His Last Regret: A Wife's Escape

ly alarm, signaling Ethan' s return an

, his voice sharp, immediately spotti

miliar annoyance would seep into his tone. "Seriously? I work a twelve

nd dizziness, died on my tongue. Not anymore. I just watc

r sending me $5,000. "Go buy yourself something nice. A n

oney meant nothing. My eyes landed on his phone, and it wasn' t my picture, or our daughter Lily' s, on his lock screen. I

rce," I said, my v

s are all over the place. Just take the money, go sh

e truth solidified. "Don' t start," h

," I replied, the words eer

suddenly soft and gentle. "Chloe is ta

tress, get involved in our daughter' s life. He was r

told him, watching his

gh-risk appointments I went to alone, the emergency visit, or the miscarriage that followed. He was always bu

ever

hrough it al

ur baby?" he gasped,

that' s what you need to hear, then yes. I killed it. Are you happy now

promised me forever, the one who held me when my fa

ace. "Because I' ve been alone for a very long t

mix of surprise and guilt. He asked why I was there, not if I was okay. When he grab

e Ethan, blaming her, demanded, "W

ing the papers. "I' m still filing for

ubtly asserting her place. His eyes, however, fixed on a cardiovascular awaren

papers sent to your office," I sai

y, sending flowers I returned, texts I ignored. Then came the family gathering h

Chloe cooed, adjusting Lily' s

to take care of a family." Chloe then presented Ethan with a blo

s were white, her right hand scratching anxiousl

Lily," I declared, cut

loded. "After abandoning your family, you want to

ng with his. "Are you so blind that you can' t se

flushing with embarrassment. "Y

pregnant. You let me go through a miscarriage alone because your girl

in the room. He looked at the broken device, then at me, a dawning horror

s far, fa

m," I told Chloe, who

r," Ethan said, try

d to justify his affair, claim

nine years, my entire life revolved around you. I managed your health fo

ent slack

. "Fine. I' ll be the monster. I' d rather be a monster who protect

on, honey. We

Lily. "Lily, stay

, "NO! Don' t touch me! I d

o to her?" I de

ce papers. "Here are the divorce papers. I signed them this morning. I' m taking Lily with me. If you fight me, I will make sure e

to me, we walked out, leaving

w, red scratches. Guilt, a crushing weight, suffocated me. I had been so consumed by my o

fed giraffes, her laughter a balm to my soul. That evening, my friend Mark

yet. And I think I' m going to be

ick up the phone. It' s Ethan.

ou answering? Where is Lily? You have

took a photo of the bruises on her arm, and sent it to his number. His immediate reply: "Wh

found reasons to talk to me. He even asked me out, offering me a ticket to an a

final. Any day now. I c

be finalized, Ethan was waiting for

talk," he said,

er face. "Ava, I' m sorry. For everything. I' m

my face a blank

ssion on his face. He looked broken, aged ten y

" I said, the wor

d in. "He's just trying to do the right thing, Ava! Why do y

" Ethan snapped.

chool. "Mrs. Patterson?

u mean, missing?" I shrieked

ut all I could think was, He can' t find her before I do. If he found he

epeating in my mind: Please be safe, please be saf

aid quickly. "I hav

where he was with Lily, her face tear-streaked while sipping a hot chocol

me that you and Daddy were getting back together and that I would have to live with her

just neglect. It was abuse. A cold

Then to a child psychologist. I filed a re

ate a public scandal! This will ruin me! And it

on except ice. "Because of who you chose to bring into her life. I don

ustody battle was short. I was granted sole and full custody. All of E

freedom. But there was only quiet emptiness. Nine years of my life, a marriage, a family – all

ard the news," he said softly. "I just wanted to say... congratul

here Lily would soon appear. A new relatio

"But right now... I just want to be o

y my own. It was a blank page. And I was

d gone to her pediatrician, revealing a heart murmur that could be genetic. "My family has a history of hear

using a minor, common health issue

d. "I realize what I lost. Please

id, simple a

know you st

fortress. It was a house. And you took a sledgehammer to it, day aft

t' s for Lily! A chil

doesn' t need a father who ignored her suffering a

ran to me, glaring at Ethan. "Go away. I don

rom his own child was more powerfu

you to go." I closed the door, locking it. He stay

d me Ethan' s work was suffering; he' d lost a

Ethan. "This is all your fault," she hissed. "He won' t even loo

said, walking toward my car. "He

me!" she

ove is like a bank account... He emptied his account with me a

I were you. The security guards are on their way. And this is all being recorded.

washing the world clean. The doorbell rang. It was

I said through the i

ront door and almost tripped over him. He was curled

d' s sake,"

mped him on my couch. I didn' t want the drama of paramedics. I just wanted him gon

u doing?" I

p. I made a mess by be

I gave him pills and water. "Take the

... My mother... she kicked me out. I sold

peration. The powerful, arrogant man I marr

ic smile spread

now. You can sleep on the couch. But

me, confuse

smile widening. "Yo

ayed with her, read to her. He was, for the first time, a full-time, hands-on parent. It was a perfect, sickening im

as I tucked her in, she whispered, "I love you, Mommy. You' re the best mommy in the

eks, I handed Ethan

t's

dcare and housekeeping services. Now your se

face. "Ava, you can't be serious. I

. "Lily and I are going on vacation. We leav

are you going with that guy?"

I didn't confirm or deny. I owed him no explanations.

e taxi. "Ava, please," he begged.

ot that I' m leaving you, Ethan," I said, my voice soft but final.

e window, forming my name. As the taxi pulled away, I watched him

me. "Mommy, whe

air. "Anywhere we want,

. And our new beginning