Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 101

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Chapter 13

I wandered the streets for hours, aimless and numb.

My mind raced. I pulled up articles on gap year policies, looked into SAT prep programs, researched which schools accepted late applicants.

By the time I finally headed home, the sun was already setting.

And waiting outside our apartment door was the last person I wanted to see.

Serena Mikaelson. Nathon’s mother.

She had an assistant with her–some guy in a crisp suit, standing stiffly behind her like a bodyguard.

Mom had been just about to leave for her evening shift at the truck. She froze the second she saw Serena, her face going pale with shock.

The two of them used to be college roommates. Best friends, even. They’d bought houses in the same gated community when they got married.

That’s how Nathon and I grew up together.

But after Dad’s business collapsed and we moved out of that neighborhood, they stopped talking. Just like that. Five years of silence.

Serena stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, her eyes sweeping over our tiny apartment with thinly veiled disdain.

She sat down on our worn–out couch like she was doing us a favor just by being here.

Then she got straight to the point.

“Olivia. It’s been *way* too long. God, we’ve all been so busy, haven’t we? But you look… good. Healthy.”

Her tone was light. Casual. But there was an edge underneath it.

“And Alina–wow, what a smart girl. Getting into University of Miami, that’s *amazing.*”

She paused, her smile widening.

“Anyway, I won’t waste your time. I’m here to give you some money.”

Her assistant stepped forward and placed a sleek black card on the coffee table.

“Living expenses in Miami are *brutal,* I know. So here’s ten thousand dollars. For Alina. To help her get started.”

Mom and I exchanged a stunned glance.

What the hell was happening?

Serena laughed–light and airy, like this was all perfectly normal.

“Oh, don’t look so shocked! Nathon came to us this morning asking for a *hundred thousand dollars.* Can you believe that? Said he wanted to ‘sponsor‘ Alina’s education in Miami.”

My stomach dropped.

Heat flooded my face. My ears burned.

Chapters

Mom went pale.

Serena’s smile didn’t faher, but her eyes went cold.

“Now, don’t get me wrong–we have the money. A hundred thousand isn’t going to break us.

“But no one’s money grows on trees, you know? And frankly, sponsoring some random girl’s outrageously expensive out–of–state tuition? That’s a bit much, don’t you think?”

She leaned back, crossing her legs elegantly.

“So I talked Nathon down. Told him ten thousand was more than generous. Consider it… paying back the favor your late husband did for us

years ago.”

Her voice dripped with false sweetness.

“If that’s not enough, well… you’ll just have to figure out the rest on your own.”

She sighed dramatically.

“Poor Nathon’s been locked in his room all day. Won’t eat. Won’t talk to us. He’s *so* upset we wouldn’t give him the full amount. That boy has

*such a soft heart.”

Mom shot to her feet, her voice shaking with barely controlled rage.

“Serena. Take your card and leave.

“Alina’s education is *our* responsibility. Not yours. Not Nathon’s. *Ours.*

“I have work to do. Please go.”

She grabbed the card off the table and shoved it back into Serena’s hand.

Then she walked to the door and held it open.

Serena didn’t move right away.

She just smiled–slow and condescending–and rose to her feet with infuriating grace.

“Olivia, you’ve always been so *stubborn.*

“I told you years ago–you should’ve remarried. Found someone stable. But no, you insisted on doing this all by yourself. Running that little food truck, scraping by…

“And now you’re letting your *pride* get in the way of your daughter’s future. Is that really worth it?”

Mom’s hands clenched into fists at her sides.

“Get. Out.”

Serena didn’t argue.

She walked toward the door, her heels clicking sharply against the floor.

But just before she left, she stopped and turned back to look at me.

Her eyes were sharp. Calculating.

“Alina, sweetheart, I really *am trying to help. If you don’t want the money, fine. But do me a favor–talk to Nathon, would you? Tell him to stop fighting with his father over this.

“It’s not worth it.”

My whole body was shaking.

I forced the words out through clenched teeth.

“Mrs. Mikaelson, I never asked Nathon for money, I have no idea why he went to you. This has nothing to do with me.”

Serena’s eyebrows lifted, genuine suprise flickering across her face.

“Oh? How interesting.

“So you’re telling me you “didn’t convince my son to apply to University of Miami with you?

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