The Ex-Wife He Can’t Have novel Chapter 22

Killian raised an eyebrow. "Do you understand?"

He fully expected Connor to throw a tantrum.

After all, the boy had never been separated from Jillian since birth.

Connor finished his last bite of sandwich and drained his glass of milk.

"She wasn't behaving. My teachers say bad kids have to be punished."

Killian nodded in approval.

"Mrs. Zeller will take you to school."

Connor grabbed his little backpack and reached for the housekeeper's hand. "Let's go."

Killian watched him leave.

Things were going much smoother than he had anticipated.

Connor hadn't thrown a fit at all upon waking up to an empty room.

Jillian slept until late morning. She only woke when the blinding sunlight pierced through the windows and hit the sofa.

She took in her surroundings, the events of the previous night slowly trickling back into her mind.

A self-deprecating smile touched her lips.

She truly was entirely alone now.

She dragged herself up to wash her face.

Her bandaged knee throbbed with every step.

Looking in the mirror, she saw a woman swallowed by an oversized sleep shirt, carrying extra weight, and limping heavily.

Even she felt sorry for the pathetic reflection.

Her phone buzzed.

It was Judith.

"I just wanted to check in," Judith's warm voice flowed through the speaker. "Is everything alright over there?"

"Is Connor giving you a hard time?"

"Kids will be kids. You need to be patient with him."

"Make sure you're taking care of yourself, too. You looked so pale the last time I saw you."

Listening to Judith's gentle, caring words, the exhaustion and despair she had been bottling up surged forward. A lump formed in Jillian's throat, and her eyes instantly brimmed with tears.

"Jillian? Why are you so quiet?"

"I'm fine. Just brushing my teeth. I choked on some water."

Jillian swallowed hard, fighting back the tremor in her voice, and cleared her throat to sound normal.

After hanging up, she realized Daniel was right to stop her from moving back in with Judith.

If she had, Judith and Lydia would be sick with worry.

She was a grown woman. It wasn't fair to burden them with her catastrophic life.

Jillian averted her eyes, a suffocating wave of despair crashing over her chest.

He really had been out picking up Sylvia last night.

"Jillian Jarrett."

A nurse called her name, and she hurriedly stood up.

Sharp jolts of pain flared in her knee as she walked.

This appointment had been booked well in advance, so the consultation room was empty save for her.

"Dr. Xavier," Jillian greeted him, taking a seat.

"Jillian?" Gibson looked up from his desk. Behind his glasses, his eyes were clear, empathetic, and seemingly capable of reading her soul.

He gave her a warm smile. "You were supposed to be here last month."

"I apologize. Something came up."

"It's alright. Let's begin."

Jillian reclined on the therapy chair, her eyes tracking the rhythmic swing of the metal pendulum.

Her vision blurred, and the darkness swallowed her consciousness.

"Now, together, let's go back to the darkest moment of your life,"

Gibson's voice echoed, guiding her deep into the trance.