Ex-Husband's Regret

“There is something I want to show you,” Rowan tells me as he walks into the guest bedroom.

I

I was already done feeding Iris, and now she was fast asleep. Quickly but gently, I pull my nipple from her

mouth and cover up. Rowan is my husband. He has seen me naked hundreds of times, yet this felt

different for some reason, especially with his eyes trained on my breast.

“They’re darker than I remember,” he mumbles, almost to himself.

“What?”

“You’re nipples”

I chuckle nervously, but don’t say a word. This is the first time Rowan has ever said anything about my body. I don’t know what to say or how to react to that.

Even on the rare occasion when we had sex, he managed to detach himself completely from the process. You see in the romance novels where the male lead worships the female lead’s body? Or where he is

really verbal about how sexy her body is? I never got that after Rowan and I got married.

It wasn’t bad, and at least I got off, even if it wasn’t earth–shattering, but I just always wanted more, you know? With Rowan, it is more like ‘wham bam, thank you, ma’am. As if that wasn’t bad enough, he would

jump in the shower the minute he pulled out of me. It’s like he couldn’t wait to get my scent from his skin. After the shower, he would either go to the office to work or leave the house entirely.

There were no cuddles. No kisses. No soft touches or caresses. No sweet or dirty talk. Our sex was just

that: sex. Swift, formulaic, and completely unromantic.

The only time I got what novels always talk about was when we first slept together and he thought I was

I

Emma. That was a long time ago. And over the years, he has proven that he isn’t a bad sexual partner; it’s

just me he didn’t want.

“Are you ready to see what I have to show?” he asks.

I shake my head, pulling myself away from the memories. I mean, it’s probably been months since we last slept together.

“Yes, sure”

I

I didn’t want to leave Iris in the guest room, so I carry her with me.

He leads us out of the room and towards the stairs.

wanted to ask where my ring is.” I ask.

It was cheap, but it was still mine. When we got married, there weren’t any rings. Rowan didn’t see a reason for them. I did though. I was a married woman and people needed to know that. I got myself a

cheap one from a store and wore it since. Rowan never wanted one so he didn’t wear one.

“They took it off when you arrived at the hospital, but it got lost somewhere in their storage.”

I don’t say a thing. I mean, it’s a normal occurrence. I will just get another one later.

“Here we are,” he says, stopping outside one of the many bedrooms.

He slowly opens the room, and I gasp.

“I know you would probably prefer if Iris sleeps in the master bedroom, but I thought it wouldn’t hurt to

have one of her own.” Content property of NôvelDra/ma.Org.

It was a baby girl’s haven. The room was adorned with soft shades of pink and lilac. The walls were at

gentle pink blush, and different Disney princesses adorned them. Delicate lilac curtains swayed in the

evening breeze, and plush, rosy carpet covered the floor.

The crib sat in the middle and was draped in pastel bedding in hues of lavender, with a charming ceiling

mobile dangling above. Next to it was a comfortable–looking rocking chair. To the far left was a white

changing table with different animated cartoons drawn on it, and next to it was a baby pink wardrobe.

There were also shelves adorned with adorable stuffed animals and storybooks, and on the floor were all

manner of toys.

“Do you like it?”

“Oh my god, this is so beautiful. Thank you so much”

I

Mindful of Iris, and without really thinking, I hug him. I expected him to push me away like he normally would, but I’m surprised when he reciprocates the hug.

I don’t know how and why he would do all this for another man’s child when he hated me so much, but I am thankfully none the less.

I let go of him and step away. “When did you arrange this?”

“A few weeks ago. I wanted to help Noah take his mind off you and Iris being in the hospital, so I came up with the idea to prepare a room for Iris.”