Goodbye Forever Ex-Husband (by Ammund) novel Chapter 214

Chapter 214

OLIVIA’S POV

“That’s not possible, Dad,” I said, my voice sharper than I meant it to be, still trying to piece together the sudden announcement he’d just thrown at me. My thoughts were scrambling, like papers blown about in a gust of wind.

“And why not?” Dad asked, his eyebrow arching high in that familiar way that always made my heart sink a little.

“Dad, you and Mom are about to get off a four–hour flight,” I began, counting off each reason on my fingers. “You must be exhausted, even if you won’t admit it. And Charlie…Charlie will definitely be tired. He was in school this morning, now he’s sat through an airport and a flight, and he’ll barely have time to settle before you want him to stand in front of cameras?”

I took a quick breath, feeling the words spill out faster as my frustration grew. “Besides, I’m sure he’s hoping that cook him something nice to eat. He misses that, Dad. And we still don’t even know where we’re staying yet. We h The announcement is going to take hours, and by the time it’s over, it’ll already be night. We can’t figure out hous night.”

ho

finally sees me, I’ll

range all that first.

e middle of the

For a moment, the line was silent except for the faint murmur of voices behind my dad. Then I saw it: the shift in his expression, the hard edge softening just a bit as the realization sank in.

“She’s right, dear,” my mom’s gentle voice cut in from the background, soothing as always.

“Of course I am,” I said, my tone softer now, though my heart was still pounding. “I’m not saying we shouldn’t make the announcement, Dad. Just that we need to settle in first. We’ll get everything ready today, and then tomorrow, first thing in the morning, you can make the announcement.”

Dad’s eyes stayed locked on me through the screen, and for a moment I wondered if he’d insist anyway, as he sometimes did. But then he let out a quiet, thoughtful hum. “Hmmm. First thing in the morning, no excuses,” he said finally, his tone firm but no longer cold.

“Yes, of course,” I agreed quickly, a small wave of relief passing over me. “Now that’s settled, I’m coming to the airport to pick you all up.”

“Bye, honey,” my mom called warmly. Dad gave me a small nod, and then the screen went dark as the call ended.

The moment the screen blacked out, the mask of calm I’d been holding cracked, and I let out a long sigh, pressing the heel of my palm against my temple. My head throbbed lightly, a dull ache born of stress, worry, and the hundred thoughts racing through my mind.

“Well, that was something,” Damien said, his voice dry but not unkind as he watched me from across the room.

I lowered my hand and met his gaze, the corners of my mouth twisting into a tired half–smile. “Something,” I echoed, but my voice was weary.

A moment of silence passed between us, the weight of everything hanging heavy in the air. Finally, I exhaled, shaking my head as if it might clear the mess of my thoughts. “How and when did they even decide to come to New York?” I muttered, frustration spilling into my tone. “And they didn’t tell me until they were already on their way? It’s like they planned it behind my back.”

Damien leaned against the table, crossing his arms loosely over his chest. “Well, I mean… technically, they can go anywhere they want,” he pointed out. “And you didn’t exactly tell them when you were coming back to New York either.”

I raised both brows in surprise, folding my arms across my chest. “Whose side are you on, exactly?” I asked Damien, my voice sharper than intended.

“Sorry,” he replied quickly, raising his hands in surrender. His apology came so fast it almost made me smirk but I held it back, the irritation still simmering inside me.

“Let’s forget about the fact that they didn’t even tell me before coming,” I continued, my tone heavy with frustration. “What about the fact

1/3

Chapter 214

n4 Aug

that they took my son along with them? Without asking me! No matter what my dad said about the online school, this is still going to interrupt Charlie’s education. His life keeps getting thrown around just because we can’t sit still in one place.”

(20

I opened my mouth to argue but the words caught in my throat. The realization sank in, slow but steady, like water filling a cup. Would I really have been okay if they’d left Charlie behind in Mexico? Even though I was upset about them bringing him without asking, I would have been even more furious, heartbroken, really if they hadn’t. The idea of them arriving here, stepping into my arms at the airport without Charlie running ahead, his little face lighting up at the sight of me… it was something I couldn’t even picture without a hollow ache forming in my chest.

“How about we talk about this some other time,” Damien suggested, his voice turning practical. “Right now, you ne them to stay, now that they’re coming.”

Verify captcha to read the contentVerify