he had lost. But it was as if the world was adamant in

as he rubbed his temples wearily. "You shouldn't have talked

apologize for protecting

wants to hurt

expression on his face

Find out the truth?

eyes widened as she listened to

Did he...?

Also believe those words?

absolute ridiculousness of it all. Was that all she amounted to the man she had kept thinking of and longed for every day for two years? Were her words only as

as much as he wanted to, he could not comfort her at this time—not under Selma’s

Anne felt the heavy pang of heartache fill her