The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 403

The Collision

MARY’S POV:

“Save all your thank-yous for after we win the case in court,” he said in a warm, comforting tone. “I am getting into my car right now to drive over to your place. Go pack a big suitcase right away. You are not staying in that house another night; you are coming to stay at my place where you will be safe.”

I ended the phone call, set the device down on the nightstand, and sat there on the edge of the bed for a moment while the room went quiet again. Then I stood up, pulled a large leather suitcase out of the closet, and began packing my clothes.

I spent the next twenty minutes pacing back and forth across the rug in the living room while I waited for

him to arrive.

My heavy suitcase was standing right near the front door, my folder of evidence was safely tucked inside my leather bag, and my mind was racing with a wild mix of intense fear and strange hope. I had spent so many miserable years feeling completely trapped in this cold house, feeling like I had no way out of this marriage. But now, finally, I could see a real path forward toward a new life.

I pulled my phone out to check the screen again. There was not a single missed call or text message from Alistair. There was nothing from Beatrice either. The screen was completely blank.

The quiet inside the house was absolute.

My mind kept wandering back to every single crazy thing that had happened at the hospital tonight. I thought about the young nurse walking in with the prenatal lab results. I thought about the smug grin on the blue-haired livestreamer’s face as he recorded everything. I recalled the look of total heartbreak and fury on Beatrice’s face as she read the paper line by line. And I remembered the cold, calm look on Alistair’s face that proved he had known about the baby the entire time.

I thought about the framed picture sitting on the shelf in this home. I remembered finding the hidden photograph of Vesper tucked right behind our official wedding portrait. I thought about the endless years of quiet lies, the cold shoulder, and the calculated manipulation, all hidden behind his handsome face and expensive suits.

Then my thoughts turned back to my daughter sleeping down the hall. I remembered the sad, confused look in her big eyes when I told her I had to leave for a few hours. I remembered her sweet little voice promising me that she was going to be a very brave girl while I was away.

I was going to be brave for her too.

A pair of bright car headlights suddenly flashed through the front living room window, lighting up the dark driveway outside.

I watched the bright yellow beams sweep across the front yard as a familiar dark sedan pulled up to the house. A massive wave of relief washed over my chest, making my eyes sting with fresh tears. I rushed straight over to the front entryway, placed my hand over the cold door lock, and turned the latch so could greet him at the porch steps.

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The bright headlights washed over the concrete driveway, casting long dark shadows against the side of the garage. I stood by the door and watched Hotch open his driver side door, step out onto the pavement, and button up his suit jacket. He looked up toward the front porch, spotted me standing in the open doorway, and gave me a warm, reassuring smile.

Before he could even take two steps toward the house, another car came speeding down the dark street out of nowhere, swerved wildly across the pavement, and slammed straight into the side of Hotch’s vehicle with a deafening crash.

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