Ex Wife's Collapse After Divorce novel Chapter 22

Chapter 22

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Reginald stared. He’d heard it from Vivian already, but clearly hadn’t believed it. His expression said he still thought it was a bluff.

Vivian’s face went white. Her fork hovered in the air, frozen.

Eleanor set down her silverware.

She looked at Ethan first – a long, pained look – then turned and smacked the back of Vivian’s head.

“Vivian! What did you do to him this time?” Eleanor’s voice shook. “How many times have I told you – your career isn’t everything! You keep ignoring Ethan’s feelings, and for what? Is this how a wife behaves?”

Vivian flinched. “Mom! Why are you hitting me? I’m not the one who asked for the divorce!”

“So what?” Eleanor’s eyes blazed. “I know Ethan. Unless you did something to break his heart, a man who loved you that much would never walk away on his own.”

She pointed straight at Vivian’s face.

“You ungrateful girl. Haven’t I told you privately? Ethan is a good man. I told you to cherish him. Why don’t you ever listen?”

“Do you need to lose him completely? Watch him build a life with another woman before you understand what you threw away?”

Vivian opened her mouth to argue.

But the words “another woman” landed differently now.

An hour ago, on that phone call – that woman’s voice, soft and intimate, calling him baby.

Vivian’s mouth closed.

Eleanor turned to Ethan. Her expression softened into something raw.

“Ethan. I know you’re angry. I know you’re hurting.”

Her voice cracked slightly.

“I know you. You loved Vivian with everything you had. If she hadn’t broken your heart, you would never have said those words.”

She reached across the table, almost touching his hand.

“But can you – for my sake – hold off? Don’t file yet. Whatever the problem is, let’s sit down as a family and work through it. Please?”

It was the first time Eleanor had ever begged him for anything.

Ethan’s throat tightened.

‘She doesn’t deserve this.’

Not Eleanor. She had never been anything but good to him. After every one of Reginald’s tirades, she’d find Ethan privately, curse her husband out, then sit with Ethan until the sting faded.

She was the only person in this house who had ever truly seen him.

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For a moment, something in him wavered.

Not because of Vivian.

Because of Eleanor.

He couldn’t stand the thought of making her cry.

Before he could respond, Reginald slammed his palm on the table.

“Ethan Carter! Are you even a man? Using divorce to threaten my daughter – what kind of behavior is this?”

His face was rigid with contempt.

“Vivian works herself to the bone every single day.’She’s out there building something. And you? You can’t even keep a household running without causing drama. Is this how you repay this family?”

Ethan’s jaw locked.

“There it is. Three years, and not a single new line.’

Vivian lowered her head, but the corner of her mouth curved up.

Just slightly.

Ethan saw it.

Eleanor erupted. “Reginald Lockwood, shut your mouth! Vivian’s worked hard, fine – but Ethan hasn’t? If it weren’t for him holding down the home, do you think Vivian could’ve-”

“Enough!”

Reginald’s eyes snapped to his wife.

“This is exactly the problem. You’ve coddled him for years. They say a soft mother ruins her children – and look what happened. If you hadn’t defended him every single time, would he dare pull this? Threatening divorce, disrespecting his elders – does he even see us as family?”

His voice was a whip.

“And you’re still taking his side? Have you lost your mind?”

Eleanor’s chest heaved. Her face flushed scarlet.

“Fine! It’s all my fault, is that it?” She stood up so fast her chair scraped back. “Reginald Lockwood, I see it now. You don’t want this family anymore. Good – because neither do I!”

She grabbed Ethan’s arm.

“Ethan, let’s go. Since this house doesn’t need us, we’ll leave. You and me. We’ll manage just fine without these two.”

Reginald’s brow furrowed. “Stop this nonsense, Eleanor. When did I say I didn’t want this family? Act your age-”

“Call it nonsense all you want!” Eleanor pulled Ethan toward the door. “If Ethan leaves this family, I leave too. Unless you and your daughter apologize to him tonight, I’m not backing down!”

“ENOUGH!”

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Vivian shot to her feet.

Her eyes were red. Her voice tore through the room.

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