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2026-03-26 14:00:20MABEL
The next morning, I went to Vanessa's apartment to pick up Liam.It was my week with him. Our custody arrangement had settled into a comfortable rhythm.Rose answered the door. Vanessa's assistant. Efficient as always."Morning, Ms. James. Liam's just finishing breakfast.""Thanks, Rose."I must have looked terrible because Rose paused. "Are you okay?""Fine. Just tired.""You look like you haven't slept."
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The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 177!
MABELI took the elevator to the forty-second floor.Damian's office. Executive suite. Glass walls. Minimalist design.His assistant looked up when I walked in. "Ms. James. Do you have an appointment?""No. But I need to see him. Is he in?""He's in a meeting….""Please. It's important."She hesitated. Then picked up the phone. "Mr. Croft, Mabel James is here. She says it's important."A pause. Then she nodded. "He'll see you. Go ahead in."I walked down the hallway. Past conference rooms. Past other offices.To the corner office at the end. Floor-to-ceiling windows. View of the city.Damian's door was open. He was standing by the window. Looking out. Not at his desk."Close the door," he said without turning around.I closed it. Stood there. Suddenly nervous."You wanted to see me," he said. Still not turning."Yes.""About?""Abou
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 176!
MABELI sat in my car outside Damian's building.Engine off. Hands on the steering wheel. Not moving yet.Just thinking.About the past five years. About everything that had happened. About Damian's role in all of it.It had started five years ago. When I'd walked into his office desperate and determined.I'd just discovered Jason wasn't my biological son. Had DNA proof. But no one believed me. No lawyers would take the case. No one thought I had a chance against Claire Hoss.Except Damian.He'd listened. Actually listened. Looked at my evidence. Believed me when everyone else called me crazy."I'll help you," he'd said. "Whatever it takes."And he had.Funded the investigation. Hired the best lawyers. Provided resources I could never have afforded on my own.I'd thought it was about revenge. About destroying Claire. About old grudges and business rivalries.Maybe at
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 175!
MABELI was halfway to Damian's office when my phone rang.Vanessa."Hey," I answered."Rose told me about the proposal. About you hesitating." Vanessa's voice was direct. "Can we talk?""I'm actually on my way to see Damian right now….""This won't take long. Can you stop by? Please?"I hesitated. Then I turned around. "Okay. I'll be there in twenty minutes."Vanessa was waiting in her living room when I arrived. Rose had clearly left. We were alone."Sit," Vanessa said.I sat."Rose told you about Damian proposing?""She mentioned it. Said you're scared. Hesitating." Vanessa sat across from me. "Are you going to say no?""I don't know. I was actually going to his office to give him an answer. I think I'm ready to say yes.""You think?""The fear is still there. But I'm trying not to let it control me."Vanessa nodded slowly. "Can I tell yo
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 174!
MABELThe next morning, I went to Vanessa's apartment to pick up Liam.It was my week with him. Our custody arrangement had settled into a comfortable rhythm.Rose answered the door. Vanessa's assistant. Efficient as always."Morning, Ms. James. Liam's just finishing breakfast.""Thanks, Rose."I must have looked terrible because Rose paused. "Are you okay?""Fine. Just tired.""You look like you haven't slept.""I haven't. Much." I sat at the kitchen table. "Is Vanessa here?""She's at a meeting. Won't be back until this afternoon." Rose poured coffee without asking. Set it in front of me. "What's wrong?""Nothing. Everything. I don't know."Rose sat across from me. "Talk to me."I hesitated. Rose was Vanessa's assistant. Professional. Discreet. But also someone who'd been there through everything. The custody battle. The safe house. Lily's illness.Someone
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 173!
MABELI stayed at Damian's apartment that night.We didn't talk more about the proposal. Just went to bed. Held each other. Tried to pretend everything was normal.But it wasn't normal.The question hung between us. Unanswered. Creating space where there hadn't been space before.In the morning, I made coffee while Damian showered.When he came out, dressed for work, the atmosphere was different. Careful. Polite."I need time," I said. Breaking the silence."I know. You said that last night.""I mean real time. To think. To process. To figure out what I want." I looked at him. "I can't just say yes because you're asking. I need to be sure.""How much time?""I don't know. A few weeks? A month? I can't put a deadline on this."Damian was quiet. Poured his coffee. "Okay.""You're upset.""I'm not upset. I'm disappointed. There's a difference." He sat at the cou
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 172!
MABELWe moved back inside from the balcony.The candles were still burning. Dinner plates cleared. Music still playing softly.Damian poured wine. Handed me a glass.I took it but didn't drink. Just held it. Needed something to do with my hands."Talk to me," Damian said. Sitting beside me on the couch. "What are you thinking?""Everything. Nothing. I don't know." I set the glass down. "I want to say yes.""But?""But I'm scared." I looked at him. "What if this is just another mistake? What if I'm rushing into something without thinking clearly?""You've never rushed into anything in your life.""I rushed into marriage with Ethan. Look how that turned out.""That was different….""Was it? I thought I knew him. Thought I understood what I was getting into. Thought love was enough." My voice rose slightly. "Then his mother orchestrated a baby swap and he defended her. Chose her
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 33!
MABEL I stood on the balcony, gripping the railing so hard my knuckles turned white. Ethan had just dropped a bomb, he'd known about the baby swap for three years. Three years of silence while I searched desperately for my son. "I need to go," I said, not looking at him. "Mabel, wait...." "Ther
Last Updated : 2026-03-19The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 30!
MABEL I needed air. The gallery felt suffocating after my confrontation with Hailey. Whispers followed me as I made my way through the crowd, eyes tracking my every move. I found a balcony overlooking the museum's sculpture garden. The November air was cold, biting, exactly what I needed to clear
Last Updated : 2026-03-19The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 29!
MABEL I made it to the ladies' room before the shaking started. My hands gripped the marble sink as I stared at my reflection. Flushed cheeks. Bright eyes. The look of someone who'd just burned bridges and didn't care. What had I done? I'd confronted Ethan and Hailey in public. Let my anger cont
Last Updated : 2026-03-19The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 36!
MABEL Saturday morning arrived with sunshine that felt like mockery. Liam's fifth birthday party. The day I'd been anticipating and dreading in equal measure. I'd spent the entire week preparing, coordinating with caterers, finalizing decorations, ensuring every detail was perfect. This wasn't ju
Last Updated : 2026-03-19
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