Chased by my Ex Husband novel Chapter 34

Grace

“ Come home with me, Grace. Come home and I will make it up to you.” He whispers, his eyes holding the longing, and plead.

For a second there, my heart stops beating. My eyes search his gaze, now gentle, and focused solely on me.

Didn’t I always want this? For Ethan to push Lily aside and reach me for once? I think.

Then, I burst out laughing. “ Have you gone deaf on top of dumb, Ethan? Did you hear what I said, and do you hear yourself now? Come home? What home? ”

“ Grace—” He takes another step closer.

“ Leave me.” I whisper, interrupting him. “ and sign the papers, Ethan. I want nothing to do with you. Besides, you already got what you wanted from me, right? You took my grandma’s inheritance and got control over the Whitlock Corp. Now you are unstoppable.”

“ No!” Ethan, grip tightens on my arm. “ I don’t want anything from you! Just come home, okay? I will return it to you. I will give you anything. I will forget you cheated on me and let you—”

“ Are you serious right now?!” I scoff, struggling to break free. “ Are you this stupid?! I never cheated on you. It was all your Lily’s doing. She... ”

I stop myself mid-sentence. Why should I bother? He didn’t believe me in the past so why must I repeat the history again.

My heart clenches as I stop fighting his grip and look into his eyes. “ I will not stop here. The longer you refuse to leave me alone, the more you and your Lily will suffer.”

“ Grace, why must you do this to me? I just loved Ethan so much. I am so sorry. I was not thinking right. I am so sorry.” Lily drops on her knees beside Ethan, drawing my attention to her. “ After everything I endured, I had lost the ability to think clearly. Sebastian, my ex-husband. He—He, Grace, he made my life hell. You can not imagine how I suffered...away from you all. I am so—”

Before I can register it, Tristin steps in my line of sight, his back to me and his eyes looking down at Lily’s crying face coldly.

“ How? ” He asks, his voice deep and low.

People have gathered around, recording the whole ordeal while the restaurant staff is stopping them. Once again, I have become a subject of people’s gossip but I can’t focus on it as I stare at Tristin.

“ You know how! ” Lily cries out. “ He beat me, chained me to the bed, starved me for days on end.”

Tristin hums and crouches in front of her. My breath hitches when bitter anger flashes across his eyes

“ Roberto, step away from her!” Ethan growls to my surprise and releases my arm.

Numbly, I glance at the spot he held until now and then lift my head to see his attention fixed on Lily.

“ He beat you, yet you have no marks. He chained you to the bed, yet you bear no scars. He starved, yet you returned looking healthy and happy? ” Tristin’s icy tone makes me look at him.

Lily’s tears stop as she looks taken aback by Tristin’s comment. The people around us whisper about her, her accusations and her state that doesn’t match it.

“ He was careful to not—to not leave permanent marks.” She stammers.

“ Do abused, innocent women break others homes, Lily? Do they hurt their sisters and kill innocent children? ” Tristin tilts his head to the side.

Tears leak out of Lily’s eyes again. She glances towards Ethan, pleading for help.

“ I was—was not thinking straight. I just wanted Ethan by my side. I was so scared and I thought only he could protect me. I never wanted to be like this. You know me Ethan. You know I have always loved you and Grace and I am not cold-hearted.” She sobs.

And as always, Ethan looks reluctant to either reach out to her or stay put. Given that he is not sparing me a glance now, I know the desire to reach out tops the urge to stay put.

Unwantedly, the old emotions of inferiority return with full force, making me take a hesitant step back.

Even after knowing she killed his child, he still wants to reach out to her.