A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 293:

“Okay, we can talk tomorrow instead.”

ALEXANDER

I knew, even before the words formed in my mind, before they slipped from my lips, that they would scare the hell out of her—if her past reactions to the topic were any indication. I should have stuck to the plan and insisted on waiting until she was ready.

Just like clockwork, my mother’s words pierced through my thoughts: “She would make a wonderful wife.” It was strange hearing that from the same woman who had once accused Raina of being promiscuous, a woman with no class who couldn’t run a business when she reappeared. Still, I had tried everything, and that comment never left my mind. Like poison, it had gone from a fleeting thought to a full-blown invasion.

The excitement had been too much to contain at the time. The moment my mother affirmed what I’d already suspected, I didn’t realize—until it was too late—that I had blurted it out. I wished I could take those words back, but they were already out in the open. There would be no taking them back.

She responded in a voice barely above a whisper, too low to even be considered one. But the moment she turned away from me, I knew I had all the answers I was going to get.

The air in the room felt thin, and breathing became a struggle. I needed fresh air. I couldn’t be around her right now. Everything inside me screamed to get her attention, to insist on the conversation, but I didn’t want to upset her. And even worse, I didn’t want to be that guy. Not anymore. The Alex before would have been an ass who wouldn’t recognize a good woman if she slapped him in the face.

“Alright, love. Goodnight.” I planted a kiss on her forehead and left the room before I said something stupid.

The drive back home didn’t take as long as usual, especially since I was well above the speed limit. The cool air whipped against my cheeks, feathering my skin, slowly but surely unwinding the knot in my stomach and muscles.

I shut the car door behind me and headed straight for the front entrance. I had a lot of work to catch up on, and if I couldn’t clear things up with Raina, I could at least deal with the mess that was my company’s future. All I needed was some coffee… and maybe water on the side.

𝙉𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙖𝙩 𝙂𝖆𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀・ⅽ𝘰𝗺

My steps faltered for a second when I came face to face with Vanessa the moment I stepped through the door. She sat cross-legged on the couch, absorbed in her phone while the television flipped from scene to scene.noveldrama

Her gaze shifted to the door, and she snapped to her feet the moment it registered in that conniving brain of hers. “Hi, Alex. How was… how was work…?” She attempted a smile but failed. It could have been the snarl on my lips or the warning gaze I pinned her with—whatever it was, it shut her up.

I ignored her and went straight to my study. Footsteps followed me. I didn’t bother to check who they belonged to, and I didn’t have to.

“For how long do you intend to ignore your sister?”

“Preferably for the rest of my life,” I grunted, searching my briefcase for the keys to my study.

Rushed footsteps echoed in the hallway. Vanessa rushed to catch up with me, her knees hitting the black marble floor, but she didn’t even flinch. “Alex, I was wrong. It was stupid of me.” The corner of her eyes filled with tears. Anyone could fake tears. “…And I spoke with Raina.” The muscles in my jaw flexed.

She did what?! I swear, if she went there to do something as stupid as warning her off me, she might as well forget I existed. “It’s not what you think!” She waved her hands frantically. I raised a brow at her. Was she a mind reader now? “I went there to apologize. We spoke, and to be honest, I misjudged her. She’s actually sweet. We might even be good friends. Please, Alex…” She was definitely high on something cheap.

“Fuck no…” I cut her daydream short. “You will not associate with, nor attempt to influence my wife with…” I scanned her entire being, disgust welling up in my throat at the reminder of her deceit. “The likes of you.” I spat.

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