Goodbye, Ex-Husband, Next Please のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 241 - チャプター 250

AVA'S POV I didn’t sleep at all, all through the night. My eyes burned from crying, but the worst part wasn’t even the tears. It was the way my brain wouldn’t stop. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her again – Emma. Sitting on that cold basement floor, her cheeks stained with dried tears, whispering that she wanted to come home. That image kept playing over and over in my head like a nightmare I couldn’t escape from. By the time the sun started to rise, I was still awake. Still sitting by the window. I wasn’t even sure how long I’d been there. Hours, maybe. Time didn’t feel real anymore. My whole body was tired, but there was no rest in me. No peace. Just pain and worry and fear pressing down on me so hard I could barely breathe. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep going like this… but I had no choice. I had to be strong. For Emma and Mason. They were counting on me. When Sally came into my room, I didn’t even say a word. I just stood up slowly and started getting dresse

AVA'S POV I was lying flat on the gravel, frozen. My heart slammed so hard in my chest I thought it might burst. My ears rang from the gunshot, the sound still echoing like a scream in my skull. I couldn’t lift my head and I couldn’t breathe. All I could think was: One of the kids. Oh God, one of the kids. Please no. My fingers clawed into the dirt beneath me. My whole body felt heavy and stiff, like I was stuck in cement. My chest was so tight, like someone was sitting on it. My lips parted, but no sound came out. Then I heard a little voice. “Aunt Ava!” Emma’s voice echoed in my ears, She was crying, her voice shaky but loud. “Ms. Ava!” Mason too called out my name, his voice was weak and hoarse. They were alive. My eyes snapped open. I gasped like I’d been underwater for too long, and I jolted up so fast I scraped my palms on the gravel. Dirt clung to my hands, but I didn’t care. I turned my head, eyes darting everywhere. Julian was the one who fell. The blood wa

JASON'S POV I stood there like an idiot, juice box still in my hand, fingers squeezing it tight. My jaw clenched. I couldn’t move. Couldn’t think. Could barely breathe. I looked away fast, like if I blinked hard enough, I could unsee it. My chest felt tight. I turned and walked back toward the backyard, slow but steady, like nothing had happened. But inside? I was boiling. I didn’t know what I was supposed to feel. Anger? Jealousy? Regret? Maybe all of it. All I knew was that something inside me cracked. The party kept going around me – kids laughing, balloons bobbing in the wind, music playing low from a speaker someone had shoved near the porch. But I wasn’t there anymore. Not really. My mind was spinning somewhere else entirely. I found myself near the bouncy castle, not sure how I ended up there. The kids were still full of energy, bouncing, screaming, and giggling like they’d just had candy injected straight into their veins. Emma and Mason were with a few of their

AVA'S POV Days had passed since Julian was buried. The day I heard the news still felt a little blurry. I was caught off guard at the kids’ birthday party when Michael told me he had committed suicide in his cell. It had hit me like a splash of cold water, but that was all. Just shock. There were no tears, no ache, and that said a lot. We were never close, Julian and I. Even before everything — the lies, the kidnapping, the fear — there had always been this distance between us. I don’t know if he ever really saw me as family. Maybe he did at one point. Or maybe I just wanted to believe that. Either way, after the initial news wore off, I didn’t feel much afterwards. Life moved on. Work didn’t stop. The kids needed me. My thoughts were too crowded with other things — with Jason, with Michael, with Alex… God. It was like my heart had become some kind of messy intersection, and everyone wanted to drive through at once. That morning, I sat in my office, scrolling through some new

AVA’S POV The café wasn’t busy, just a few quiet souls scattered across small tables sipping coffee or staring into their phones. The place had a warm smell — cinnamon and brewed espresso — the kind that usually calmed my nerves. I paused by the entrance, eyes scanning the room until I saw someone wave. I took a few steps forward and my chest tightened a bit. It was Cindy. She looked flawless, like always. Sleek ponytail, soft makeup, and expensive clothes. I managed a small smile and walked over. “Hey,” I greeted as I pulled out the chair opposite her. Her smile was wide, but I couldn’t tell if it was friendly or forced. “Ava, wow. You look… amazing. Seriously, what are you wearing? You look like a Vogue model.” I laughed softly. “Thanks. Just threw something on.” That was a lie, of course. I’d changed twice before leaving the house. I just felt like looking extra good today. She leaned in a little. “I know you’re probably surprised I called. But remember that time I s