Semua Bab A Divorce He Regrets: Bab 41 - Bab 50

RAINAI didn’t even bother forcing a smile. My patience was far too thin, and my mood too sour to entertain any pretense of civility. “Hi, and bye,” I said curtly, hoping to escape without further interaction.But of course, she grabbed my arm.“Raina, wait,” Alex’s mother said, her tone unusually sweet, dripping with a sugary kindness I’d never heard from her before. If I didn’t know better, I might’ve believed she was trying to be genuinely pleasant. But I knew better.Her grip on my arm tightened as she continued, her voice smooth and calculated. “You know, since you’re still married to Alex, wouldn’t it make sense to move back in with us? Or…” She tilted her head slightly, like she was about to offer me the most brilliant solution to all my problems. “Since you’re a Graham, you could always buy us a bigger property to live in. Somewhere more spacious, more elegant—something fitting for a family of our status. Or, if you really hate living with us that much, Alex could always get y

RAINAMy heart was racing, and I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling coursing through me. I never thought I’d be in this kind of situation again—confronted by doubts, and mistrust—not this early and definitely not with Nathan. But I had to admit, I didn’t know enough about him to be certain he wouldn’t put me in this position.Nathan’s expression was unreadable as he looked around the room. Without a word, he gently but firmly took my arm and led me to the side of the room. Another day, another pull. If this kept up, my arm was going to need its own lawyer.“What did Vivian tell you?” he asked, his voice calm but with an edge of irritation.I folded my arms, unwilling to give him the satisfaction of sidestepping my question. “No, Nathan. You first. Who is she?”He sighed, his hand moving to rub the back of his neck as he tried to find the right words. “Vivian’s a coworker,” he explained. “Unfortunately, one who confessed that she liked me. I told her I wasn’t interested, but apparently,

RAINAFirst day of the court hearing. My stomach churned with nervous energy, the kind that clings to your bones and refuses to let go. Nathan had assured me everything would be fine, but I couldn’t shake the nagging doubt clawing at my thoughts. This wasn’t just about paperwork or legalities—this was my life, my freedom, and my son’s future on the line.Dominic squeezed my hand as we rode from the hotel to the courthouse. We’d left New York for California, the state chosen for the trial. His support was a quiet strength beside me, though my mind drifted to Nathan. He’d spent weeks pouring over my case, flipping between his place and mine, sometimes crashing on my couch just to keep working. But now, on the most critical day, he wasn’t here yet.Family emergency, he’d explained. He promised to meet us at court, but worry prickled at me. Was he okay?The courthouse loomed ahead, its imposing structure adding weight to my already heavy heart. As we stepped out, my gaze immediately lande

ALEXANDERI arrived at the office early, hoping the demands of the day would drown out the chaos in my mind. Restless sleep had left me raw, my thoughts an endless loop of regret and frustration. Today, I needed focus—something to anchor me before I spiraled any further.As I stepped into my office, my eyes were immediately drawn to an envelope resting on my desk. Its stark presence sent a chill through me. Frowning, I grabbed it, dropped heavily into my chair, and tore it open, bracing myself for what might be inside.Court orders.My breath caught as my pulse quickened. I scanned the document, each word hitting me like a physical blow: Raina Graham v. Alexander Sullivan—Petition for Sole Custody.I leaned back in my chair, the paper trembling in my hands. Sole custody? She wasn’t even giving me time to adjust to the fact that we were just divorced, and now she wanted to take Liam too? My son. My blood. The ache in my chest deepened, a sharp pang of betrayal and loss intertwining. R

NATHANThat bastard couldn’t keep his mouth shut. I clenched my fists against the steering wheel, shaking with anger. My chest felt tight, every breath shallow as I replayed Alex’s words in front of Raina. He’d seen me, no doubt about it. The question wasn’t if—it was what. Did he have anything concrete? Proof? Evidence he could use to turn her against me?My stomach churned. What would I even say if he did? Could I explain it away? Or had Alex already poisoned her against me?I pulled at my hair in frustration, groaning under my breath. No. If Alex had said anything, Raina would’ve confronted me. She wasn’t the type to sit on something like that. But then… why did she insist we couldn’t resume our relationship?I stared at my phone, thumb hovering over the screen. Her photo stared back at me—a candid shot she didn’t know I had taken. It wasn’t recent, either. This was from years ago, back when I first heard about her divorce. Not that it was only then I knew her though.I had wanted