I Signed The Divorce And Never Signed Back In Chapter 06

“Alexander.”

My vision was fading. Through the blur I saw him rush toward me, panic in his eyes.

Then his arms wrapped around me. The familiar scent of cedar and leather filled my nose. I finally felt safe.

The tears came. I bit down on his shoulder.

“You took so long. You took so long to get here.”

Alexander’s eyes were wet. He felt the blood between my legs and his voice broke.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I was late. I’m taking you to the hospital right now.”

Jason caught up and froze at the sight.

Alexander was holding me like I was something precious. Something irreplaceable.

Jason’s face went gray. He looked at Kimberly, who sat on the floor, just as stunned.

“Baby, that’s Alexander Cole? Ellie really is pregnant. Is it his?”

Jason didn’t answer. He grabbed Alexander’s shoulder.

“Put her down. She’s my wife.”

Jealousy burned through him like acid. He couldn’t breathe at the thought. Me married to someone else. Pregnant with another man’s child.

Just the idea made his chest cave in.

“You have some nerve.” Alexander’s voice was low and dangerous.

He turned. He lifted his leg. And he kicked Jason square in the stomach.

Jason doubled over on the ground, sweat beading on his forehead.

Alexander pulled me closer. His eyes were cold knives.

“Ellie is my wife. And the blood she’s losing today because of you two, I’m going to make you pay for every drop.”

The news spread fast. The wife of the Cole Group CEO had been beaten and left bleeding at an auction.

The auction organizer showed up at the hospital with a formal apology and a massive settlement offer.

Alexander didn’t care about any of it.

He just paced outside the operating room, his hands shaking so badly he couldn’t stop them.

Inside, I lay on the table. The smell of antiseptic filled my nose.

Memories flickered through my mind like an old film reel.

When I first got together with Jason, my family had lost everything. All I had left was my mother’s pendant. And Jason was broke too.

He worked double shifts for two months just to buy me a gold ring.

We slept in a tiny apartment that smelled like mildew. We held each other on a squeaky bed.

We were poor, but Jason loved me with everything he had. I didn’t think it was so bad.

One time I walked across town to save money on a cab. Jason cried while he massaged my swollen feet. “Ellie, I swear. I’m never going to let you suffer again.”

He started his own company to give me a better life. He drank until he threw up to close deals.

But once he made it, he forgot the one thing that mattered.

He got impatient with me. He stopped coming home. His suits smelled like other women’s perfume.

Kimberly told me, “Every guy at his level has women on the side. Ellie, just be grateful for what you have.”

I just smiled bitterly. If success meant losing the man who looked at me like I was the whole world, I didn’t want it.

Then he slept with my best friend. The last person I had left.

I left. I went to Portis alone.

When Alexander heard I was divorced, he flew after me.

He stood under my apartment building with roses in his hand, practically jumping out of his skin.

“Ellie. You’re divorced. Does that mean I actually have a chance?”

I knew Alexander had been waiting for this for years.

He had a crush on me in high school. Then he went abroad for college. By the time he came back to confess, I already had a boyfriend.

I stood at my window and stared at his ridiculous, beautiful face.

I wasn’t in the mood that night. I didn’t want to say yes. I pulled out my phone to tell him to leave.

Then I saw Jason and Kimberly’s post. Their hands intertwined. The same rings he used to wear with me.

[Through every season. With you.]

A few words. I stared at them for a long time.

Long enough for the tears to dry on my cheeks.

Then I went downstairs and looked at Alexander. “Let’s try.”

I posted my own announcement that night.

Jason didn’t believe it. He thought I was just trying to make him jealous.

Eventually, I fell in love with Alexander for real. I told him the truth about why I said yes that night.

I was scared. I thought he’d be disappointed. That he’d think I used him.

He just smiled and held me.

“You gave me a chance. That’s all I ever needed. Whether you fell in love with me or not, that was up to me to earn.”

“Looks like I didn’t do so bad.”