Ex-Husband's Regret

Chapter 0247

Ethan.

muh

When I got the news from one of the inmates that Ava had been shot, I felt like my heart had been split wide open by a sledgehammer. Everything in me died when he told me that there was no further news, but the grapevine believed that she was dead because no one could survive that shooting. That, and the

fact that her family kept quiet about it and there was no official report that was released,

I love Ava, and I love my baby even more. Knowing that they both hadn’t made it almost drove me to

insanity.

I waited the whole time with my heart in my throat. I waited for my parents to reach out and give me the bad news. When night arrived without a word from them, I was convinced that the rumors must be true. somehow. Otherwise, why would they take so long to make contact?

I barely slept an inch the whole night. Worry and anxiety were constant companions, driving me to the edge of insanity and filling my head with painful thoughts.

At one point, I cried to God. Praying that he could somehow do a fucking miracle. I didn’t believe in

any deity, but at that point, I was willing to believe in anyone who would tell me that they were both alive and okay.

My cellmate, the guards, and other inmates gave me pitying looks. I felt horrible, I looked horrible, and I was pretty sure that I was fucking dying inside.

When moming came, I could barely keep my breakfast down. The images of one adult–size casket and another tiny one kept wreaking havoc inside my head. It’s all I could think about. It’s all I saw.

My heart skipped a beat when I was called into the warden’s office. I didn’t say anything when I saw my parent’s lawyer.

When he told me that I had been pardoned for a few hours, a ray of hope started rising inside me. On our way to the hospital, that small ray bloomed into something bigger when Christopher, the family lawyer, told me that Ava and the baby were alive but in the ICU.

I thanked whatever power that had done it. They were alive, and that’s what mattered the most.

Ethan, are you okay?” Mom’s voice brings me back to the present.

I stare at her, wondering how the fuck I got so lucky. Most women in her position would have kicked me out of their lives, but she didn’t. Neither did my father.

My eyes search for him. They finally land on him. He was a few feet away from me, and he had his hand clamped on Rowan’s shoulder.

as his eyes seared me with hate. I didn’t mind at all. The feeling was fucking mutual, given

as he turns around with Noah, and

relieved, Mom,” I tell her

hadn’t lost them. There was still hope for

you, Ethan,” she says as

hate seeing her heart break. I can see it in her eyes. The

was killing her.

my arms since they had removed my

worry. Ava and

says, and

“What?” I stammer.

both give me a radiant smile. “You have a baby girl. Her

tears I was holding back? Yeah, I couldn’t hold them back any more, so they fell freely

name, but I was afraid Ava would be pissed that

answers. “Apparently they were discussing names one day and they settled on Iris if she was a

gets caught in my lungs, and

happy

that

watery smile, and Dad gives me

told her if I ever had a son, he would be named Kaden. The fact that

any of us can say anything, a nurse

her father; you deserve to see her,”

nod at her and follow the nurse. After they’ve dressed me up, she leads me into a room and straight

my daughter.

her so small with tubes attached to her brings

be okay?” I choke

wrong. Right there, Iris becomes my

so far, and we’re confident that she’ll be okay,” she answers with

every father probably thinks the same, but damn, Iris was

to believe that Ava made such a perfect being.

pregnant, then I would have given up on the best gift anyone could

will do everything I can to protect her, and because of her, I will be on my best behavior

more minutes with her before Mary, as she introduced herself, tells me it’s time for