Ex-Wife Moving Wife Giving Birth? Congratulations, You’re Single Now novel Chapter 77

Chapter 10

Garrett thinks for a minute, slowly starts: “She barely got into our company.”

“Divorced with a kid, ex–husband stalking her–everyone at work avoided her. I remember seeing her hiding in the break room on the phone with her son. Makeup all cried off but still laughing, trying to cheer the kid up.”

“I felt bad for her. Let her join my team.”

“That night Lauren bought me spicy noodles, we had some drinks. That’s when she told me her ex abused her, she had to run with the kid. Without this job they’d literally starve.”

Garrett sighs softly.

Then he looks up, meets my eyes.

“Later her ex came back and hit her. I lost it and fought him.”

“After that, Lauren started depending on me. Begged me to protect her, protect her kid.”

“It’s all my fault.”

“I didn’t set boundaries. Didn’t clearly tell her when she kept looking at me like that I’m protecting you, not loving you.”

“I liked that worship. It’s my fault we ended up here, ruined both of you. Me turning out like this? I deserve it.”

“Karma.”

His lips curl bitter.

“Cass, if I could do it over, I’d still help her.”

“I can’t just watch someone fall apart.”

“But this time I wouldn’t let her into my life. Wouldn’t let her cross the line.”

Too bad time doesn’t rewind.

No such thing as if.

set the medicine in his hand and walk out..

The next day, Rhys shows up at the shop and grabs my hand–won’t let go.

“Cass, I’m leaving for Germany. Don’t miss me too much, okay?”

The staff around us are trying not to laugh.

nh? Congratulations, You’re Single Now

71.4%

Chapter 10

Someone whispers: “Who’s really missing who here? Hard to say.”

“I’ll come back to see you all the time.”

Any other day I’d tell him: please don’t.

But Rhys is looking at me with so much longing, so much heat–when our eyes meet I can’t bring myself to be harsh.

I straighten his collar, voice soft: “Safe travels.”

Rhys blinks rapidly several times.

Ears going red. Don’t know what dumb idea he’s cooking up now.

“…That’s it?”

“Not sincere at all.”

I punch him in the stomach. Hard.

“What else do you want?”

Rhys yelps, doubles over clutching his gut like a shrimp.

I laugh, lean in, and kiss his cheek.

He freezes.

Even more shrimp–like now–the cooked kind.

Rhys suddenly straightens up, yells at me: “Cassie, I don’t want to go anymore!”

“I’m marrying you!”

I drop the smile.

Smack him on the forehead. Hard.

“Rhys, don’t let it go to your head just because I’m being nice!”

“Go focus on your studies. Promises are cheap right now–and don’t go changing yourself for me!”

“Get this straight: we’re both our own people.”

He rubs his swollen forehead, biting back whatever he wants to say.

Finally mutters under his breath:

“Then I’ll come back after I graduate and marry you.”

Chapter 10

“I’m not waiting around for anyone,” I stare at him. “You want me? You’ll have to earn it.”

Rhys huffs:

“My legs are longer–I’ll catch you in no time!”

“We’ll see about that.”

Messing around, I glance out the window out of habit.

Garrett’s still sitting on that bench outside.

Arms crossed, whole body weight pressed into the backrest, head curled in like an old man. Body’s clearly uncomfortable–otherwise why can’t he even lift his head?

He stopped coming inside.

Just sits out there every day in silence.

Gets more haggard every day until one day I look up and he’s gone.

“Boss, you want today’s cake?”

“Save me one. Strawberry.”

After locking up, I carry the strawberry cake over to the bench.

Gently set it on the bench–right where Garrett always sat.

Don’t even know why I’m doing this.

Just felt like it, so I did.

Clean

up

all the trash, toss it in the bin.

I start skipping forward. Just like the young girl who works for me.

Walk forward. Don’t look back.

♡ (0)