Lahat ng Kabanata ng After Forgetting Me, My CEO Ex-husband Regrets: Kabanata 41 - Kabanata 50

(Lydia)“Let’s open the presents!” Adam exclaimed and the twins ran in his direction. They were jumping and clapping with glee and Adam laid out each one of their gifts and helped them unwrap it. Jack stood there commentating on every single present and recording a video of the unwrapping. And for once, Thomas was surprisingly calm despite Adam’s presence and involvement in his children’s lives.I was relieved. I was glad that everything was about my children right now – about their happiness, celebrating them, cheering them on their accomplishments, and about generally creating a loving and nurturing atmosphere for them to grow up in. I was glad that Thomas and Adam weren’t passing each other looks or otherwise making jabs at each other. And I was glad that the twins were too preoccupied with their presents to bother asking who my mother was.I was not prepared to have that conversation with them right now. I wanted to give things a bit more time before I brought their maternal gr

(Lydia)The room cheered when I carried the drinks inside. I laughed. I had not felt this relaxed and happy in weeks. It felt nice to be surrounded by the people who I was close to.“You did a spectacular job today, Lyddie!” Adam exclaimed, “With hosting the movie night, I mean.”“What you really mean,” said Jack with a grin, “Is that she did a great job at making all of us cry!”Everyone laughed at his quip.“I consider this a great accomplishment,” I said, walking into the center of the room, “Making grown men like yourselves shed tears!”The men in the room groaned and shouted in protest. Ruby was bent over double laughing. I had really missed all this banter and fun.Adam and I began discussing the decorations that I had in mind for the living room. He had been helping me set up the furniture so far.“I think that you should install a light on that wall,” he said, pointing in front of us. I pulled out an image that I had saved on my phone and showed it to him.“I was meaning to ge

(Lydia)“I asked – the chauffeur … to take me to Sarah’s house last night,” he garbled, “I -- there was so much water – I woke up – she had been silent … I didn’t … I don’t know – I didn’t see -- SHE TOOK SLEEPING PILLS WHILE I WAS PASSED OUT!”I looked back at the stretcher that had already been wheeled inside. Sarah was in good hands now. She would be taken care of.But Thomas was clearly very shaken. I put a hand on his arm and looked comfortingly at him. Mama looked very concerned.“Why don’t we sit down by that bench?” I suggested. I led Thomas to the bench and Mama and I sat down on either side of him. It was late in the afternoon and a few birds were chirping in the trees.“Now, could you slowly tell me what happened?” I said. I kept my voice as gentle as I could. Thomas looked very white and his eyes were frantic and deranged.Thomas drew in a deep breath, exhaled, and then began to speak. “I went to Sarah’s house last night. I wanted to end things with her. Of course, I would

(Lydia)Miles and Mabel were very happy to see their father. They ran up to him. He laughed and picked them both up.“So what’s up?” he asked and the twins began chattering with him.My heart warmed up at the way that being close to his children instantly brightened Thomas up. The tiredness that had been there before seemed to vanish as he listened to his daughter prattle on about her new interests and projects. His deep smile reached the creases of his eyes as his son hopped down from his arms and went to fetch his new toys to show to him.I felt myself smiling and checked myself.I could understand Thomas’s need for comfort right now. He had witnessed one of his oldest friends almost kill herself. But I shouldn’t let his vulnerability bring down my armor. After all, I reminded myself again, he and I could never end up together.He could only be here for the children.“How’s Margaret coping with the news?” I asked him when Mabel trotted off to find her brother. Apparently he was tak

(Lydia)Mama was trying hard to shake her habit of smoking. I think that being around Mabel and Miles at home and then with more children at school was helping. But I would still occasionally catch her in the backyard of the townhouse, puffing smoke out of her lips. She only ever did it when she was alone.She had thought that no one was watching, but I had decided to become much more attentive towards her now. I was only glad that the smoking had reduced dramatically because evidently this would have made her cancer worse. Mama looked stressed today. She was up at dawn and pacing the backyard with her cigarettes. I caught sight of her from the upstairs window but did not bring it up. I knew the reason why.So I cooked up her favorite cheese omelet with spring onions and toast, squeezed a glass of fresh orange juice, and set the table for her breakfast. When she came in, I gave her a big hug and smacked my lips against her cheek. “I love you, Mama,” I told her. She put her arms aroun