His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex Wife novel Chapter 373

His Belated Love for the Abandoned Ex–Wife

Chapter 373 Family Ties

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I called her parents to ask for help, but they just yelled at me through the phone. They said my son had been hitting Lily, and since she’d been talking about divorce lately, they wanted nothing to do with him. They weren’t lifting a finger to help.

Zoe listened to her mother sobbing on the other end of the line, and her heart ached.

“Alright,” she said firmly, “I’ll cover his lawyer fees. But you need to be realistic–kidnapping is a felony. No matter how good the attorney is, he’s going to prison.”

Sally cried harder. “Even if it’s just a month less… that’s still something. Oh, Zoe… your brother’s going away, and now you’re leaving too. What am I supposed to do after? How do I go on alone?”

Hearing her mother’s broken voice, Zoe couldn’t hold back her own tears any longer. They rolled quietly down her cheeks.

Her mom had always been a little fragile, yes, but her love for her children was real. To give them what she thought was a stable home, she’d endured a lifetime of domestic violence without ever seriously considering divorce.

Zoe looked up, took a slow breath, and wiped her face. She tried to ease the heavy pressure in her chest and spoke softly, “Mom, if you leave Dad, I won’t go. I’ll stay here with you. I’ll take care of you.”

Sally was crying so hard she could barely form words. “Zoe… you think I haven’t wanted to leave? I’ve been done with your father for years. Sometimes I’ve even… I’ve even imagined hurting him back. But I stayed because I wanted you and your brother to have a family. Now your brother’s locked up, and you’re moving out… What’s left to hold onto? You don’t have to convince me I’m filing for divorce.”

Zoe pressed her hand over her mouth to muffle a sob.

She had never felt any genuine warmth from her father. This so–called sacrifice, this family held together in the name of “love“, had only ever suffocated her.

If she hadn’t been naturally resilient, she would have broken down a long time ago.

“I’ll talk to your father tomorrow,” Sally said, her voice firmer now.

“No, Mom,” Zoe cut in, anxiety sharpening her tone. “Don’t meet him alone. You know how he gets–he could really hurt you. Wait till I’m there. Bring Uncle and Aunt, and whoever else can come. The more people around, the better. Whatever he wants to make him agree to the divorce, we’ll handle it.”

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Chapter 373 Family Ties

“Okay, honey. I’ll wait for you.” Sally’s voice trembled again. “It’s just you and me now,

“I’ve got you, Mom. I’m not going anywhere.”

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Zoe.”

“I never finished school… I can barely write my own name. I married your father right after I turned eighteen. Never had a real job. Who’s going to hire someone my age now?” Sally’s words were tinged with despair. “If you didn’t want me… I’d probably end up on the streets.”

Zoe’s heart twisted. “Stop that. You’re my mother. I love you. Of course I want you with me.”

“Alright, alright… You’re at work, aren’t you? I shouldn’t keep you.”

Zoe wiped another tear from her chin. “I’ll come over after my shift.”

“Okay, sweetie.”

*****

Night had settled in, and Whitmore Manor was glowing under the evening lights.

The dining table was set for dinner, with Iris, Cayden, and Harper already seated. But Brandon still hadn’t come down.

Iris got up and wandered through the living room, not seeing him anywhere. She stepped outside and found him standing on the porch steps, hands in his pockets, gazing quietly toward the wrought–iron gate at the end of the driveway.

“Dinner’s ready,” she said, walking over to stand beside him. She glanced up at his profile. “Waiting for Zoe?”

“She…” Brandon’s voice was rough, barely above a whisper. “It’s getting dark. She’s not back yet.”

Iris watched the longing in her brother’s expression, and it tugged at her heart.

“Didn’t she message you? On WhatsApp or anything?”

He let out a low, bitter laugh. “I’m not on her WhatsApp.”

Iris released a small sigh.

No wonder he wasn’t in her contacts. His feelings were so transparent–he’d never really hidden them. Even though he wasn’t aggressively pursuing her, his affection was quiet and steady, completely obvious. Of course Zoe would keep that kind of distance.

“She texted me earlier,” Iris said gently. “She’s staying at her mom’s tonight.”

Brandon nodded slowly, disappointment clear in the set of his shoulders, and turned to head

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Chapter 373 Family Ties

inside.

Iris followed.

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