Ex-husband’s Regret

"So afraid that I'll regret it?" His voice was muffled. "But I'm more afraid that you'll treat me like a stranger.

The surroundings were cold, but his embrace felt just as warm as it did in the past.

His words left me stunned.

By the time I collected my thoughts, he had already opened the car door for me. After I got in, he turned. away without looking back.

Through the rain curtain, I glimpsed his upright figure, soaked halfway through.

It felt like a thousand ants were gnawing at my heart, leaving it emptier and emptier.

So, this was how easy it was to end a marriage.

Just half an hour at the Civil Affairs Bureau, submitting documents, signing papers.

One month later, another visit, both parties were still in agreement, and we received our divorce

certificates.

And just like that, everything was cut off.

The days of sharing a bed and pillow, of mutual support, seemed like nothing more than a dream.

Of course, this all hinged on whether Ryan would keep his word.

When I returned to Jane's residence, Jane opened the door before I could, saying, "Back already?"

"Yeah." I smiled lightly, pretending everything was normal.

She watched silently as I entered, and changed my shoes. She cautiously asked, "Ryan messaged me! You... really filed for divorce?"

"Sort of. We've applied for it. We'll pick up the divorce certificate in a month."

I took off my coat, tied my long hair back casually with a hair tie, and asked, "Why did he message you?" She hesitated before replying, "He said for me take care of you more this month."

"Fear I might jump off a building?" I mocked myself. "Tell him not to overthink it. The world will keep spinning even without us being married."

"No, it's not that."

Jane denied it, frowning in thought. "I just feel like his words had some other meaning. What if he didn't really want a divorce? What if he's just appeasing you for now? After all, during the cooling-off period, if one party withdraws the application, you can't proceed with the divorce."

and

"No way.

My heart sank. Could Ryan really be thinking of backing out? It did fit his style of doing things, But then again, considering the child in Jessica's belly, which would take months to arrive, wouldn't Ryan hesitate to withdraw within this month, even if it was for her sake? He had made his choice long ago, I was the only one clinging to these thoughts

I wearily walked into the bathroom. "I'm going to take a shower."

.15 BONUS

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. It's just a divorce. Didn't I want it a long time ago?" I spoke softly.

"That's good."

Jane helped me close the door. "Then take a good bath and sleep. You seemed like you didn't sleep much last night."

"Okay."

I nodded with a smile. As soon as the door closed, I sat on the toilet seat, suddenly feeling drained, tears. streaming down uncontrollably.

I didn't want to cry.

I had waited so long for this divorce. Shouldn't I be happy?

Even though I hadn't received the divorce certificate yet, why did my heart feel like a big chunk had already been ripped out, leaving it hollow and unreasonable? Perhaps emotions like these are beyond reason.

In life, there aren't many eight-year stretches to waste like this.

What's even more painful and self-blaming is feeling sorry for the child, who hasn't even been born yet but will have no father.

When he sees other kids with their dads in the future, won't he feel sad...?

To quickly escape from the pain, I threw myself into work wholeheartedly while recuperating.

The MS design drafts couldn't afford any more delays,

Once I started working, I forgot everything else. The pain of work alone was enough to exhaust me.

I overturned and redrew many times until I felt satisfied.

Then, i

just as inspiration struck for next year's Christmas, with a little bundle in my arms, my phone rang.

It was from the old mansion.

It might be something urgent from Grandpa, so I immediately answered, "Hello."Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

D