To my surprise, Nathan didn’t flinch at the sight of Alex. Instead, he greeted him with a nod, his voice calm and neutral as if this wasn’t the man who constantly tested his patience. He crouched down, his focus shifting entirely to the kids.
“Hey, Liam. Hey, Ava,” Nathan said, his tone softening. His hand gently ruffled Liam’s hair. “How’s it going, buddy?”
Liam’s face lit up. “Hi, Mr. Nathan! Look what I made!” He held up a drawing—a chaotic mix of crayon lines and shapes.
Nathan smiled, studying the paper as though it were a masterpiece. “Wow, that’s amazing. Is that a dragon?”
“No, it’s a spaceship!” Liam corrected with a laugh, and Ava joined in, chiming excitedly about her own drawings.
Nathan’s warmth was undeniable, and for a moment, I let myself take in the scene. This was a side of him I hadn’t seen in weeks—kind, attentive, and completely unbothered by Alex’s presence.
Alex, however, wasn’t as composed. His jaw tightened visibly, his hands clenching at his sides as he watched Nathan interact with the kids.
“Nathan,” Alex finally said, his tone clipped.
Nathan glanced up, unruffled. “Alex.”
I could feel the tension thickening like an impending storm, but Nathan didn’t bite. His demeanor stayed calm, almost infuriatingly so.
Alex turned to me, his expression hardening. “We should get going,” he said pointedly.
“I’ll meet you outside,” I replied, my voice firm but polite. Alex hesitated, but with a deep breath, he turned and walked out, his shoulders stiff.
As the door closed behind him, I turned to Nathan. He stood slowly, his gaze meeting mine.
Before I could speak, Nathan stepped closer, his eyes earnest. “I don’t want to lose you,” he confessed. “The past month without you made me realize my life is empty without you. Please, go on a proper date with me.”
The words hit me like a slap, and before I knew it, I was returning the favor. My palm connected with his cheek in a sharp crack that seemed to echo louder than the screams from the nearby roller coaster.
“How dare you,” I hissed, my voice trembling with fury. “The only reason I’m even speaking to you right now is because of Liam. But now? There’s nothing left to talk about. Leave.”
Alex stared at me, his hand lightly brushing his cheek where I’d struck him. For a moment, I thought he was going to say something else, but he just shook his head and stormed off.
I stood there, trembling, my hands balled into fists. My chest burned with anger and hurt. His words kept echoing in my mind, each one digging deeper. Reckless. Throwing myself at Nathan. A whore.
I refused to let anyone define me like that. If Alex thought I was weak or careless, he was dead wrong. I wasn’t about to let his judgment—or anyone else’s—stop me. Right then and there, I made my decision. I would expose Eliza in court. I’d expose everything she had done to Liam, no matter how messy or painful it got.
And as for Nathan? I’d find out the truth on my terms. Not Alex’s. Not anyone else’s. Mine.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: A Divorce He Regrets (Raina and Alexander)