A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 176:

“I’ll handle it,” I said finally, standing to leave.

“You’d better,” my uncle warned, his voice low. “And stop letting your feelings cloud your judgment. Focus, Nathan. Do whatever it takes to make this happen.”

I nodded, but as I walked away, my thoughts were already spinning. I couldn’t rely on charm or logic anymore—Raina wasn’t listening.

If I wanted her, I’d have to force her hand.

It was time to make her choose. Alex or her kids.

She might hate me for it, but in the end, whether she liked it or not, she was going to be mine.

RAINA

Alex pulled the car to a stop in front of the house, the hum of the engine filling the silence between us. He turned to me, his eyes searching mine.

“Are you going to be okay?” His voice was soft but tinged with concern. I hesitated, my hands fiddling with the strap of my bag.

“I’ll be fine. I just need some time with my family. I need to tell them what the doctor said.”

He nodded, his jaw tightening briefly. “I understand.”

I could see he wanted to say more, but instead, he added, “I’ll take care of Ava’s test. You can call and talk to the kids later, once things settle.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Alex lingered for a moment, his gaze heavy, like he was debating something. Then, with a quiet sigh, he started the engine again. “Take care of yourself, Raina.”

As he drove away, the taillights disappearing into the night, I felt an ache in my chest. I missed him, more than I wanted to admit. But telling him that wasn’t an option. Not now.

Steeling myself, I turned toward the house.

When I walked in, the weight of everything pressed harder on my shoulders. Every step felt heavier, my thoughts a chaotic swirl of grief, anger, and the carefully laid plans Alex and I had just discussed. Dom was there, pacing by the doorway like a restless lion. He stopped the moment he saw me, his eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms.

𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗻 gⲁ𝗅𝗇𝗈ν𝖊𝗅𝘀⫰⩸ℭ𝗈𝗺

“Where the hell have you been?” he demanded, his tone sharp and accusing.noveldrama

I froze for a second, caught off guard by his intensity. My gaze shifted to Adelaide, perched on the edge of the couch, her eyes glued to me with feigned innocence. Her presence was like an itch I couldn’t scratch, a constant irritation that grew worse every time I saw her.

“Alex,” I said, forcing an annoyed sigh as I slipped off my shoes. I let my voice rise just enough for it to sound convincing. “He suggested we take a walk by the beach. But of course, he had to be an asshole about it.” I rolled my eyes dramatically, as if the thought of Alex could barely be tolerated. “I don’t even know why I thought he’d changed.”

The words felt like shards of glass in my throat, each one cutting deeper as I forced them out. My chest tightened painfully because I knew they weren’t true. Alex had…

I had changed. I’d seen it in the way Alex looked at me when he thought I wasn’t paying attention, in the way he handled the kids with care and devotion. But I couldn’t let Adelaide see through me. I couldn’t let her think for a second that Alex was someone I trusted.

“I should’ve known better,” I muttered, shaking my head as I walked further into the room, my fingers curling into tight fists at my sides to keep my emotions in check.

Dominic frowned, his arms still crossed, his expression unreadable. Was he buying my performance? Did he see through it? I hoped he did. I hoped he knew I didn’t mean a word of it.

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