Walking Away While Pregnant: Dear Ex-Husband, I Don't Love You Anymore novel Chapter 146

Chapter 146: Chapter 146

Leaving the hospital, Rina drove as she asked Elise, "Where to now?"

"I haven’t really explored downtown yet." Elise sat in the passenger seat, tracing her fingers along the seatbelt draped across her chest. "The day before yesterday, Mrs. Shaw mentioned a Japanese restaurant in the city that’s famous. My treat, want to go try it?"

Rina raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Sure! I’ve been craving Japanese food for a while. It’s all about fresh ingredients and original flavors—perfect for your nutritional needs right now."

"Yeah, I really like the eating habits down here. Actually, I’ve been looking at houses lately. Barring any surprises, I’m planning to settle down in Rainport for the next few years."

Hearing this, Rina glanced at her sideways. "Are you absolutely sure?"

"Mm." Elise looked out at the passing scenery, gently placing her hand over her abdomen, which was just beginning to show. A gentle smile touched her beautiful eyes.

"I think Rainport is a very warm city. It doesn’t snow in the winter, and summer lasts a long time. Being a coastal city, the air quality is much better than in North City, making it ideal for a baby to grow up in. Plus, the locals are incredibly genuine and welcoming, and the pace of life is slower. For someone who achieved financial independence long ago, it’s a perfect choice."

"You’re making me want to settle down here too."

Elise gave her a look. "You’re a major director. How many days of vacation do you even get in a year? Buying a house here would just be for show."

Rina laughed. "You can’t look at it that way. Everyone grows old eventually. I’m all on my own, so when I’m older, I’ll need to find a city I love to retire in."

"There’s no rush for that. Who knows, one day you might meet someone who takes your breath away again."

"I have no intention of looking anymore," Rina said. "Continuing to direct movies all these years has been half out of genuine passion and half out of avoidance. I didn’t want to stay in North City, terrified that my father would force me into an arranged marriage."

At the mention of their father, the atmosphere shifted instantly. That house had never given either of them any anticipation or warmth. As the saying goes, when a daughter grows up and would rather run away than return home when she’s wronged, it’s usually because her parents lacked kindness. Elise firmly agreed with that sentiment. Fortunately, she could still connect deeply with her half-sister.

"Rina, did you ever contact him again after that?"

Rina hadn’t expected Elise to bring this up so suddenly. She shot her a surprised glance, pressed her lips together, and said, "No contact. But I’ve always kept track of how he’s doing."

Elise was curious. "You’ve been secretly keeping tabs on him?"

"Not exactly," Rina paused for a moment. "Actually... Kaia Lawrence is his younger sister."

Elise froze in surprise.

At the intersection ahead, the traffic light turned red. Rina gently pressed the brakes. As the car rolled to a smooth stop, she turned to look at Elise, her voice incredibly soft.

"Two years ago, his father was diagnosed with cancer. He started drag racing illegal cars just to scrape together the surgery fees. To help raise money for the medical bills, Kaia was nearly tricked into filming an adult movie. The moment I got word, I rushed over to save her. I paid off her contract cancellation penalty, signed her to my own studio, and gave her a signing bonus so she could take the money home for her father’s treatment."

Elise asked, "Does she not know you two used to date?"

"She has no idea."

The light turned green. Rina released the brakes and pressed down on the gas pedal. "When we were dating, we spent more time apart than together anyway. I was just starting out in the industry back then, and he had just started his new job. We were both swamped. On the rare occasions we actually had time for a date, we mostly spent it in hotels."

Elise interrupted quickly, "...You can skip the details. Remember the prenatal education!"

Rina was amused by her reaction. "You’re a mother yourself now, and your skin is still this thin?"

Elise shot her a playful, reproachful glare. "Is it possible that you two were just a bit too passionate?"

"Does meeting at a hotel only mean passion?" Rina raised an eyebrow at her. "When you and Dylan were newlyweds, didn’t you constantly join him on his business trips? You must have stayed in your fair share of hotels during that time too, right?"

Elise fell silent.

"Alright, I’ll stop teasing you. Either way, it’s all in the past now. No matter how beautiful it was, it’s nothing more than fleeting smoke." Rina’s voice softened a fraction. "I never expect us to mend broken mirrors. I heard he has a sweet, warm new girlfriend now. Kaia mentioned it once—they’re engaged, and the wedding is supposedly scheduled for the end of the year."

Elise frowned. "You aren’t planning to spend the rest of your life alone because of him, are you?"

"How could it be because of him?" Rina smiled faintly. "It’s just that I haven’t met the right person yet. Right now, I really enjoy the feeling of being busy with something I love. Romance isn’t an absolute necessity. If I ever get lonely, it’s not like I can’t just bring home a handsome young guy to keep me company for a couple of months."

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify