Colton felt entirely useless. His heart ached relentlessly. He blamed his own incompetence as a father for allowing his children to endure so much suffering.
"Alright," Colton agreed softly.
"As for the corporate debt trap, Dad, please do not worry about it," Darin said gently. "Just pretend it never happened. I will handle everything."
"Thank you."
Darin then turned to Ava, his tone incredibly earnest and formal. "Ava, I am truly sorry for the trouble today. None of this had anything to do with my father. It was all my fault."
Ava looked at the young man. He had completely lost his usual commanding aura. Ever since he had discovered Felicia's true identity, it was clear he genuinely wanted to make amends. "You must be exhausted too," she said kindly. "Go home and get some proper rest."
"I will. Please take good care of Felicia for me, Ava."
"That goes without saying."
Darin nodded, offered his final goodbyes, and turned to walk out of the house. Max did not linger either, and Jeremy soon followed suit. They all knew Felicia needed space.
Once the men had cleared out, Ava looked anxiously up toward the second floor.
"Anne is with her," Greg reassured his mother. "She won't do anything foolish. It will all be okay."
Ava nodded. "I know."
When dinnertime rolled around, Ava carried a tray of hot food upstairs. She gently opened the door and found Felicia sitting on the floor rug with Anne, quietly putting together a bead puzzle. Seeing the peaceful, domestic scene and noting that Felicia seemed calm, Ava finally let out a long sigh of relief.
"Come eat first," Ava said softly. "You two can finish the puzzle later."
Anne was starving. She had been so worried about her mother all afternoon that she hadn't eaten a single bite. Felicia pulled the little girl to her feet. "Let's go wash our hands for dinner."
"Okay."
When they returned from the bathroom, Ava quietly slipped out to give them space. Right now, Felicia needed her daughter's company more than anything else.
"Take your time. I will come back to clean up later," Ava murmured before leaving the room.
"When are you coming to take us home, Daddy?"
"Just stay with Mommy for now. I will come get you both as soon as I finish up some work."
"Okay. You better finish your work really fast."
"I know, sweetie."
After hanging up, Anne happily snuggled back in to keep her mother company. However, Felicia continued to sleep straight through the morning. Eventually, Anne got up on her own to brush her teeth and wash her face.
Just as the little girl was about to head out of the room, Ava gently opened the door.
"Grandma," Anne whispered. "Mommy is still sleeping, and my tummy is rumbling."
Ava tiptoed over to the bed. Taking one look at Felicia's pale, exhausted face, she knew instantly that her daughter hadn't slept a wink the night before.

Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Ugly Wife’s Stunning Comeback (Felicia and Max)
Is this coming to an end...
Oh nooo!! Don’t tell me Max will get washed ashore on a remote island then loses all his memory, then falls inlove with the local girl who saves him. Then when he meets Felicia again he won’t recognize her and breaks her heart again. Additional plot twist is that Felicia is pregnant with their 2nd child. Please pleaseee don’t give us this scenario.. LOL!!!...
If Max can be forgiven Darrin can be forgiven. And I do not like this marriage business but if it has to happen I hope after he gets stranded on some remote island alone while Felicia and his family fight over custody she wins and also gets half his estate. Then by time he comes back she's found having and remarried. Lol...
The writer is good. They're making me interested in Max. I won't say like yet....
It seems the only one who hasn't suffered is Max. Even his family fakes anger and disappointment all their own doing so they suffer a little. Everyone else has suffered. Luke and Jeremy unrequited. Felicia has suffered the most from family to unrequited to romance to long suffering Mother. Even baby Anne never had a mother til Felicia suffered then came back only to suffer some more. lol...
Oh no what did Colton do?... I have a bone to pick. When Olisha had to go the hospital why beg for Felicia? When she so loved Max? Seemed like she was in on the setup for Felicia to see a suicide for the 2nd time orchestrated by holden and his brother again. I might drop this series it's becoming endless with no real satisfaction for me. I don't need it to end because it's like a soap opera but if things don't end up making sense, tying up loose storylines it's gonna get old fast for me. Good luck author....
Anne, I think your baby brother is on the way. Thank goodness it doesn't say that Felicia is crying just like the last time but still, there's no willingness on her part. Max! You need to try harder. Make her fall in love with you again....
The writer did a big one with Jeremy's speech to Max. He said almost everything that needed to be said. I have wanted Felicia or someone who knows the past to just tell that whole stinking family what they did and how disgusting they are and what they're doing now how unfair it all is to Felicia. A pity it was only Max but he really needed to hear this (plus more)....
I love the chase of this novel, how you’ve build each of the characters. They almost seem like real. I feel like I know them irl. But however I would like to know what’s max’s pov and what’s going on in his head. I truly believe max’s just a grey character. And also please please please update more!!!...
I was really hoping that Max and Felicia would end up together, but why did Max do that to Felicia? 😭 Is that his way of making Felicia overcome the trauma Holden caused her? I don't think that's helping at all. I just hope Max's character has some redeeming qualities in the coming chapters....