All Chapters of After the Divorce, My Ex Husband Came Crawling Back: Chapter 161 - Chapter 170

VICTORThe first thing I hear is the steady beeping of a machine. The second thing I feel is pain, everywhere, in my chest, my arms, and my throat. Even breathing feels like work.I open my eyes and light floods my vision, for several seconds, I can't make sense of anything. I try to move, but my body refuses.Then I notice her. Selene is sitting beside the bed, her head resting against the mattress, both hands wrapped around one of mine as she sleeps.For a moment I simply stare at her. Her hair is slightly disheveled, with shadows under her eyes, and she looks exhausted.How long has she been sitting there? I don't know. I try to remember. The jet, Beatrice, the street, the boy, the pain, and Selene's voice. Then nothing.My heart beats harder, not from fear, but from something else. Then that warmth returns, the same one from the jet, only stronger now. Much stronger.I know this feeling, I've known it before. Many years ago, before responsibility became more important than desire.

DURRELLI don't know how long I stayed awake after that. An hour, maybe two. Eventually someone brought food I didn't touch, and left when I made it clear I had no idea what she'd said to me.Nobody spoke English unless it was the man from the window, and even he rationed it like it cost him something.Nobody explained anything. Every time I asked about Ariana, I got the same blank patience, the kind that isn't cruelty, just a wall with better manners.Eventually I stopped asking. Not because I'd stopped wanting to know, but because I understood they weren't going to tell me, and asking had started to feel like handing them something.I learned his name was Tanis. I didn't get much else out of him that first week, except one thing that mattered more than anything he could have told me about Ariana."What happens if I leave?" I asked him, once I was steady enough to stand at the window instead of the bed.He didn't turn around. "Nothing.""Nothing?""You will not leave.""That's not wha

SELENEIt has been a week.A full week since Victor collapsed on the jet and nearly died before we could get him to Niveria.He is alive, and out of danger. And, according to the doctors, he is extremely lucky. But Victor doesn't seem impressed by any of that. He is more interested in Durrell."He's fine," I tell him for what must be the tenth time.Victor looks at me from the hospital bed. "You don't know that.""Neither do you." I remind him.His jaw tightens. "The Kravens have him, and you say that like it's reassuring.""It actually is." He gives me a look, and I sigh. "Beatrice said they won't harm their own blood.""Beatrice also said a lot of things." "Then trust the part that matters." He looks away. "The Kraven death sentence on me isn't a joke."I study him. "No. It definitely isn't."His eyes return to mine. "Then you understand why I can't sit here doing nothing.""You almost died.""I know.""Twice. Your heart stopped twice." I fold my arms. "And you're still more worr

ARIANAThe twins' birthday is in six days, and somehow that's the only date I can hold onto with any certainty right now.Everything else keeps slipping.Durrell should have been arguing with me about the cake by now. He'd have pretended not to care, sighed about it being "just a cake," and then somehow ended up choosing everything anyway, the frosting, the color of the balloons, the exact shade of blue Thea likes best this month. That was always how it went with him. Complain first, control everything second.Instead, it's Maxwell doing it. Nowadays, Maxwell and Mrs. Florence are deep in some group chat with Mrs. P about party favors and cake flavors.A level of cooperation between the two households that should feel like relief, but mostly just feels like Durrell is being replaced one detail at a time.Thea comes home from Maxwell's smelling like someone else's laundry detergent, chattering about Mrs. Florence's biscuits before she's even out of her car seat. Ethan has started ca

ARIANAThe twins are at Maxwell's for the weekend, and the house is quiet in a way it almost never gets to be. Today, it’s just me, the garden, and the low hum of the staff somewhere inside.I'd forgotten Mason said he was coming. The Bindy meeting is still sitting heavy in my chest, and I've been out here an hour, reviewing documents from the logistics branch of Bindy business, to keep my mind from wandering somewhere I don't want it to go.Then my phone rings. It's Durrell's assistant, Greg."Mrs. Chase." He never quite gets used to calling me anything else, not Ariana, not Cox, always something formal and careful. "The purchase is complete."I straighten. "The shares.""Yes, ma'am. All outstanding board positions Mr. Cox identified have been acquired." A pause, like he wants to make sure I understand the shape of what he's about to say. "Your total Cox holding now places you second only to Mr. Cox."I sit straight on the low stone bench at the edge of the flower bed. "Second only t