Início / Romance / The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing! / Capítulo 171 - Capítulo 179

Todos os capítulos de The Ex-wife He Regrets Losing!: Capítulo 171 - Capítulo 179

179 Capítulos

171!

MABELI stood on the balcony, looking down at Damian.On one knee. Ring in hand. Expression open. Vulnerable.The city noise faded. The world narrowed to just us. This moment."Mabel," he said again. His voice was steady but I could hear the nervousness underneath. "I love you. I want to spend my life with you. Marry me."Simple. Direct. Intimate.No grand speech. No elaborate setup. Just truth.The same way Damian had always been with me. Straightforward. Honest. Real.I opened my mouth. Closed it. No words came.I was stunned.I'd known this was coming. Eventually. We'd talked about the future. About waiting until life settled. Until the battles were over.And they were. Claire in prison. Liam safe. Lily recovering. The business thriving.Life had settled.But actually hearing the question. Seeing the ring. Facing the reality of it.That was different.

172!

MABELWe moved back inside from the balcony.The candles were still burning. Dinner plates cleared. Music still playing softly.Damian poured wine. Handed me a glass.I took it but didn't drink. Just held it. Needed something to do with my hands."Talk to me," Damian said. Sitting beside me on the couch. "What are you thinking?""Everything. Nothing. I don't know." I set the glass down. "I want to say yes.""But?""But I'm scared." I looked at him. "What if this is just another mistake? What if I'm rushing into something without thinking clearly?""You've never rushed into anything in your life.""I rushed into marriage with Ethan. Look how that turned out.""That was different….""Was it? I thought I knew him. Thought I understood what I was getting into. Thought love was enough." My voice rose slightly. "Then his mother orchestrated a baby swap and he defended her. Chose her

173!

MABELI stayed at Damian's apartment that night.We didn't talk more about the proposal. Just went to bed. Held each other. Tried to pretend everything was normal.But it wasn't normal.The question hung between us. Unanswered. Creating space where there hadn't been space before.In the morning, I made coffee while Damian showered.When he came out, dressed for work, the atmosphere was different. Careful. Polite."I need time," I said. Breaking the silence."I know. You said that last night.""I mean real time. To think. To process. To figure out what I want." I looked at him. "I can't just say yes because you're asking. I need to be sure.""How much time?""I don't know. A few weeks? A month? I can't put a deadline on this."Damian was quiet. Poured his coffee. "Okay.""You're upset.""I'm not upset. I'm disappointed. There's a difference." He sat at the cou

174!

MABELThe next morning, I went to Vanessa's apartment to pick up Liam.It was my week with him. Our custody arrangement had settled into a comfortable rhythm.Rose answered the door. Vanessa's assistant. Efficient as always."Morning, Ms. James. Liam's just finishing breakfast.""Thanks, Rose."I must have looked terrible because Rose paused. "Are you okay?""Fine. Just tired.""You look like you haven't slept.""I haven't. Much." I sat at the kitchen table. "Is Vanessa here?""She's at a meeting. Won't be back until this afternoon." Rose poured coffee without asking. Set it in front of me. "What's wrong?""Nothing. Everything. I don't know."Rose sat across from me. "Talk to me."I hesitated. Rose was Vanessa's assistant. Professional. Discreet. But also someone who'd been there through everything. The custody battle. The safe house. Lily's illness.Someone

175!

MABELI was halfway to Damian's office when my phone rang.Vanessa."Hey," I answered."Rose told me about the proposal. About you hesitating." Vanessa's voice was direct. "Can we talk?""I'm actually on my way to see Damian right now….""This won't take long. Can you stop by? Please?"I hesitated. Then I turned around. "Okay. I'll be there in twenty minutes."Vanessa was waiting in her living room when I arrived. Rose had clearly left. We were alone."Sit," Vanessa said.I sat."Rose told you about Damian proposing?""She mentioned it. Said you're scared. Hesitating." Vanessa sat across from me. "Are you going to say no?""I don't know. I was actually going to his office to give him an answer. I think I'm ready to say yes.""You think?""The fear is still there. But I'm trying not to let it control me."Vanessa nodded slowly. "Can I tell yo

176!

MABELI sat in my car outside Damian's building.Engine off. Hands on the steering wheel. Not moving yet.Just thinking.About the past five years. About everything that had happened. About Damian's role in all of it.It had started five years ago. When I'd walked into his office desperate and determined.I'd just discovered Jason wasn't my biological son. Had DNA proof. But no one believed me. No lawyers would take the case. No one thought I had a chance against Claire Hoss.Except Damian.He'd listened. Actually listened. Looked at my evidence. Believed me when everyone else called me crazy."I'll help you," he'd said. "Whatever it takes."And he had.Funded the investigation. Hired the best lawyers. Provided resources I could never have afforded on my own.I'd thought it was about revenge. About destroying Claire. About old grudges and business rivalries.Maybe at

177!

MABELI took the elevator to the forty-second floor.Damian's office. Executive suite. Glass walls. Minimalist design.His assistant looked up when I walked in. "Ms. James. Do you have an appointment?""No. But I need to see him. Is he in?""He's in a meeting….""Please. It's important."She hesitated. Then picked up the phone. "Mr. Croft, Mabel James is here. She says it's important."A pause. Then she nodded. "He'll see you. Go ahead in."I walked down the hallway. Past conference rooms. Past other offices.To the corner office at the end. Floor-to-ceiling windows. View of the city.Damian's door was open. He was standing by the window. Looking out. Not at his desk."Close the door," he said without turning around.I closed it. Stood there. Suddenly nervous."You wanted to see me," he said. Still not turning."Yes.""About?""Abou

178!

MABEL The next evening, Damian came to my apartment. We'd told Liam the news that morning. He'd been thrilled. "Does this mean Damian is going to be my dad?" "Sort of. Stepdad. But yes, he'll be part of our family officially." Liam had hugged Damian. "Cool. Can I call you Dad?" Damian had looked emotional. "If you want to. I'd like that." Now we sat at my kitchen table with coffee and a blank notebook. "We should probably plan this wedding," Damian said. "Probably." I pulled the notebook closer. "What do you want? Big? Small? Somewhere in between?" "What do you want?" "I asked you first." Damian smiled. "Small. Intimate. Just the people who matter. Not a big production." "I agree. My first wedding was huge. Two hundred guests. Most of them Claire's business contacts. It felt like a performance, not a marri

179!

ETHANI heard about the engagement from Thomas.My lawyer. Still handling my custody case. Still trying to get me more time with Jason."I saw the announcement," he said during our weekly call. "Mabel James and Damian Croft. Engaged."I sat down. "When?""Last week apparently. They're planning a small wedding. June.""Good. That's good." I meant it. Mostly."You okay?""Yeah. Fine. She deserves to be happy."After hanging up, I sat in my apartment. Quiet. Empty.I'd been living alone for over a year now. Since Hailey filed for full custody. Since the divorce finalized. Since everything fell apart.The apartment was smaller than I was used to. One bedroom. Modest. Nothing like the penthouse I'd shared with Hailey.But it was mine. Paid for with what was left after legal fees and settlements. After losing almost everything.I pulled out my phone. Looked at Mabel's socia

ANTERIOR

...

13 14 15 16 17 18

PRÓXIMO

ESCANEIE O CÓDIGO PARA LER NO APP

DMCA.com Protection Status