Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 1982

Shirley was half asleep when she heard someone calling her name.

“Shirley.”

She blinked her eyes open and saw Abner's face, still feeling a bit groggy.

Abner pulled back his hand. “An hour's up.”

Shirley quickly adjusted her seat upright and patted her face.

She had a good nap, and upon checking the time, she realized an hour and forty minutes had passed, which surprised her.

“Didn’t I ask you to wake me in an hour?”

Abner looked down, seeing her sleeping so soundly; he just couldn’t bring himself to disturb her sleep.

“I’ll go grab a coffee. What would you like to drink?”

“Nothing for me.”

Shirley opened the car door, paused, and then asked, “What did you just call me?”

Abner's eyes shifted awkwardly. “You’re young; I didn’t want to call you ‘auntie’.”

She cracked a smile. “Alright, Shirley it is then.”

She returned with a cup of coffee for herself and a glass of milk for Abner.

“Have something to drink. If you need to use the restroom along the way, let me know in advance. I’ve still got four hours of driving ahead, and we probably won’t get home until around 7 p.m.”

“Okay.”

After taking a few sips of her coffee, she hit the gas again.

“Abner, don’t keep things bottled up inside. I’ve never raised kids, nor do I have a younger brother, so I might not always know how to communicate with you or guess what you’re thinking. So, if there’s something you want or something you want to do, just tell me, okay?”

“Whether it’s a hardship or not, I’d rather find out by walking the path myself. No need for others to dictate my life. Even if I end up battered and bruised, it’s my own doing, right? From elementary school to college, you never interfered with my education. But now, as graduation nears, you’re pushing me to get married. I can’t accept that!”

“Mark also mentioned you inquired about that kid you sponsored last year. You’re getting more rebellious by the day. I told you to stop sponsoring him. Why meddle in someone else’s life?”

Hearing this, especially with Abner sitting right next to her, Shirley felt a pang of embarrassment.

She took a deep breath. “Dad, I took on that responsibility myself. You taught me to bear my own burdens, hoping it’d make you and mom proud. Let’s not discuss this now; I’m driving.”

She hung up, her eyes reddening.

Abner sat quietly, slightly afraid, fearing that his hoped-for future was just a dream, scared that Shirley might decide to turn the car around and send him back.

If he were more understanding, he should ask her to do just that, to take him back.

But he genuinely wanted to continue his education, realizing at that moment just how selfish human nature can be.