All Chapters of Longing For My Ex-Wife: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Maya’s design studio was quiet but full of warmth. After months of sadness and silence, the space felt alive again. Rolls of fabric were neatly stacked in the corners, and sketches were pinned across the walls. The soft smell of coffee mixed with the scent of cotton and thread. Maya stood at her work table, checking her order list, her fingers gently touching a piece of lace. Her heart felt lighter. The studio was hers again. The chime above the door jingled softly. She turned—and her breath caught for just a moment. Elias. Dressed in tailored slacks and a navy shirt, he stepped inside with a quiet smile, a folder tucked under one arm. He looked around the studio with open admiration. “Good afternoon,” he greeted, voice warm and genuine. Maya gave a small, surprised smile. “Hi, Elias. I didn’t expect to see you today.” He shrugged with easy charm. “Thought I’d drop by. I have a favor to ask… and a proper thank you to give.” She set down her pencil. “A thank you?” “For Ava

The studio was quiet again. Maya stood frozen in the same spot, staring at the door Elias and Daniel had just walked out of. Her hands trembled slightly, and the weight of everything finally crashed over her. Her breath caught in her throat. A single tear slipped down her cheek, landing softly on the sketch paper she had been working on just minutes earlier. The delicate ink lines blurred, much like the way her thoughts felt right now—smudged and messy. She didn’t wipe the tear away. She simply stood there, letting the silence sink in. Daniel. Her ex-husband. The man she had spent years loving, supporting, and building a life with, had just looked her in the eye and offered her a maid’s job in their old house. As if everything she had done, all the sacrifices she made, meant nothing. As if her worth had vanished the moment she walked away from his life. A maid. In the house she once called her home. Her lips trembled, and she let out a shaky breath. The nerve. After betraying

The gates loomed ahead like silent sentinels. Maya’s car pulled to a gentle stop, the tires crunching over white gravel. Her eyes lifted to take in the vast estate—an architectural marvel with grand white walls, towering pillars, and rows of trimmed hedges flanking the long driveway. It looked less like a home and more like a palace out of a fairytale. Only this one didn’t promise any magic. Her fingers tightened on the strap of her purse. For a second, her nerves whispered that she didn’t belong here. Then she inhaled deeply and reminded herself: she wasn’t the old Maya anymore. She had survived betrayal, loss, and heartbreak. She was still standing. That was enough. As the driver opened the door, she stepped out gracefully, heels clicking against the stone. Elias was already waiting at the steps, hands in his pockets, wearing a soft grey shirt and black trousers that complimented his broad shoulders and easy elegance. He looked like he belonged here. She, however, felt like a gues

Daniel stepped into the house, shutting the door a little too hard behind him. He tossed his keys on the console and let out a sigh. The lights were on, but the place felt off—too quiet for a home that was supposed to be filled with warmth. His shoes echoed through the hall as he walked into the living room. Jamie was there, sitting stiffly on the couch, still in his school uniform, backpack on his back, shoes muddy from the day. “Jamie?” Daniel frowned, walking over. “What are you doing here like this? Where’s Lena?” The little boy looked up slowly. His face was pale, his eyes red and glassy like he’d been holding back tears for hours. “My teacher brought me home,” he said in a small voice. Daniel’s brow furrowed. “What do you mean your teacher brought you? Didn’t Lena pick you up?” Jamie shook his head. “No one came. Everyone else left already. My teacher waited with me for a long time.” Daniel rubbed a hand over his jaw, already annoyed. He pulled out his phone and called Len

The steady hum of Maya’s sewing machine echoed through the boutique, broken only by the soft rustle of fabric and the occasional snip of her scissors. Her hands moved with practiced ease as she attached a row of delicate lace to the hem of a satin gown. Her focus was sharp, but her mind wandered—until her phone buzzed across the table. She paused, wiped her hands on her apron, and picked it up. Elias: Are you at the boutique this afternoon? I need a favor. Maya smiled faintly, typing a quick reply. Maya: Yes, I’m here. What do you need? She didn’t have to wait long. Within minutes, the bell above the door jingled, and in walked Elias, his tall frame easy to spot even behind the racks of dresses. Beside him stood a young girl—Ava. She held tightly onto a small bunny-shaped backpack, her eyes flicking around the boutique with wonder. “Hey,” Elias said, giving Maya a small nod. “Hope it’s okay we dropped by.” “Of course,” Maya replied, already walking toward them. Her gaze soften