All Chapters of His regret; Too late to love me now ex-husband: Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

Layla's POV. The house had never felt this still. This wasn’t the sort of silence that you'd enjoy the peace and quietness of it. It was the sort that pressed in on you, making it hard to draw as little as a pinch of breath. Three days. That’s how long it had been since Liam left. I’d counted, unwillingly at first, then obsessively. Three days since the sound of his voice echoed through the walls of this house, three days since I’d caught that faint trace of his cologne near the in-house gym where he never allows himself miss a day, even when Adrian refuses to go with him sometimes. Goodness, it has been three days since anyone had spoken my name in that low, steady way that made it sound like something worth saying. And I missed it. Fuck, I missed him. I told myself I wasn’t supposed to. Missing him should be foolish of me, which is exactly why keeping my distance was the right choice. And yet, there it was... that restless ache under my ribs, growing stronger by the hour, t

Layla's POV.I was driving home from work when I sighted a fancy restaurant, my stomach rumbled just in time, and I drove right in. Adrian had planned to join me for lunch after work, but last minute he’d been called to handle a client. I told him I didn’t mind. In truth, I was relieved. I needed space to pull myself together.Aside the fact that I've been avoiding long conversations that could hint at my divorce and it's details, The last few days had also been… strange.I’d spent them trying not to think about Liam’s absence, throwing myself into work, pretending that the new structure of my days was enough to fill the void he’d left behind. But the quiet moments betrayed me. That was when I missed him most.I ordered a simple meal: grilled salmon, salad, and a glass of water. By the time my food arrived, I’d begun to relax. I’d even managed to enjoy the view through the tall windows, where the city buzzed with life.And then, just as I lifted my glass, I heard a voice, a familiar

Layla's POV. The moment I stepped into the plane, I knew this flight was going to feel endless. I’d seen Liam at the airport terminal before boarding, we’d exchanged polite greetings in front of Adrian and the staff who came to see us off. But the polite distance between us had been a fragile act; underneath it, my heart had been racing. Now we were seated side by side in first class, and every inch of the space between us felt charged. I pretended to be absorbed in the company documents on my tablet, but I hadn’t read a single line. My mind was everywhere, anywhere but on the glowing screen in front of me. Every so often, I could feel him glance my way. Not openly, not enough to call attention, but enough to make my pulse react. “You surprised me,” He finally spoke after what felt like forever. I turned slightly, forcing myself to be calm to the sound of his voice. “How?” “Joining the trip.” His mouth curved faintly, that half-smile that always did something to me. “I thought

Layla's POV.When I finally opened my eyes, the room was dark. For a few seconds, I couldn’t remember where I was... Then it came back: the flight, the hotel, the exhaustion that had folded over me like a heavy blanket.I sat up slowly, rubbing my eyes. My phone on the nightstand blinked; the time read 8:47 p.m. I had slept the whole afternoon away.Liam had actually said that I won't be caught outside today again and he had been right, lol.I was about to lay back down when my stomach rumbled slightly.A sigh left my lips. “Wonderful. Jet-lagged and starving,” I muttered.My muscles felt stiff, my mind foggy. I needed air... movement, anything to keep me from curling back under the sheets and thinking too much. The idea of a walk sounded harmless enough.I slipped into a simple dress, tied my hair back loosely, and stepped into a pair of flats. The hallway outside was quiet except for the faint sound of voices and buzzing noises from down the stairs. I didn’t even bring my phone; I j

Layla's POV.The moment I stepped back into the bar, I knew I should’ve stayed in my room.Liam was exactly where I left him, except this time, she was still there, and she’d gotten even more comfortable, her hand was already resting on his arm, her fingers brushing against his sleeve like they had every right to be there.And why the fucking hell is he smiling at her? Like he's comfortable with all that she's doing?Something inside me snapped just a little.I stopped just beyond the doorway, my breath catching before I could steady it. The light caught on his jawline as he turned his head slightly to listen to her, that freaking smile hadn't left his face, and even from across the room, I could tell the smile she was giving him too was the kind that said 'I’m not going anywhere.'My first instinct was to turn around, pretend I never saw any of it, go back to my room and email him about the conference. But my feet didn’t move. They stayed planted, stubbornly frozen, as I stood there