A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 284:

“Why do these issues keep occurring over and over again?” I begged, my head reeling with an urgent desire to be rid of them all. I needed Alex; he was my rock.

I realized that leaving alone would only upset everyone again. With trembling determination, I stood up to Dom and announced, “Can I go? I just… I need to clear my head for a bit.”

His reply was swift and firm. “NO.” He shook his head slowly, irritation thick in his tone, and began, “Nathan is still out there—what if…” He didn’t even manage to get the rest of the words out, leaving behind a terrible silence.

Before I could speak another word, Faith’s soft voice carried down the corridor. “Raina, keep safe,” she pleaded softly, a line of concern underlying her voice. I knew she meant well, so I slowed down unwillingly and went upstairs to the second floor.

Once inside my room, I picked up my phone and dialed the kids, my heart pained by the little empty voices that came over the phone.

“Mommy, we miss you,” Ava mumbled, and I promised, “I’ll be with you soon, sweetheart,” even though doubt gnawed at me.

I found out that Ava was bedridden with a fever. I asked if they needed me, and Grandma’s gentle response could be heard. “Since you’re already there, don’t worry—just take care of why you’re there. Ava will be alright.”

I went on, “Has Alex called?”

Grandma soothed gently, “Yes, he has.”

That gentle reassurance did little to dispel the storm that raged within me as I sat in the darkening shadows of my own room, alone as can be in the relentless ocean of troubles.

I called him again, my fingers shaking as I held the receiver to my ear. The line rang, and rang, but there was no one. No familiar voice that would greet me, no conversation, no simple “I’m here.”

Before, it didn’t matter how late the hour was; even if he was asleep, Alex would still pick up. But now, nothing. Just silence. Perhaps he was sleeping, I thought for a moment, after everything he’d done for me, but that idea could not dispel the increasing emptiness within me. I whispered to myself, half-hopeful, “He’s probably just sleeping.” I held on to this hope against all odds, hoping against everything that it was true.

The second day arrived and with it, more silence. The routine started again—no word from Alex. I tried to push past the creeping fear closing in on my chest and moved through the house, attempting to concentrate on something, anything, to keep my head from spinning.

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But then I thought of something—perhaps Dominic’s phone would be fine, perhaps I could call Alex on it. I picked up Dominic’s phone and dialed in an urgent huff, hoping desperately to hear Alex’s voice, to shatter the crushing quiet. The line came through, and my heart skipped a beat upon hearing him—only for it to immediately stop when he abruptly ended the call as soon as he heard my voice.

The cold click of disconnection felt like a physical blow. I looked on at Dom in dumbstruck dismay. For what reason would he treat me in such a way? What right did he have to shut me out like that?

My voice came up involuntarily, my anger spilling out. “He hung up on me, Dom,” I said, my words stuck in my throat. “I have to go to him. I have to hear what his issue is.”noveldrama

Dom’s face turned icy, his eyes unreadable. He held up a calming hand and sighed before he spoke—his voice even, but with something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

“Do you really not know?”

He looked at me as though with pity, then shook his head in distaste. He flung his hair back, obviously fighting to contain his anger.

“You left on your own, Raina. You went off to a man we’ve been trying to protect you from.”

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