Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 30

I got called out in the afternoon.

My brother suddenly threw his arm around my shoulders and said he was taking me out to eat.

Something only available this season–so we had to drive to another city.

He pulled stunts like this all the time. I had nothing better to do, so I didn’t question it.

When we arrived at an open–air restaurant, my brother excused himself to the restroom and disappeared.

I sat there alone waiting for ages. Then soft, romantic music started playing.

The lights converged on the stage.

Leland walked out cradling a guitar, strumming gently as he sang.

Someone wheeled a cake and flowers over to my table.

When the song ended, he stepped off the stage.

“Avia Montgomery. I’m going to say what I said last night–properly this time.”

Under the starlight, he looked directly into my eyes.

“I like you. I’ve liked you for a long time. I’ve always liked you.”

He held out a sapphire ring.

His sudden disappearance earlier–it was to find a gift and set all this up.

Because when I was younger and still a hopeless romantic, I used to go on and on about how confessions and relationships should be treated with ceremony.

So he gave me this.

Fireworks burst across the sky in brilliant colors–patterns I once doodled messily in a notebook years ago.

“I know you just got hurt. I know you’re not ready to trust someone’s feelings so quickly.”

“Don’t worry. This confession isn’t to pressure you into answering. I just wanted to tell you–stop overthinking. You might be a little silly sometimes, but you deserve to be cherished.”

Sharp–tongued as always, he could barely get through a few sentimental lines without throwing in some sarcasm to

Ex–Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now

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Chapter 8

cover his nerves.

But I saw it–under the fireworks, the hand holding the ring was trembling slightly.

“You’re really not that great, you know.”

His fingers tightened.

I smiled.

“But your taste? Impeccable.”

I snatched the ring and slipped it on, holding my hand up to admire it under the fireworks.

“Something this beautiful belongs on a hand this beautiful.”

Leland froze.

My brother–who’d been MIA this whole time–reappeared right on cue and shoved him forward.

“Yo, my sister just accepted a sarcastic asshole like you. Aren’t you gonna hug her and say thank you?”

But Leland couldn’t find his usual nonchalant composure. He looked at me, his breathing uneven.

“Can I hug you?”

I’d never seen him this polite before.

Actually, thinking back–maybe I had.

We’d known each other for years, and he’d never once crossed a line physically. He’d always respected me.

I lunged forward and wrapped my arms around him.

“You’re hot. I’m not losing out on this deal.”

They really underestimated me.

I’ve never been the type to hesitate or second–guess myself.

When I loved Ryan, I loved him sincerely–gave him everything. The moment I realized he wasn’t worth it, I took it all back and moved on to the next person.

Whether it was Ryan in the past or Leland now, walking away from either wouldn’t be a loss or regret for me.

Because I’ll always dare to love genuinely and wholeheartedly–and I’ll always own my choices without looking back.

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Chapter 8

Life is meant to be lived as a series of brilliant, romantic, warm moments.

Having landed myself another gorgeous man, I had a huge appetite that night. I polished off an entire steak.

Leland, on the other hand, seemed dazed–his reactions half a beat slow, occasionally zoning out and smiling to

himself like an idiot.

My brother shook his head.

“Damn, sis. Your luck with men is seriously questionable. The last one was trash, and this one looks brain–dead.”

“If he’s dumb, I’ll just swap him out.”

I said it casually.

Leland immediately snapped back to attention and grabbed my arm.

“Swap me out? I’ve already locked down your hand and your neck. You’re stuck with me for life.”

My brother and I both cringed.

Nothing scarier than a serious guy trying to be cheesy.

After dinner, Leland hesitated for a moment before telling me about Ryan.

Part of him didn’t want to–afraid I’d fall for Ryan’s tricks and go back to him out of pity. But he also didn’t want to hide things from me.

I smiled and poked his cheek.

I’d wanted to do that since we were kids–back when he had that intimidating scowl and I didn’t dare. Finally got my chance.

“So even the great CEO Foster has moments of insecurity, huh?”

I handed him the financial documents I’d compiled.

Got to live out my own power–boss fantasy for a second.

“I was gonna let it slide and move on. But since he had the audacity to come after *you*? Time to teach him a lesson.”

I’d already filed the police report.

Then Leland handed me an even bigger bombshell.

Through my father’s connections, Ryan had secured a contract with a government agency.

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Atilations. You’re Single Now

Chapter 8

The project was highly classified–participants were carefully vetted at every level. But then Savannah came back, worked her white–moonlight magic, and weaseled her way into the project.

Savannah told Ryan she’d been betrayed by the old boss she’d gone abroad to work with.

That was a lie. She came back specifically for this classified project-*on behalf of that same boss.

By the time Leland uncovered it, part of the intel had already been leaked.

As the project lead–and the one who’d brought Savannah in Ryan was directly implicated.

“The most damning evidence? Savannah sent it herself.”

While she played the loyal partner reminiscing about old times with Ryan, she was also quietly saving evidence to cover her own ass.

“I got there too late. She’d already run.”

Leland’s tone was full of guilt.

But all I felt was a sense of clarity. Life really *isn’t* the same no matter who you’re with.

When I was with Ryan, being his girlfriend felt worse than being his friend. He was generous and loyal to his buddies–but constantly let me down.

Leland was different. This man with the sharp tongue and hard exterior–now that he was my boyfriend–had somehow learned how to feel guilty and apologize.

“It’s fine. She’s gone, she’s gone. We did our part as citizens.”

The rest? Leave it to the authorities.

Even if they never caught her, she’d never be able to set foot on the land that raised her again.

We never heard anything about Savannah after that.

As for Ryan? He lost everything. Even in prison, he couldn’t sit still–constantly sending people to find me, saying he wanted to see me.

I ignored him, obviously.

A few years later, when he finally got out, the first thing he did was come looking for me.

But everything had changed. The butler turned him away at the gate once again.

“Mrs. Foster and Mr. Foster are traveling the world together!

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Chapter 8

That’s right. Leland and I got married.

We loved each other. We understood each other.

More importantly, our values, our backgrounds–everything aligned.

We were lovers, yes. But we were also partners in every sense of the word.

He gradually handed off his business responsibilities and traveled the globe with me. No fixed destination–just wherever we felt like going. When we got tired, we’d settle down somewhere for a while. Free and easy.

I don’t know what the future holds. But right now, in this moment, I’m happy.

And I’ve always lived only in the present.