The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 385

Not You Too

MARY’S POV:

A heavy, ice-cold chill settled deep inside my chest.

I stood completely still near the open door, staring at the middle-aged woman who had just spoken. It was Alistair’s mother, Beatrice. This was the same woman who had welcomed me into her family with

open arms years ago, who had held my hands tightly on my wedding day, and who had sat by my hospital bed crying tears of joy when Elowen was born.

Yet here she was, sitting comfortably inside Vesper’s private hospital room, looking as if this was the exact place she belonged.

Had she really taken Vesper’s side behind my back?

The thought alone made my stomach turn upside down. I had trusted Beatrice with all my heart. I had loved her like family because she was the anchor I never had growing up. She was the one who checked on me through my pregnancy, who sat up with me during those dark post-partum months, and who kept me company on the countless long nights when Alistair was out late and I was left alone with a crying baby. She was the one person in his family who had never made me feel like an outsider.

Now, she was sitting right beside Vesper’s bed, peeling fresh fruit for her like Vesper was the daughter she actually wanted.

What kind of game were they playing?

Beside me, I felt Alistair shift his weight. His entire body was stiff, and his eyes kept darting back and forth between his mother and the bed. He looked completely thrown off, like a man who had lost control of the script. He had probably assumed this trip would be simple. He thought he would bring me here, let his mother say a few sweet words to calm me down, and then everything would go right back to normal.

He had no idea how wrong he was.

Beatrice set the small peeling knife down on the bedside table. Her movements were slow, her eyes fixed entirely on me. The half-peeled apple sat on a paper towel, the skin trailing off it in one long, unbroken strip. She picked up a napkin, wiped her fingers carefully, and folded it into a neat square.

Then her face broke into a broad smile, the very same warm smile I had seen a thousand times before.

“Mary!” she exclaimed, her voice bright and loud in the quiet room. “There you are!”

She crossed the room quickly, her heels clicking against the hard floor, and threw her arms around my shoulders. Her embrace was tight and familiar, the type of hug that usually made you feel safe. I caught the scent of her usual perfume, a soft floral smell she had worn for as long as I had known her.

“It feels like it has been so long!” she said, pulling back just enough to look at my face. Her eyes scanned my tired features, taking in the dark circles under my eyes and the pale tone of my skin. “Have you been eating properly, dear? You look so tired. You know you can always come over to my house if you need anything at all.”

12

+15 Bonus

She spoke so easily, as if we were just catching up over a cup of tea on a Sunday afternoon, completely ignoring the fact that she had just invited my husband to visit another woman in the hospital.

I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out. My throat felt dry and tight. I wanted desperately to believe she was still on my side, but the sight of her in this room made everything feel wrong.

Beatrice did not seem to notice my hesitation. She kept talking, her words coming out fast the way they always did when she was worked up. Her hands remained on my arms, patting them gently.

“I am so glad you came along,” she continued. “I was not sure if you would make it, given how busy

everything has been lately. But here you are!” She gave my arms another light squeeze. “You really need to take better care of yourself, Mary.”

日

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify