The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 387

MARY’S POV:

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I watched his hands linger on her blanket. I watched the way he searched her face to see if she was in pain, his voice dropping into that quiet, soothing tone he used to reserve only for me years ago. I watched Vesper look up at him through her eyelashes, her lips slightly open, looking at him as if he were her hero.

None of it surprised me anymore.

I had seen this same closeness between them too many times to count. He always moved toward her like pulled by a magnet. He had chosen her over me in public, defended her against the press, and left me behind to deal with the fallout alone.

The only thing I could not figure out was why Vesper was still putting on this show.

She had already won. She had taken my husband, wrecked my home, and ruined my peace of mind. What else was there left for her to take?

Was she trying to win over Alistair’s mother too? Alistair was already completely wrapped around her finger, ready to give her whatever she wanted. He had given up his reputation, his family life, and his self- respect for her. What could Beatrice’s approval possibly offer her at this point?

Unless there was a bigger goal I had not seen yet.

Unless she did not just want Alistair.

Unless she wanted to take every single piece of my life until I had nothing left.

I stared at her lying there, acting like a victim who had done no wrong. But I knew better. I remembered the real Vesper, the woman who had stood in my hallway and smiled at me when Alistair was not looking, the woman who wore his clothes like a prize, and the woman who deliberately dropped to the ground to make me look like an abusive wife.

She was running the exact same play right now, and Alistair was falling for it all over again.

Beatrice stood up straight, her face changing from confusion to cold anger. Her eyes narrowed as she looked at her son, her hands coming to rest on her hips.

“Alistair, what is going on here?” she asked, her voice dropping into a hard, stern register.

Alistair pulled his hands away from Vesper’s blanket and stood up, looking uncomfortable. He ran a hand through his hair, a clear sign that he was feeling cornered.

“Vesper is just an old friend of mine,” he said quickly. “She needed some help today, that is all.”

“An old friend,” Beatrice repeated, her voice full of obvious doubt. “An old friend who has you running to her bedside while your actual wife is standing right behind you?”

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Alistair let out a frustrated breath and forced a small, awkward laugh. “Why are you taking the same tone as Mary? Both of you are completely misinterpreting the situation. Vesper and I are close, yes, but I have never cheated on my wife. I brought Mary here hoping you could help make her see reason.”

He looked at his mother, clearly hoping she would take his side and tell me I was being overly dramatic. He wanted her to help him play down the whole thing so he could keep both of us quiet.

Beatrice was not buying a word of it.

A Mother’s Judgment

MARY’S POV:

Her eyes turned cold as she looked at her son. I saw an expression on her face that I had never seen her direct at Alistair before. It was a complete disappointment.

“An old friend,” she said again, weighing the words. “She injured herself while helping me and then you show up here with your wife, who clearly has no clue what is happening, and expect me to make excuses for you?”

“Mother, please-”

“Do not ‘Mother’ me right now!” Her voice snapped across the small room like a whip. “I did not raise you to treat people this way. I taught you to be honest, to respect your marriage, and to act like a proper man. Whatever this mess is, it is not how you were brought up.”

She took a step closer to him, her eyes wide with frustration. I had never seen Beatrice lose her temper like this. She had always been the gentle, quiet presence in the family, but right now she looked ready to tear him apart.

“Do you think I am stupid?” she demanded, raising her voice. “Do you think I cannot see the way you look at this woman? The way you rush over to touch her the second she makes a soft sound?” She shook her head, her face turning pale. “I am old, Alistair, but I am not blind.”

“Mother, I swear to you nothing happened-”

“I do not care what you swear!”

She turned to face me, her hard expression softening instantly. Her eyes were shiny with unshed tears. Mary, I am so sorry. I had no idea about any of this. If I knew what he was doing, I never would have asked you to come here tonight.”

I stood there with my throat locked up, unable to find any words. A strange mix of relief and sadness washed over me. Part of me wanted to step forward and hug her, but the rest of me was too numb to

move.

Beatrice turned back to Alistair, her voice lowering into a dangerous whisper.

“I know my own son,” she said, pointing a finger at his chest. “I know how you act when you are hiding something. You are not just helping a friend out. You are playing a dirty game, and you are lying to everyone in this room.”

Alistair’s face went completely pale. His hands were balled into tight fists at his sides, his jaw locked tight as he tried to figure out a way out of the corner he was in.

“I have not done anything wrong-” he began.

Beatrice did not bother listening to the rest of his sentence.

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