Ex-Husband's Regret

Arson
“You’re kidding me, right?” I ask her, hoping that she was just joking.

She shakes her head sadly before handing over her phone.

AVA SHARP’S HOUSE BURNS DOWN HOURS AFTER SHE REVEALS HER IDENTITY AS HOPE

FOUNDATION’S FOUNDER.

I read and re–read the title of the news, hoping that this was one big joke. I’m proven wrong when I

scroll down and see the video of a burning house.

As much as I didn’t want to believe it, there was no way to deny that it was indeed my house

burning.

With my heart in my throat, I place Mary’s phone down and stand up quickly. My movements are

jerky as I rushed out of the room.

“Ava, wait” She calls me but her words fall on deaf ears.

Faces blur as I move at a speed that would put vampires to shame. Nothing registers in my mind

as I get outside.

Getting into my car, I peel out of the parking lot just as Mary burst through the door. She waves.

her hand. Trying to make me stop. I ignore her and keep driving.

My head was in turmoil. Anger and panic wage war inside me.

Did I forget to turn off my stove and that’s what caused the fire? I had no answer because I couldn’t

remember if I had turned it off or not.

My phone rings with an incoming call from Rowan. I ignore it. I wasn’t in the right frame of mind

to deal with him.

I get more calls from Ethan, Letty and even Travis and mother. Just like with Rowan’s call, I ignore theirs too. I just wanted to get to my house and see how much damaged they caused.

“Fucking bitch, watch where you’re going” a man screams and gives me the middle finger.

In my rush to get home, I almost ran him over.

“Sorry” I shout out the window, but he doesn’t listen. He instead continues to curse me and I

+15 BONUS

Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into my neighborhood.

I drive slowly as there are civilians, cops, police cars and a fire truck. I bring my car to a stop and walk a short distance to where my house was burning.

I watch in horror, unable to believe that it was true. Firefighters were trying to extinguish the fire, but even I knew that by the time they’re done there won’t be anything left.

I feel my heart break as I watch the fire consume my house. It may not be grand but it was mine

and Noah’s home for the past few months. I loved it and I had so many good memories there. 1

Tears threaten to fall. Why was this happenifng to me? Haven’t I been through enough?

deep voice brings me back

me. He looked at me with sympathy and I hated that more than

ask

I don’t know what I would have done if others suffered because of

phone, I was worried” he answers

badly, but I knew I wouldn’t get it from him. Couldn’t get it from

I give my house one final looking before turning and walking away. There

I hear his footsteps behind me. I was out of

I think I’ve lost Rowan, only to be surprised when he opens the passenger door and plants his large body

you doing?” I shriek in

am I allowing you to be on your own he

“Get out I snap.

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He ignores.

my fucking car,

either you

choice”

We have a stare down for a couple of minutes. Eventually,

I ask

here or had his driver

who takes cabs.

when I need him” he mutters

and then

have

to

it?” I

going to

my phone I call my real–estate agent. He picks up on

happened to your house” he says in a high pitched

have something for me, anything really,

homeless”

in a hotel for whatever period of time. I don’t know what I will do if he

and it’s perfect for you. I’m sure you’ll love it” he says

now, I want to check it out. If

before

could have just

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been so quiet and I had been so focused on getting a house that

he was with me in the

thanks… I can buy myself a damn new house and that is exactly what I

help”

his breath, but it’s too low for me to

quiet for a while. The atmosphere in the car

last time I checked, your father

him, but then I realized what he was doing. As much as he was probably curious, he also wanted to distract me from my thoughts. To distract me from the

ask for a divorce or you would. Personally I thought it would be

I left, but I didn’t care.

used to and I couldn’t do that on my teacher’s salary, so about four years into

that the probability of that company succeeding was small. They were sure that I would lose my

a big company and very successful in its field. I was still a share hold but a silent

outs of managing a business. From there, I started investing in

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have not made a bad investment. After the companies grow, they either

as a member of the