The Ex-Wife He Can’t Have novel Chapter 140

After lunch, Jillian returned to her desk and dialed Mallory's number.

The voice on the other end was groggy and thick with sleep. She had obviously just been woken up.

"Still sleeping in the middle of the afternoon?" Jillian laughed helplessly.

"Yeah. My schedule is clear today, so I slept in," Mallory murmured lazily.

"Where are you? Are you at home?"

"Yeah, I'm home," came the breezy reply.

"I'll swing by after work then. I can cook you something."

"Oh... no need! I'm totally fine. You've been working all day, you must be exhausted. Don't bother coming over."

Mallory's voice suddenly spiked with panic.

Jillian held the phone, a small, knowing smirk playing on her lips. She had suggested the visit on purpose. Judging by that reaction, Mallory had definitely not slept in her own bed last night.

But she chose not to expose her.

A few days slipped by in a flash. Connor finally returned from his summer camp.

Jillian was buried in work at her desk when her son's sweet, soft voice bubbled through the phone. "Mom, I'm back!"

Hearing him, Jillian's expression instantly melted into pure affection. "I know, sweetheart. I've been counting the days waiting for you. I'll rush straight home the second I get off work, okay?"

Connor sounded absolutely thrilled, chirping sweetly, "Okay! Focus on work, Mom. I brought you a present. It's a huge surprise!"

She instantly remembered the "huge surprise" he had mentioned on the phone. Naturally assuming it was the present he had picked out for her, her heart softened even more.

Jillian stepped into the room, gently scooped up the box, and carried it downstairs. She placed it squarely in the center of the coffee table, wanting to preserve the full ritual of opening it in front of him.

The moment she set it down, the sound of the front door opening drifted in. Killian and Connor walked into the foyer.

Smiling brightly, Jillian picked the box up and gave it a playful little shake. "Con, is this the present you got for me?"

Connor had just finished changing his shoes. He looked up, and the smile instantly vanished from his face. He bolted forward and aggressively snatched the box right out of her hands, screaming with a child's frantic rage, "Who said you could touch my stuff?!"

Jillian froze, the warmth in her chest evaporating into absolute nothingness.

Seeing her reaction, Connor belatedly realized he had yelled way too loud. Knowing he had crossed a line, he quickly dropped his voice, awkwardly trying to fix the damage. "I got a different present for you. This one isn't yours."