Ex-Husband's Regret

A new version
Rowan

There is something that happens inside you when you see your ex–wife, the mother of your son, shot and bleeding on the cold cemetery ground. Something I never thought I would feel towards Ava. 1

When I saw the men with guns pointing at us, I didn’t fucking think. I knew Noah was safe with my parents so my instincts took over and I dived for Emma. I would die for her and I was prepared to do just that..

I was relieved when the shooters ran after seeing the police but my relief was short lived when one of the officers shouted for an ambulance. I turned around wondering who was hurt, only I didn’t expect it to be Ava and seeing her hurt almost brought me to my knees.

It was a flurry of events after that. The ambulance arrived and the officer refused to let Ava go until he made sure she was safely in the able arms of the doctor.

I was pissed at his reluctance to let her go, she was my wife, I mean ex–wife but more importantly I was pissed at myself. I should have protected her. If something worse had happened to Ava, how would I have explained it to Noah? How would I justify the fact that I had failed to protect his mother?

So here I was pacing back and forth in the waiting room. So fucking worried because we hadn’t gotten a word since Ava was rushed to the emergency room. No one had come out to inform us of the prognosis.

“Please let her be okay” Kate, her mother whispered.

This is the first time I’ve heard any emotion in her voice when she talked about Ava I guess losing her husband and then almost losing her daughter softened her a bit.

We were all here with the exception of Noah Travis was seated next to Kate who was next to

Emma

I sat down unable to control the anxiety inside me. I needed her to be okay for Noah’s sake. I kept telling myself

I don’t know fo

ow long we were waiting, but when I looked up I saw Ava. She was over at the nurse’s station handing off papers. Her left arm was in a sling as she took her credit card and put it in her bag.

With difficulty, she managed to get out her phone, while still holding her bag. You could see that it wasn’t an easy task by the frown on her face.

+15 BONUS

“Ava” I called as she was about to walk past us. Her eyes still on her phone.

She looked up. I immediately noticed that something about her was different. I couldn’t place my

finger on it but it was there.

“What are you doing here, did someone else get hurt?” she asked. Her voice flat and devoid of any

emotion.

“How are you doing?” her mom asked instead of replying.

“Unfortunately for you, I’m not dead yet”

Her answer took everyone by surprise. Not only because of how she worded, but because of how cold it was.

I decide to cut in. “Where are you going”

“Home” was her only answer.

“Your hand is in a sling, you can’t drive” I reason.

“That’s why I called an Uber”

“Ava we need to talk. It’s about you father” Kate whispers making Ava turn to her mother.

something missing. I could

don’t see what that has

didn’t consider

throat but Ava doesn’t pay any attention to her. It’s like she

all her feelings leaving nothing behind but

door but then

mom’s house” Travis answered. His eyes drilling

sighed. “Looks like you’ll get that

you” I

me a frown from Emma but she’s got to understand.

Noah’s mother and she is hurt. Not forgetting that she was

me down. “No need. I’ll use the Uber like I had planned and

anything else, she turned and left. We stare at the place she just

be close to

she rejected my offer.

+15 BONUS

before she gets home and leaves before we’ve had the chance to

we all jump into my Cadillac Escalade and drive off. Breaking every speed limit, we get to Kate’s house just in time to

my parents, Gabe and Ava who was basically ignoring them. It was weird seeing this side of her. Most of the time she would try to

this over with” she

to partner with me. I agreed

that the company belonged to a criminal gang. Neither James nor I wanted anything illegal to touch our companies. We knew that it would be inevitable if we continued with

word, her brows were furrowed as if

sigh, already feeling drained by the events of today. “Turns out the gang members were among the most wanted, they didn’t take it well that we had ousted them so they

him pay then came after his wife and children. They blamed him because he was the one that had approached them even though he didn’t they were involved in illegal business. We thought that they

my parents already knew. I look at Emma

turn to Ava and the same dead and cold look is

do with me” her voice is cool as she looks at us. Her eyes piercing

going to

it Ava, you’re not taking this seriously” I say

much danger she was in.

with us planning her

said I don’t see how

+15 BONUS

growled portraying the same frustration I was feeling.

is that I

to speak but Ava cuts

of you, not me. Everyone in

part of this family, so what’s the use of going after someone he wouldn’t care one

if she died?”

the air leaving us.cold. This was so unlike her. What the

turns to look at me. Her eyes are devoid of any emotion.

bothered me. I hated that I couldn’t

her eyes

someone whose safety should be your priority then. it’s the woman

then faces the rest.

you fake ass concern. I don’t fucking need it and if it turns out I’m danger I will deal

stare at her in surprise. Unable to recognize

her.Emma springs up and stares her

down but not

you want everything to be about you” she seethes making Ava laugh