His Ex Wife

🌸Eden🌸

It was funny, in a strange, twisted way. Finn and I had something in common—our exes were getting married. But I didn’t dwell on that thought for long. Instead, I focused on what I could do now. Finn had done so much for me, and though I couldn’t repay him fully, I wanted to at least do something small.

Cooking. That’s what I could do.

After some thought, I decided on Philly cheesesteak. It wasn’t anything fancy, but it was hearty, and I could put my heart into making it. The kitchen became my escape as I chopped, grilled, and layered everything carefully. 

When Finn came back, his expression shifted when he saw the table set and the food waiting for him.

“You cooked?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I nodded, wiping my hands on a dish towel. “It’s nothing much. I just thought you might like something warm.”

A smile tugged at his lips, softening the sharpness of his features. “Thanks, Eden. It looks great.”

I watched him take the first bite, his face unreadable at first. Then he nodded. “This is good,” he said, sounding genuinely surprised.

Relief washed over me. “I’m glad you like it.”

We ate quietly, but my thoughts were anything but quiet. My mind kept circling back to Nalani Caspian. Finn’s ex-wife. I wasn’t sure if it was curiosity or something else, but I needed to know more. The question burned on my tongue until I finally gave in.

“Do you know Nalani Caspian?” I asked.

He froze, his fork pausing mid-air. Slowly, he set it down and leaned back in his chair, looking at me with an unreadable expression. Then, to my surprise, he laughed.

The sound was low, almost mocking, and it made my chest tighten.

“Why are you laughing?” I asked, my tone sharper than I intended.

“That was a really funny question.”

I blinked, thrown off by his response. “What do you mean?”

“Is that a headline now? Funny how you had to search for me on the internet first.”

I felt heat rise to my cheeks. “What are you talking about?” I tried to sound casual, but I knew I wasn’t fooling him.

Finn smirked, leaning forward slightly. “Come on, Eden. If you looked me up, you didn’t just find out about the divorce. You must have seen other things too. Like my hobbies, my company, my interests and important things about me.”

I bristled, gripping my fork tighter. “Why does it matter?”

He shrugged. “It doesn’t, really. But if you’re going to ask me about my ex wife, at least be honest about why.”

I stared at him, unsure how to respond. He wasn’t wrong, but I couldn’t exactly tell him the whole truth—not yet.

“You’re dodging the question,” I said instead, crossing my arms.

Finn’s smirk grew, and he leaned back in his chair. “What do you want to know, Eden? Why we got divorced? Or why I don’t seem to care about her anymore?”

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to meet his gaze. “Why did you laugh?”

He chuckled again, shaking his head. “Because, whoever she’s with now… I don’t know who the unfortunate person is, but they’re in for a rough time.” His tone was light, but there was a sharpness beneath it that hinted at old wounds. “He’ll learn the hard way, just like I did.”

His words hit me in a way I didn’t expect. I felt a flicker of satisfaction deep in my chest. It wasn’t much, but it was something.

“You sound like you’re happy she’s gone,” I said carefully.

Finn didn’t hesitate. “I am.”

His answer was so simple, so final, that I didn’t know how to respond. But I couldn’t help but feel that same satisfaction grow inside me. He didn’t know who Nalani’s new fiancé was—he didn’t know it was my ex husband. And for now, I wanted to keep it that way.

The idea that Liam might one day face the same way Finn had suffered brought me a strange sense of peace. I didn’t wish him happiness, not after everything he’d done. If he was going to marry Nalani, then maybe he deserved what was coming.

But I wasn’t ready to say that out loud. Not yet.

Finn’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “You’re not going to tell me why you’re asking, are you?”

“No,” I said simply, a small smile tugging at my lips.

He raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Fair enough.”

We finished the meal in silence.

As Finn stood to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back at me. “Thanks for dinner, Eden. It was really good.”

“You’re welcome,” I said softly, watching him go. The conversation had left me with more questions than answers, but for now, it was enough.

For now, I could hold onto the small victory of knowing that Liam and Nalani weren’t as perfect as they seemed.

As I sat on the couch, trying to distract myself from my thoughts, my phone buzzed. I almost ignored it, but curiosity got the better of me.

The headline hit me like a punch: The Caspian’s Princess Engagement Party! Watch the Proposal. It was Liam!

My heart sank. My fingers shook as I tapped the video. There he was, down on one knee, sliding a ring onto her finger. They were smiling, laughing, looking like they belonged in some perfect fairy tale....reminded me of the good old days, when he asked me to marry him.

The air left my lungs. I thought I was getting better, thought I could move on. But seeing this—seeing him so happy with her—ripped open wounds I thought were healing.

Tears blurred my vision. How long had he been planning this? Did the world know he had just left his pregnant wife? Had he been with her all along? How could he be so heartless? Going down on his knee to propose to his mistress just after divorcing his pregnant wife with stupid reasons and a stupid apology!

My chest ached as my phone fell from my hand, my legs trembling. I sank to the floor, tears falling freely.

I thought I could get past this. I thought I could move on. But now I knew—I couldn’t. Liam had destroyed me, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to put myself back together.

As I sat crumpled on the floor, tears streaming down my face, I didn’t hear the soft sound of footsteps approaching. Finn had forgotten something in the living room, and in the quiet of the penthouse, he must have heard my muffled sobs.

“Eden?” His voice was sharp, laced with concern.

Startled, I looked up, hastily wiping at my cheeks, but there was no hiding the wreckage on my face. Finn stood by the doorway, his brows furrowed, his sharp features softening as he took in the sight of me.

“What’s going on?” he asked, stepping closer.

I shook my head, trying to form words, but all that came out was a choked sob. My phone lay on the floor where I had dropped it, the video still frozen on Liam’s proposal. Finn followed my gaze, his eyes narrowing as he bent down and picked it up.