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2026-02-01 17:27:02
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The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 179!
ETHANI heard about the engagement from Thomas.My lawyer. Still handling my custody case. Still trying to get me more time with Jason."I saw the announcement," he said during our weekly call. "Mabel James and Damian Croft. Engaged."I sat down. "When?""Last week apparently. They're planning a small wedding. June.""Good. That's good." I meant it. Mostly."You okay?""Yeah. Fine. She deserves to be happy."After hanging up, I sat in my apartment. Quiet. Empty.I'd been living alone for over a year now. Since Hailey filed for full custody. Since the divorce finalized. Since everything fell apart.The apartment was smaller than I was used to. One bedroom. Modest. Nothing like the penthouse I'd shared with Hailey.But it was mine. Paid for with what was left after legal fees and settlements. After losing almost everything.I pulled out my phone. Looked at Mabel's socia
The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 178!
MABEL The next evening, Damian came to my apartment. We'd told Liam the news that morning. He'd been thrilled. "Does this mean Damian is going to be my dad?" "Sort of. Stepdad. But yes, he'll be part of our family officially." Liam had hugged Damian. "Cool. Can I call you Dad?" Damian had looked emotional. "If you want to. I'd like that." Now we sat at my kitchen table with coffee and a blank notebook. "We should probably plan this wedding," Damian said. "Probably." I pulled the notebook closer. "What do you want? Big? Small? Somewhere in between?" "What do you want?" "I asked you first." Damian smiled. "Small. Intimate. Just the people who matter. Not a big production." "I agree. My first wedding was huge. Two hundred guests. Most of them Claire's business contacts. It felt like a performance, not a marri
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! 99!
MABELThe custody hearing for Lily was scheduled for nine AM.The same day as my press conference about Liam.Perfect timing.Katherine Holden met me outside the courthouse. "Are you ready?""As ready as I can be. Where's Bella?""Inside with Lily. The judge wants to speak with Lily privately befor
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-28The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 87!
MABEL I sat across from Vanessa in her office, my hands trembling. This was really happening. We were really going to talk. Not yell. Not throw accusations. Actually talk. Vanessa looked exhausted. Like she hadn't slept at all. Her normally perfect hair was pulled back messily. No makeup. Dark c
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-27The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 92!
HAILEYI couldn't sleep.All night, I lay awake thinking about what Claire had said.“I've handled it.”But what did that mean? How could she handle DNA evidence? Hospital records? The truth?She couldn't.Which meant she was planning something else. Something drastic.And knowing Claire, "drastic"
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-27The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! 86!
VANESSA I didn't sleep that night. Instead, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking about everything Damian had told me. About Liam. About Mabel. About the impossible situation we were all in. At four AM, I gave up on sleep and went to Liam's room. He was curled up with his stuffed Spide
Terakhir Diperbarui : 2026-03-27
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