My Husband Chose His Ex I Became His Regret novel Chapter 66

10:20 Wed, May 13

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Lila

56 volicmot

As soon as I reach the door to knock, Aidan has already opened it. As though he was anticipating my arrival beforehand.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi,” he replies, not offering a hug, or making any type of physical connection with me, but instead merely standing there after I enter the penthouse and creating space between us. “Come in.”

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“Would you like anything to drink? How about coffee? Water?” Aidan asks tentatively, as if I might shatter into pieces.

“Stop,” I say.

“Stop what?”

“Stop treating me like I’m going to break if you say or do the wrong thing. I might be hurt or confused, but I am far from being fragile.”

“I understand…”

“Do you? Because you’re treating me like I’m incapable of handling the truth about my life. You are making unilateral decisions for me as though I need to be protected from knowing what’s happening in the world around me. That’s not protecting me, that’s controlling me.”

Aidan flinches, visibly taken aback by what I’ve said. “That’s not what I…”

“I know that was not your intention. I know that you were trying to do the right thing; however, the impact of you keeping secrets is that I don’t trust you. Can’t trust you. Because I’m always waiting for the next revelation. The next thing you decided I couldn’t handle.”

“You are right,” Aidan states as he sits on the couch, looking at the ground with a pained expression. “You’re absolutely right! I have been so concerned with preventing you from being hurt that I neglected to remember that you are a freaking awesome person and you can handle hurting.” “You’ve experienced more severe trauma than anything I could inform you about.”

“Exactly, so stop shielding me from harm, and start cooperating with me,” he stated.

“What’s the best way to cooperate with you?”

“You can do that by telling me all that you know and that you are willing to share, as soon as possible regardless of how difficult it might be; and especially when it is uncomfortable for you. By having faith that I will be able to handle the content of whatever information you are giving to me, and by allowing me to determine the best course of action for any response.”

“I can do that.” He gets up, walks over toward me with a hesitant pace, “I will be able to do this.” There is a pause in his voice. “I also ask that you your tell me if I am doing things incorrectly; if I begin reverting back to my prior behavior patterns. Because I will make mistakes and my instinct will be to provide you with

10:20 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 66.

protection. I will do my best to resist those instincts.”

94

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“I will,” I said to him. “And I also need to stop comparing you to Mark. I must stop identifying ways in which you might be like Mark, and I will need to stop assuming that you have negative motives.”

“I completely understand why you do that.”

“Understanding doesn’t make it okay. You’re not Mark. You’ve never been Mark. And I need to stop treating you like you are.”

“So where does this leave us now?”

I look at him. Really look at him. This man who destroyed my enemy and protected my heart and made mistakes along the way because he’s human and imperfect and trying his best.

“So we try,” I respond. “To have trust between one another, to communicate with one another, to be partners and not a protector and a protected one, and to…”

“Create something substantial,” he adds. “Not perfect, just real.”

“Exactly.” I approach him, closing the gap between our bodies. “Can we do that?”

Yes.” I close the distance. Let him pull me into his arms.

We stand there. Holding each other. Not talking. Just being.

“Was it worth it?” I ask into his chest. “Everything with Mark. The revenge. The investigation. All of it. Was it

worth it?”

“Justice was worth it. But the cost…” He pulls back. Looks at me. “The cost was almost losing you. And that would have made everything meaningless.”

“You didn’t lose me.”

“I almost did.”

“But you didn’t.” I cup his face. “I’m here. I’m choosing to be here. To trust you. To try.”

“Even after everything?”

“Especially after everything. Because you proved you’re willing to give me space. To respect my boundaries. To admit when you’re wrong. Mark never did any of those things.”

“I’m not Mark.”

“I know. I finally know that. Really know it.” I take a breath. “I’m done tracking what Mark does. Done caring. about his downfall. Done letting him take up space in my head. He’s facing justice. That’s enough. Now I just want to focus on us. On building our life. On…”

“Moving forward,” Aidan finishes. “Together.”

10:20 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 66

“Together.” I kiss him. Soft. Sure. “No more secrets?”

“No more secrets. I promise.”

:

“And if you’re tempted to keep something from me to ‘protect’ me?”

“I’ll tell you I’m tempted. And then I’ll tell you the thing anyway. Even if it’s hard.”

“Good.” I kiss him again. Deeper this time. “That’s all I’m asking for. Honesty. Partnership. Trust.”

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“You have it. All of it.” His arms tighten around me. “I love you. And I’m going to spend every day proving I’m worthy of your trust.”

“You already are.”

We stand there. Holding each other. And for the first time in weeks, I feel at peace. Not triumphant. Not victorious. Just free.

Free from Mark. Free from fear. Free to build something real with someone who actually sees me.

“What happens now?” Aidan asks.

“Now we stop focusing on revenge and start focusing on us. On Storm Industries. On building an empire together.” I pull back to look at him. “On living our lives instead of just surviving them.”

“I like that plan.”

“Good. Because I’m done surviving. I’m ready to thrive.”

He smiles. That rare, genuine smile that makes my heart skip. “Then let’s thrive. Together.”

His lips find mine and I inwardly leap in joy, I’ve missed this. I want him.

10:21 Wed, May 13

Chapter 66

Chapter 66

Lila

94

$5 vouchers

As soon as I reach the door to knock, Aidan has already opened it. As though he was anticipating my arrival beforehand.

“Hi,” I say.

“Hi,” he replies, not offering a hug, or making any type of physical connection with me, but instead merely standing there after I enter the penthouse and creating space between us. “Come in.”

“Would you like anything to drink? How about coffee? Water?” Aidan asks tentatively, as if I might shatter into pieces.

“Stop,” I say.

“Stop what?”

“Stop treating me like I’m going to break if you say or do the wrong thing. I might be hurt or confused, but I am far from being fragile.”

“I understand…”

“Do you? Because you’re treating me like I’m incapable of handling the truth about my life. You are making unilateral decisions for me as though I need to be protected from knowing what’s happening in the world around me. That’s not protecting me, that’s controlling me.”

Aidan flinches, visibly taken aback by what I’ve said. “That’s not what I…”

“I know that was not your intention. I know that you were trying to do the right thing; however, the impact of you keeping secrets is that I don’t trust you. Can’t trust you. Because I’m always waiting for the next revelation. The next thing you decided I couldn’t handle.”

“You are right,” Aidan states as he sits on the couch, looking at the ground with a pained expression. “You’re absolutely right! I have been so concerned with preventing you from being hurt that I neglected to remember that you are a freaking awesome person and you can handle hurting.” “You’ve experienced more severe trauma than anything I could inform you about.”

“Exactly, so stop shielding me from harm, and start cooperating with me,” he stated.

“What’s the best way to cooperate with you?”

“You can do that by telling me all that you know and that you are willing to share, as soon as possible regardless of how difficult it might be; and especially when it is uncomfortable for you. By having faith that I will be able to handle the content of whatever information you are giving to me, and by allowing me to determine the best course of action for any response.”

“I can do that.” He gets up, walks over toward me with a hesitant pace, “I will be able to do this.” There is a pause in his voice. “I also ask that you your tell me if I am doing things incorrectly; if I begin reverting back to my prior behavior patterns. Because I will make mistakes and my instinct will be to provide you with

10:21 Wed, May 13 N

Chapter 66

protection. I will do my best to resist those instincts.”

ร.

94

65 Vouchers

“I will,” I said to him. “And I also need to stop comparing you to Mark. I must stop identifying ways in which you might be like Mark, and I will need to stop assuming that you have negative motives.”

“I completely understand why you do that.”

“Understanding doesn’t make it okay. You’re not Mark. You’ve never been Mark. And I need to stop treating you like you are.”

“So where does this leave us now?”

I look at him. Really look at him. This man who destroyed my enemy and protected my heart and made mistakes along the way because he’s human and imperfect and trying his best.

“So we try,” I respond. “To have trust between one another, to communicate with one another, to be partners and not a protector and a protected one, and to…”

“Create something substantial,” he adds. “Not perfect, just real.”

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