Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 100

Chapter 12

I didn’t respond

Nathum didn’t have aber me this time either.

He turned and stormed down the stairs, his footsteps pounding against the comfrets undil they faded into

Nathon had his pride.

Apologizing, making promises, laying himself bars like that that was already as far as he was writing to beat.

But none of it could undo what he’d done to me.

I’d already made up my mind.

I wasn’t forgiving him.

And I sure as hell wasn’t taking his money.

I’d rather take a gap year and retake everything than beg him for anything.

I never wanted to see those looks again–the ones Harper and her friends threw at me tonight. The pity mixed with disgat. The caud croy

When I got home, Mom was still awake.

And so was Grandma Elizabeth–which almost never happened this late.

They were both sitting in the living room, the TV off, the apartment eerily quiet.

The second I walked in, Mom jumped up with this forced brightness, like she’d been waiting for hours. Grandma wheeled herself over too, her face soft but unreadable.

T

“Alina, sweetheart! You’re back.”

Mom’s voice was too cheerful. Too steady.

“I looked up the program you got into at University of Miami–it’s actually incredible. Really top–tier. And they have tons of scholarship opportunities. You’re gonna love it there.”

She reached out and squeezed my hand, her smile unwavering.

“And don’t worry about money, okay? Business has been great lately. We’re doing fine. Better than fine, actually,”

Grandma took my other hand, her grip surprisingly strong.

“And I’m feeling so much better now, sweetheart. You don’t need to worry about me or the house or anything here. Your only job is to go to school and make the most of it.”

Her voice was calm. Reassuring.

But I could see it in both their eyes–the strain they were trying so hard to hide.

The exhaustion. The fear. The quiet resignation of knowing they’d have to stretch every dollar even thinner just to make this work.

Ex Wife Moving > Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations. You’re Single Now

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Chapter 12

And they were still smiling at me

The guilt was suffer ating

My throat closed up. My chest ached so badly I thought my ribs might crack,

This tea iny boil.

All of it.

Because I’d been stupid enough to believe Nathon actually cared about ine.

Because I’d thrown away everything we’d worked for on a drunken promise under some inistletoe,

And now my family–my mom, who worked sixteen hour days; my grandma, who could barely walk–was going to sacrifice even more just to cover for my mistake.

I couldn’t let that happen.

“Mom. Grandma.”

My voice came out shaky, but I forced the words out anyway.

“I’ve been thinking… and I don’t think I should go this year.

“I want to take a gap year. I’ll retake the SATs and apply to NYU again next year. I can work, help out with the truck, save up-”

“Absolutely not.”

Mom’s voice cut through mine like a knife.

Her smile vanished. Her whole body went rigid.

“Alina, don’t you dare say that again. You got into an amazing school. You’re not throwing that away.”

“But Mom-”

“No.” Her voice cracked slightly, but she held firm. “You worked your ass off for this. You earned it. And you’re going.”

Grandma wheeled closer, her expression stern now.

“Alina, listen to your mother. You are not taking a gap year. That’s not even up for discussion.”

“But the money-”

“We’ll figure it out.” Mom’s voice was fierce now, almost desperate. “We always figure it out. That’s not your problem to solve.”

She grabbed both my shoulders, forcing me to look at her.

“You are eighteen years old. Your job is to go to college and build a future for yourself. That’s it. Do you understand me?”

Her eyes were glassy. Her hands were shaking.

But she wasn’t backing down.

And somehow, that made it so much worse.

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Chapter 12

Because I could see how much this was costing her. How much she was willing to sacrifice just to make sure I didn’t give up.

But I couldn’t let her do that.

I couldn’t.

My vision blurred. My throat burned.

I pulled away from her grip and turned toward my room without another word.

“Alina

“Im tired, Mom. I’m going to bed.”

I shut the door before she could say anything else.

I leaned back against it, sliding down until I was sitting on the floor, knees pulled up to my chest.

Then I pulled out my phone and deleted everything.

Nathon’s contact. Harper’s Instagram. Every message. Every photo. Every trace of them.

Gone.

I buried my face in my arms and cried until I had nothing left.

People have to pay for their mistakes.

And I wasn’t going to let my family pay for mine.

Going to Miami was too expensive. Even with scholarships, the cost of living there was astronomical compared to New York.

And with the way things were between me and Nathon now, there was no way in hell I was ever accepting his “help.”

I’d rather work for a year. Save up. Try again.

Anything but this.

The next morning at breakfast, I brought it up again.

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