All Chapters of AFTER MY EX-WIFE : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

CAMILLA At 6 p.m., I finally turned off my laptop. The screen's light casts shadows on the table. I felt more tired than I thought I would after two days of training with the marketers. I thought I had a moment to calm down, but Julie's sudden situation threw me back into the chaos. But I was glad I was there for her when she needed someone close.I leaned back in my chair and rubbed my forehead. Thoughts of work quickly left my mind as Ava's face flashed in front of me. I stood up. That's enough. I was needed by Ava now.Walking to her room, I paused at the door. She was sitting on the floor, surrounded by crayons and papers. Her tiny fingers gripped a blue pencil as she wrote intently. “Mommy!” Her face lit up the moment she saw me, and my heart twisted.“Hey, sweetheart.” I knelt down, pulling her into a hug. She smelled of crayons and baby lotion—a scent I hadn’t allowed myself to enjoy in days.I swallowed the lump in my throat. “ How about we do your homework together?”Her

Camilla The invitation to the dinner at Millach LTD had been waiting on my desk all week. I had considered about declining. In fact, I almost convinced myself it was the proper thing to do. But I knew better. As a partner to the company, my absence would have raised questions — questions I wasn’t ready to address. Questions that would circle back to Alex.So, I decided to attend. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.As I stood in front of the mirror, staring at my outfit, a knot clenched in my gut. I brushed my fingertips over the slick black fabric, smoothing out unseen wrinkles. The dress embraced my physique in all the right places – exquisite, reserved, a firm display of authority. Yet, beneath the polished façade, my heart was a disaster.*What would I say if I saw him?* *Would he even speak to me?* *Or would we pretend, as we had for so long, that we were nothing more than two partners crossing paths?*Ready or not, it was happening.---A quiet laugh from the livin

ALEX I could see the work it took for her to keep her tone neutral. The brief flicker of something in her eyes — anger, pain, or maybe just weariness — disappeared quickly. She turned her attention back to Julie, engaged in polite conversation. But I saw it. She was doing her best to keep me at arm’s length. It hurt more than I thought it would. I watched them talk, every laugh, every smile Camilla gave Julie, twisting something deep inside me. She’d always been able to laugh, even when everything around her was collapsing. It used to draw me in. Now, it felt like a reflection of what I lost. The music started, its soft rhythm filling the room, but it did nothing to ease the tension that settled between Camilla and me. Julie stood up, leaving me alone with her. The silence that followed felt like a weight pressing down on my chest, and my hands began to sweat. I could feel the heat rising in my face, the awkwardness overwhelming. This was it. I had to speak. I had to say somet

CAMILLA Every little sound from outside made me jump. The creak of the stairs, the faraway hum of a car engine—it all set my nerves on edge. I kept imagining someone lurking in the shadows, ready to strike.By morning, my body was exhausted, but my determination was stronger. I wouldn’t let fear control me. Ava would stay by my side. Always.David called mid-morning, reminding me of our lunch. I was hesitant at first, but I knew Ava needed a change of setting. So did I.I got Ava ready, dressing her in her favorite pink dress with matching shoes. She twirled in front of the mirror, laughing. Her laughing eased some of the tension in my chest.When David arrived, I explained why Ava would be coming along. He listened carefully, his expression getting serious as I recounted the note.“This isn’t something to take lightly, Camilla,” he said, his brows furrowed in worry.“I know,” I answered. “That’s why I’m keeping Ava close.”David put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “We’ll figure th

Camilla"Mom, is he a bad person?" As we entered the house, Ava's soft voice broke the silence. Her teary look made me feel guilty, and it pulled at my heart. She had been quiet the entire way home because she was crying so hard that her little body shook. She eventually fell asleep in the car. I noticed in the rearview mirror that her small hands were grasping her garment as she slept. Her lips were trembling with words she couldn't express.Now she was looking at me with huge, curious eyes, waiting for me to respond. I dropped down on my knees beside her and placed my hands on her small shoulders. "No, honey. He is not a bad person."Her eyes furrowed in perplexity. "Then why didn't you let me talk to him?"I paused, my throat tightening as emotions raced inside me - dread, regret, and a persistent aching I couldn't shake. How can you convey a very difficult past to a child who only sees everything in black and white?"All I want is for you to be safe," I said quietly, attempting