All Chapters of Dear Ex-wife, You're More Than A Substitute: Chapter 21 - Chapter 24

TESSA’S POV When I heard the front door open, I didn’t even turn around. My hands didn’t stop moving, though. I kept folding clothes neatly, methodically, like staying busy would stop me from crumbling.He was home. And I was halfway through packing my life into a single suitcase. He entered the room in silence. No demand, no anger. Just quiet footsteps that came to a stop behind me. “Tessa,” he said, and just that… My name. I kept folding. “I’m leaving,” I said plainly, my voice steady even though my hands trembled slightly. He stepped closer, slow and deliberate. &l

The next morning, the house was quiet.Too quiet.No soft creak of shoes pacing across the floor. No sharp clicks from Stacy’s cane tapping through the hallway. Just the low, rhythmic splash of water coming from the kitchen.I padded down the stairs slowly, my fingertips grazing the rail. My chest was still heavy from yesterday. A part of me wanted to believe things could settle, that silence might mean peace... but it didn’t. Not anymore.I stepped into the kitchen and found Lydia at the sink, humming softly to herself as she washed the dishes.She turned when she heard me. “Morning, Madam.”“Morning,” I replied, voice barely above a whisper.She dried her hands on a towel and added, “Mr. Richard left early. Said he had some errands. And Miss Stacy… she’s out for her hospital check up.”I nodded absently. “Thanks.”But my brain was already far ahead. Stacy was gone... for now. Richard wasn’t here. The air felt lighter, but not in a comforting way... more like the kind of stillness be