All Chapters of Dear Ex, I'm More Than Your Plan B: Chapter 171 - Chapter 180

The sun had barely crested over the hills of Provence when the household began to stir.Breakfast was laid out in the garden, the Fontaines never did anything without a certain curated charm.A lace draped table under flowering vines, fine china gleaming beneath a striped parasol, and the scent of lavender steeping in the morning breeze.But Mrs. Fontaine noticed something far more telling than the presentation.Dorian sat at the table already, his coffee untouched, jaw tight, eyes distant.Vera arrived moments later with Eira, her movements graceful but subdued. There was a weight around her shoulders, something a seasoned woman like Mrs. Fontaine could spot from a hundred yards.Eira, of course, brightened the morning with her usual sunshine. The little girl ran toward Dorian with a cheerful, “Good morning!”He managed a soft smile and scooped her up into his lap without hesitation. But he didn’t look at Vera.And Vera didn’t try to look at him either.Mrs. Fontaine's eyes narrowed

Vera stayed on the bench for a long time.Long after the sun climbed higher.Long after Eira came skipping over, asking if they were ready to go.She answered automatically, smiled for her daughter, packed the rest of their things, and carried on with the day like the conversation hadn’t just gutted her.But deep down, she knew something had just ended.Something precious.Something that had saved her when she thought she’d never survive.And still… her heart reached for someone else.Even when it shouldn’t.Even when it cost her everything safe.She chose love.And love was never neat.The suitcase wheels clacked gently over the polished stone tiles as Vera zipped the last duffel shut.Eira’s excitement buzzed through the room like sunlight on glass, she’d been humming all morning, twirling in her soft pink travel dress and checking the pockets of her small backpack for the third time to make sure her favorite doll hadn’t vanished.“Mommy,” Eira called from the doorway, her little fe

Asher took a step closer to Vera now, his voice lowering. “You look tired.”She gave a dry laugh. “Try parenting and emotional whiplash in a foreign château.”His lips curved faintly, but his eyes were serious. “Did he hurt you?”She shook her head. “No. He was… kind. He always is.”“But you left anyway.”Vera inhaled deeply, then nodded. “Because staying would’ve been a lie.”He stared at her for a long moment.“Then I’m glad you left,” he said simply. “Even if I didn’t deserve it… thank you for coming back.”She looked away.“Don’t thank me yet,” she murmured. “I haven’t decided what this means.”“I don’t need a decision today,” he said. “Just a chance.”“Why now?” she whispered, finally meeting his gaze. “Why after all this time?”His eyes darkened, voice rough. “Because I saw the truth too late. Because I let people convince me you were the villain. And because when I met our daughter... our daughter, I realized I had spent six years missing the best part of my life.”Vera didn’t

Asher glanced at her again, softer this time. “You look lighter.”She blinked. “What?”“Not just today. Since I saw you again… there’s something different in your eyes.”“Maybe I’m just tired.”“No,” he said, shaking his head gently. “You’ve always been tired. This is… something else.”She looked away, focusing instead on the steam curling from the pot. “Maybe I’m just trying not to think too much.”“About us?” he asked quietly.Her heart skipped.She didn’t answer.Not because she didn’t know.But because she did.Just then, Eira ran in, her socks sliding on the floor, cheeks flushed with excitement.“Is it ready? Is it ready?”“Almost,” Asher said, crouching down. “You wanna help me stir one last time?”She nodded enthusiastically and jumped up on the step stool beside him. Vera stepped back, watching the two of them, father and daughter, move in sync, like they’d always known each other.Like no time had passed.“You’re good at this,” Eira announced proudly, watching the pasta swir

Asher plated the pancakes, stacking them in a wobbly pile, drizzling syrup over the top before setting them on a tray beside fruit and juice.Vera grabbed the forks and followed him into the living room, where Eira had already queued up an animated movie and claimed the center of the couch.They ate together, cozy and close.Eira fed her stuffed bunny a blueberry.Asher pretended not to notice when she stole all the strawberries from his plate.And Vera sat between them, her heart aching in the best and worst ways.After breakfast, Eira curled up in her father’s lap and began to doze, lulled by the warmth and the soft dialogue on screen.Asher looked down at her, brushing a curl away from her cheek. Then his eyes lifted to Vera.“She fits here,” he said softly.Vera nodded. “She always did.”“So do you.”She swallowed.“I’m trying,” she whispered. “But it’s… hard.”“I know,” he said. “But I’m not asking you to decide everything now. Just let me be here.”She looked down at Eira, safe,