A Divorce He Regrets (Raina and Alexander) novel Chapter 21

J’

Liam was all that mattered now, and if it meant working with Raina to protect him, so be it. Hatred for her infidelity could wait, Liam’s safely couldn’t

When I got to the hospital, I saw them through the glass door–la and Dominic, deep in conversation, 1 paused, curious, and as I watched, I saw Raina’s expression shift, a mixture of frustration and intensity, and she said something that caught my attention: “I have the evidence, but I need to find my phone.”

My brows knit together. Evidence? And what exactly was she looking for on that phone? I stepped closer, straining to hear more, but they spoke too softly. Just as was about to go in, I saw them hug. Dominic’s arms wrapped around her, her head resting against his shoulder in a way that made my blood boil. I’d been patient for long enough. I was done watching her play house with her loves. That was enough. She was still my wife, whether she knew it or not, and I was done watching her with her so–called lover, Dominic, like I was some outsider to my own life. The business deal, the carefully built project, the restrained façade — it was all falling apart in that moment. None of it mattered ammor

–

The door burst open as 1 stemmed in, and without thinking, “Get your filthy hands off her, you fucking dick! “I growled, the words seething out with every ounce of venom I had. I went straight for him. I didn’t give him a chance to react–swing, my fist connecting with his jaw, the impact sending a thrill of satisfaction through me. I didn’t stop. I hit him again and again, each blow furled by the anger I’d bottled up, all the betrayals and lies that had piled up between us

“Alex, stop!” Raina’s voice cut through the red haze, but I barely registered it, my fists still raining down on him. She screamed, louder this time, her voice piercing through the chaos. “Leave my brother alone!“.

Her words froze me in place, my fist still raised. Brother? I tumed to her, breathing hard, the realization hitting me like a slap. I looked between them, at Dominic’s bleeding lip, at Raina’s shocked, furtous expression, and suddenly it was as if the ground had fallen out from underme

Her brother. All this time, all the suspicions, the accusations I felt the truth settling over me like a weight, crushing and undeniable. And as I looked into her eyes, 1 saw the hurt, the betrayal–everything I’d caused by belleving the worst of her

Comments

Support

Share

19

RAINA

Alex had to have gone mad. Completely unhinged, and he seemned barely able to recognize it. His anger, though, wasn’t what had three off balance—it was the regret flashing in his eyes. Regret, as if he had the right to feel any of it after all this time. I had no ase for lils regret now. If anything, I wanted him to regret nothing, to see his mistakes clearly so that his pulli wouldn’t interfere will what needed to be done. I’d made a grave error myself, though

Why, why, did I have to let it slip? Dominic was my brother, not some stranger or lover for Alex to light over, but that fact had been meant to stay buried until a gotten Liam out of his life entirely. There’d been no other way to ensure he wouldn’t pull snemething, at the last miinite, some sudden amoral epiphany that would make him claim I had no right to keep his son from him, but now it was out. He knew Dominie was my bauther. And the look in Alex’s eyes told me he would use this knowledge somehow, that he’d use it to spend everything I’d set in motion.

1, “now that the cats out of the bag, there’s no need to hold back, is there?

Without asecond’s besitation, he swung at Alex, his fist minnecting with Alex’s Jaw in a way that left a satisfying crack in the air. Alex staggered back, stunned, but I didn’t deter him, and to the first time, I saw somethibing in him shatter–something beyond pride, something that I didn’t know he had.

“That’s for hurting my baby sister all those years ago, Dominic hissed, his voice dripping with restrained fury. Alex stared, momentarily mure, his shock giving way to something saww and desperate that he tied to maschut falled.

Trouldn’t deal with this now, not when their was a more pressing threat out there. Eliza, the poisoned treatment, Liam’s deteriorating condition–it all weighed down on tie with a suffocating intensity. There wasn’t time for this petty brawl, not when my child was still in danger.

“Enough,” I muttered to Dominic, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward the door. “We’re wasting time.”

Dominic’s eyes softened a bit as he looked at me, his face still twisted in anger but tempered by concem. “You okay?”

have. Not now. Not ever.”

Dominic let out a dry laugh, wiping at the blood trickling from his split lip “Trust me, faina, I would’ve been fine taking a few more punches. Alexander has nothing on mir

I paused, watching him through narrowed eyes. His jaw was bruised, and there was a fresheut just above his eyebrow. Despite his bravado, he looked more rattled than he’d admit. For all his stubbornness, he was my brother, and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of guilt seeing him like this offered him a sarcastic smile, hoping To masky own rising panic.

“Good to know, tough guy.” I replied, crossing my arms. “But you’re not as indestructible as you think do get yourself checked out.”

Dominic rolled his eyes, deflecting the concem, but he didn’t argue. “And what are you going to do while I’m off playing patient?”

“Keep Alek off the trail,” I said simply. “If you’re around the hospital getting patched up, bel assume you’re still occupied. It’ll buy me the time I need to check the old hospital ”

He buffed, his brows knitting in frustration, I watched as Dominic’s eyes darkened, and I say the stubborn resolve that had always marked him. “No, l’innoi Teaving your side, not when you’re planning to go dipping for evidence by yourself. It’s too dangerous, and you know it.”

I wanted to argue, le push him away so that I could bear this burden alone. But my voice caught, my throat tightening with emotion I couldn’t let him see. The much was, I was afraid–afraid of finding noiling, afraid of finding something damning enough to change everything even it deep down it was exactly what I wanted. Domine must’ve seen the turmod in my eyes because his gaze softened, but his tone didn’t waver