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.

I didn’t mind at all.

as he turns around with Noah, and they follow a

I tell her

happy. I hadn’t lost

she says as tears fall down

hate seeing her heart break. I can see it in

was killing her.

arms since they had

love you too, mom,” I breathe. “And don’t worry. Ava and the baby

a daughter,” dad says, and

“What?” I stammer.

radiant smile. “You have a baby girl. Her

I couldn’t hold them back any more, so they fell freely

name, but I was afraid Ava

day and they settled on Iris if she was a girl and

breath gets caught in my lungs, and my parents notice

happy

just that

and Dad gives me a

that day. I just happened to mention it to Ava. I told her if I ever had a son, he would be named Kaden. The fact that she

of us can say anything, a

You’re her father; you deserve to see her,” mom

nurse. After they’ve dressed me up, she leads me into a room and

my daughter.

attached to her brings

going to be okay?”

there, Iris becomes my world. I doubt anyone could

She’s doing well so far, and we’re confident that she’ll be okay,” she answers

the

a perfect being. She was everything to me and she

hadn’t convinced me when she told me she was pregnant, then I would have given up on

for the next few years, but I will do everything I can to protect her, and because of her, I will be on my best behavior just

before Mary, as she introduced herself, tells me