Chapter 72
-25 conus
As Theld it in my hands, my heart raced. My fingers trembled slightly, betraying the calm façade I worked so hard to maintain. This was it–the moment where I’d either take a step toward repairing what I had broken or shatter it all for good. I think I prefer the former.
I swallowed hard, looking at her. She was still furious, still burning with righteous anger. She had every reason to be
The last time I gave her papers, I broke her.
This time, I hoped–prayed–that it would prve the way to heal her. To heal us.
I took a deep breath, steadying myself betone extending the envelope toward her. My hand trembled slightly as she snatched it from me, her movements sharp with frustration.
Her eyes dropped to the papers, and for a moment, I could see the assumptions forming behind her gaze. She thought it was more nonsense about custody demanding her signature–more hoops to jump through to get Liam back.
But then her expression shifted. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted slightly as she scanned the first page
Do you remember these?” I asked, my voice low and controlled
Her head jerked up, glaring at me with confusion and anger, “What is this?” she demanded, her voice rising with every word.
1 folded 1
my arms across my chest, leaning against the edge of the table as 1 met her fiery grze. “What do you think it is?”
Raina’s jaw clenched, and her eyes narrowed. “You’re playing games with me,” she snapped, shaking the papers slightly for emphasis
I tilted my head, staying calm even as my pulse hammered in my ears
sh to cur
“Why are you giving me a copy of our divorce papers?” she demanded, her voice sharp enough “We should be talking about Liam–not this
“Because it’s important,” I said firmly, my voice cutting through her rising frustration. “I want my family back, Raina, and I’ll stop at nothing to get them.”
She froze for a moment before laughing dryly, the sound sharp and devoid of humor. “Great,” she said, her cone dripping with sarcasm. “You’ve completely lost it. First, you steal Liam, and now you’re standing here saying you want me and Awa back? We’re divorced, Alexx. And, in case you forgot, I have a boyfriend.”
Her words were a knife to the gut, but I didn’t flinch. I gritted my teeth, forcing myself to stay composed Pointing to the papers still clutched in her hand, I said, “You might want to stay away from your boy toy because you’re still my wife,”
It took a moment for my words to register. I watched as the disbelief flickered across her face, giving way to shock. Her eyes darted down to the papers again, her hands trembling as she flipped through them. She scanned the pages, ber breathing quickoning until she froze, her eyes locking onto her own signature.
“What?” she whispered, her voice shaky. “What are you talking about, Alex?”
Tshrugged casually, though my heart pounded relentlessly in my chest. “I never had them processed,” I said simply. “All this time, Raina.. you’ve still been my wife.”
Her jaw dropped, her grip on the papers tightening. “You you never…?
I shook my head. “No
The silence that followed was suffocating. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, her mind clearly racing to process what I’d just told her.
“I wasn’t joking when I said I wanted you back,” I said, my voice steady but firm. “Especially now that I know you never cheated on me. Especially when there’s another man trying to take you from me. And especially not when you’re still my wife”
Raina’s lips parted, her eyes blazing with fury as she tried to form a response, but I didn’t let her interrupt. “If you want to take care of Liam, fine I’ll be happy to help,” I contiqued, my tone softening slightly. “But you’ll have to move back in with me.”
She snorted in disbelief, her expression incredulous. “Dream on,” she spar, crossing her arms. “You’re delusional if you think I’d ever move back in with you. You’re a psychopath, Alex, clinging to this fantasy that we’ll ever get back together. Over my dead body would I stay under the same roof as you!
