Lahat ng Kabanata ng AFTER MY EX-WIFE : Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 87

CamillaMy heart raced as I entered the room, my trembling fingers on the door just as it closed behind me. The silence around me was intense, broken only by my choppy breaths. I leaned my back against the door, feeling its coolness, but it didn't help quiet the turmoil inside me. Alex. The memory of his touch and the feel of his lips stayed with me like a haunting presence I couldn't escape. My resolve and the walls I carefully built around myself fell apart whenever he got near. I tried really hard to keep him away to protect myself and my daughter, but when he looked at me with those pleading eyes, I lost my strength. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to manage my feelings. It wasn't just about him; it was how he made me feel and how he could always remove the walls I felt I needed. The best thing I could do was put some space between us, lock the door, and guarantee that the mistakes of the previous night were never repeated. Sliding down to the floor, I sat with my knees t

Camilla The front door was slightly opened. As I pushed, the wood creaked, ringing through the silence like a warning. A moist chill crept across my skin. Inside, the air was thick with the smell of mold, dust, and something more. Something metallic. The room was consumed by darkness, but a dim light flickered in the distance. It hummed weakly, throwing long, fragmented shadows on the walls. My breath came out in short, uneven gasps. Every instinct screamed at me to turn back, run, and seek help. But I couldn't, I kept moving. Because somewhere in the darkness, Ava was waiting for me.Then, from the darkness, came a voice. "Hands up." I froze. The voice was calm. Too calm. Possessing such control implied power.Footsteps were the next sound, which was slow and measured. Heavy. Deliberate. A rough, hard hand clamped around my wrist. Not cruel, but uncompromising. A silent warning. "Move." The grasp tightened slightly, guiding me forwards. My legs felt weak, but I

CAMILLA A slight buzz of voices trickled through the hospital's closed doors. My eyes felt heavy, and my body was tight from resting in one position for too long. I squinted at the dimly lit room, with early morning light filtering in through the blinds. I must have fallen asleep just before daybreak. A throbbing ache throbbed at the base of my skull, reminding me of the sleepless night I'd spent tossing and turning, haunted by Ava's face. Pale. Frightened. Helpless. The memories hit me all over again, jolting me completely awake. Ava. I turned my head, expecting to see Alex sitting in the chair by the window, like he had last night. But the chair was empty. Panic clutched at my chest. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, forcing myself up despite the tiredness that weighed me down. My bare feet contacted the icy floor, causing a shiver up my spine. I reached for the lightweight cardigan I'd droped over the chair and slipped it on as I exited the room. The hallway

Alex The previous two days had been a maelstrom of emotions. Sitting in my study, I let out a long sigh and rubbed my temples. The weight of tiredness pulled on my shoulders, yet sleep had proven difficult. My mind refused to relax. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Ava—her small, delicate body lying on that hospital bed, bandages around her head, her pale face devoid of its typical brightness. I clinched my fist. The kidnapping, The drive to catch the kidnappers, The accident, The moment I saw her unconscious and drenched in blood. Every second of it replayed in my mind like a nightmare I couldn't shake. I had never experienced fear like this before. The thought of losing her had almost crushed me. The worst part? I had no claim to her. There is no right to make decisions. I was simply a man who had stepped in when she needed assistance. But why did it seem like more than that? Why did saving her make me feel like I was saving a part of myself? I leaned back in my