When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 384

Dorothea didn’t even open her eyes until two in the afternoon.

Outside her door, the twins were chirping in their sweet little voices, “Mama! Mama!”

Linda, ever patient, tried to soothe them. “Mama’s still sleeping. Let’s go play over there, okay?”

“No! Want Mama!”

“Mama, Mama!”

Forcing herself to push through her aching body, Dorothea tidied up quickly and opened the door. Immediately, the two toddlers shoved and tumbled to be the first in her arms. She gave Linda a tired glance. “Where’s Latham?”

Linda smiled. “He’s at the office.”

Figures. He took off in a hurry.

It was rare for Dorothea to get a full day off, so she spent the afternoon playing with her little ones. But as evening crept closer, she handed them over to the nanny and slipped out on her own.

When Latham finally came home, maybe feeling a little guilty, he found the place quiet—no sign of Dorothea.

“Linda, where’s Dorothea?”

Linda just smiled. “She said she had plans tonight. She won’t be back for dinner.”

Latham’s heart started racing. Was last night too much? Did he go too far?

By nine, he couldn’t sit still anymore. He grabbed his phone and called her.

She picked up, but all he heard was a muffled gasp.

“Honey, where are you?” His voice was tight.

“I’m out. I’ll be home later.”

He wanted to say more, but before he even got another word out, she hung up. That quiet, soft sound she made echoed in his head, feeding a sudden wave of jealousy he couldn’t shake.

On a hunch, he called the bodyguards. Today, Dorothea had told them not to follow her.

Great. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was out meeting someone.

The streetlights stretched his shadow as he paced outside, pulling his coat tighter against the early winter chill.

At ten, headlights flashed through the driveway.

He watched her pull in, relief and suspicion blending on his face. As she stepped out, he waited by the front of the car until she finally noticed him and jumped in surprise.

“What are you doing out here? You scared me!”

“Thank you,” he whispered, forehead against hers. Nothing else could have soothed his insecurities so completely.

I marked you on my collarbone, right by my heart.

You kept me on your hand, a secret only we can see.

* * *

When the kids turned three and started preschool, Latham—normally cool and unflappable—was suddenly just another dad, wiping his eyes behind his sleeve after drop-off.

“Babe, what if Bonnie gets picked on?” he asked, worry written all over his face.

Dorothea tried not to laugh. “Honestly, I’d be more concerned about Bonnie picking on everyone else.” Sometimes she wondered if Latham spoiled them both too much.

“It’s fine. Shipley will look after his sister.”

“Yeah, with Shipley there, she’ll be just fine.”

Fingers laced together, Dorothea glanced up and noticed a single white hair at Latham’s temple. She paused and just for a moment, time seemed to slow down.

How did life rush by so fast?

She never would have guessed that a simple case of mistaken identity would lead her to a lifetime with the man she’d grow old beside.