Chasing My Ex-wife
Synopsis
Arabella finds out she is pregnant with a child for her husband, Richard Giodano. She wants to inform him about it when she hears him speaking on the phone with Eve Rogers, his ex-lover. Because of Eve's arrival back into the states, Richard wants a divorce. That has always been the plan until he finds Eve cheating on him with his best friend. Five years later, they bump into each other at a party and Richard finds out his ex-wife is not only back with a child but is also a hot sexy CEO of Eagle Homes and Interiors. Even when she pretends not to know him, he vows to stop at nothing to chase after and win her back.
Chasing My Ex-wife Free Chapters
CHAPTER 1-Arabella's POV | Chasing My Ex-wife
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Effortlessly, the liquid leaves my bladder. With closed eyes, my heart hammers wildly within my ribcage anxiously.
For no reason, I don't want to do this anymore. For a moment, I begin to think of the very step to take as soon as this is confirmed.
Should I still go ahead with it? Ignorance, they say, is bliss. What if he doesn't want a child now?
Realizing I have been staring at my urine for more than a minute, I summon up enough courage as I grab the container and dip the absorbent tip of the PT test strip before counting from 1 to 10 and then recapping it.
With trembling hands, I place the strip on the flat counter while fidgeting with my hands and watching the timer on my phone.
In five minutes, I will know my fate. In five minutes, I will have to choose. In five minutes, I will know whether to see him tonight or not. In five minutes, my world will either change or remain the same.
I shut my eyes, clamp my hands together and stamp my feet impatiently on the floor. When I flicker my eyes back open, traces of the doubtful expression of a woman I can barely recognize in just a few minutes stares back at me from the mirror.
I can barely recognize myself. What then will happen if I am indeed pregnant?
I try to smile but it falters. I try to stay calm but the trembling won't stop. I try to look upset too, perhaps it might help with how I feel but I don't look angry.
My expression is filled with nothing but anxiety, hope, doubts and optimism.
Something dings and it occurs to me that it is the timer. Five minutes is up.
It is time to see the results of what we did a month ago.
Even though my curiosity led me to this, I can't brace myself up to look down at the strip right in front of me. My eyes are looking directly into the mirror.
Suddenly, my eyes water.
A lump is stuck in my throat. My chest is heavy too.
Balling my hand into a fist and letting out a long sigh, I drop my head down to stare at the two red lines staring right back at me.
My heart stops for a minute. My breathing hitched too.
When it finally dawns on me that this is what I want, I clasp my hand over my mouth, stepping back with laughter erupting from my throat.
Finally!
I'm pregnant. I'm having a baby.
When my back hits the wall, it sinks in, making my laughter stop halfway.
My initial fear was to know if he would want this too. This is not just about me. It is about us. Our child.
I should tell him. Then I would know if he wants a baby as much as I do.
Hurriedly, I grab the strip and dump it in the bin before rushing outside, unable to hide my excitement.
Richard and I have been married for three years. Our relationship didn't kick off right. We started on the wrong foot.
Our marriage was arranged.
From my side, it wasn't arranged. It was what I wanted. I loved Richard right from the very first day I set my eyes on him.
As I race up the stairs, my heart keeps pounding harder. When I get to the last stairs, I grab onto the stairwell to take in a long breath before moving towards his home office door.
But a sound stops me from opening the door as my hand goes numb on the door handle.
“I love you, Eve”, Richard's voice booms loudly, shocking the living hell out of me.
When his deep rich laughter follows, I know I am not imagining things and this is real. I imagine how his Adam's apple will go back and forth as he chuckles. I imagine how his eyes will beam with delight as he spills the love word without a hassle.
Eve.
Who the hell is that?
Intense anger mixed with jealousy sets in.
Who the hell is Eve? Who is she to have had him laughing that way when it took me three good years to finally see his genuine laughter?
Unconsciously, I open the door just in time to see him standing up from behind the huge mahogany brown desk.
Our eyes interlock for a second.
I don't know if he can see the anger in my eyes or whether he chooses to ignore them because he looks away as though he wasn't being unfaithful a while ago.
Just before I can ask him who he was on the phone with just now and why he was telling another woman he loves her, he beats me to it.
“I was just about to come see you”, he states, reminding me of the reason why I am also here.
Whenever he is in here, I don't disturb him. I rarely come here to see him because he hates interruptions and distractions. Yet he was on a call with a woman telling her he loved her when he was supposed to be working.
Rage bubbles inside of me.
“Did you get the papers?” He demands almost immediately, not staring at me. Instead, he is picking up some files from the desk and dumping them inside his briefcase. He looks like he is going out.
If I hadn't overheard his conversation with the so-called Eve, I would have assumed he was heading to work. This is usual.
But no.
Deep down, I know work isn't coming. This is Eve calling.
“What papers?” My curiosity gets the better of me. I am supposed to ignore him and go straight to the point about the baby. Perhaps, that will make him change his mind about being unfaithful.
“The divorce papers”, he blurts out indifferently.
My jaws drop and I take a step backwards. I didn't see that coming.
Divorce? What happened to the changes between us these past few weeks? Is this because of this Eve? How can he do this?
“Di…Divorce?” I find myself stuttering as I clench my stomach as though it will vanish into thin air.
He nods and darts his eyes towards me.
“My girlfriend, Eve Rogers is back”, he announces without any atom of shame. “Remember the agreement we had? Now that Eve is back, we should get a divorce so I can marry her.”
Eve Rogers?
How could I have forgotten?
I take another step backwards, tears welling up in my eyes and lumps upon lumps getting stuck in my throat.
I shake my head, desperately wanting to say something. To fight for us. Keep my marriage intact. To tell him we are expecting a baby.
But I know nothing can change his mind. The tall strong handsome man before me is staring at me with hope and strong determination.
Richard’s mind can not be changed.
Eve Rogers is his obsession. If my arranged marriage to him didn't stop him from loving her all these years, then there is nothing that can stop him from marrying her at this point.
Realizing that the loser here is me, I turn back on my heels and take the exit before tears roll down my eyes.
CHAPTER 2-Richard’s POV | Chasing My Ex-wife
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The slap stings my cheeks, sending a wave of adrenaline down my spine.
Her eyes are bright with unshed tears. Tears that she is struggling to keep away which makes me wonder what she stands to gain from this.
“You…”, she grits her teeth, struggling to let it all out. “You have no idea what you are doing, Richard. Go beg her!”
She turns back to move out but my voice stops her.
“No, mother. I won't.”
The determination in my voice is strong. I am done doing what pleases her. It's time I do what pleases me.
Eve is the woman I love, not Arabel. I married Arabel because my mother insisted that I marry her. Arabel is a lovely woman, quiet and submissive. For three years since we got married, I have tried to love her.
But Eve occupies the larger part of my life. I don't want to be tagged an unfaithful husband just like how my father has been tagged. This is why I am letting her go.
Divorce is the best solution.
“You won't?” Her scream booms into my ears, jerking back to reality. A snort follows before she points a warning finger at me. “Richard, go beg that girl or you will have yourself to blame!”
“Why?!” My frustration bubbles over. “Why?”
I would say my curiosity is at its peak. I want to know why. Why does it have to be Arabel? Why do I have to do something against my wish? Why can't it be someone else?
A tear slips down her eyes, making something stir in me despite my determination not to be moved anymore by whatever she says or does.
The silence that falls between us is heavy with tension.
Finally, she looks up, the tears gone. Pointing towards the exit, she states firmly. “You can't divorce her. That girl is the reason for your existence. Your survival. She is the reason why you are still here, hale and hearty. So if you know what is good for you, find her!”
Despite the desire to say another loud NO, her words get to me, increasing my curiosity tenfold.
Without another word, she moves out leaving me standing in confusion.
I love Eve.
Arabel and I had an agreement. We would be married till Eve was back. Eve left because I got married to Arabel instead of her. I tried to explain the real reason for my actions but she didn't listen.
A year after we got married, she finally gave me the chance to explain myself. Out of anger, she applied for her doctorate degree in the UK and was gone for three years.
Now she is back and I won't lose her for the second time.
Suddenly, the memory of how she descends her mouth on mine comes rushing. That single kiss made me realize just how much I still loved her after all these years.
It made me realize she is the one I want to be with and not the woman I think I am gradually falling in love with.
It made me realize what I feel for Arabel isn't love. It's devotion. Lust. Pity.
And I reached a decision.
A divorce was the way out. The way to a new life. That was the only way I wouldn't hurt Arabel. Being with Eve while still married to Arabel would hurt her and my mother.
I love Eve and that is final.
Excitement rushes down my spine.
The deed is done. Arabel already has the divorce papers and I am sure she would have signed them already.
Without hesitation, I move out. Mother is gone already. I rush towards the garage ignoring my secretary’s greeting.
Eve’s place is just five minutes away from here. I got her that apartment five years ago just because I wanted her close to my office.
Now that she is back, I insist on having her close by too. Once we are married, she can sell it off.
As soon as I get to the garage, I signal to the driver not to get in. I open the car door myself and get in.
I won't let anything stop me now. Not my mother. Not some feeling of undeserved pity for Arabel. I can't break my promise to Eve for the second time.
I should tell her the good news. The good news about my divorce. That way, we can begin plans for our wedding.
If Mother doesn't support me now, Eve and I will get married in secret till she is over it.
Taking note of the time, I decide to spend just 30 minutes with Eve before coming back to the office. I have an appointment by 3 pm today and it's already 2 pm. I also need to visit my Hotel division before my next appointment.
When the car comes to a halt, I step down quickly and with hastened steps, I stride to the door and knock.
I wait for five seconds but there is no response. There is no sign of someone coming towards the door to answer it too.
I knock again, wishing I had come with my keys.
Still, there is no response.
Isn't she home? I ask inwardly as I fish my phone out to give her a call.
It rings loudly and I realize the phone is ringing from inside. Instinctively, I touch the doorknob to confirm if it's locked or not when it turns open and I smile.
I open the door to enter. The living room is empty but her phone is on the center table in the living room.
My eyes roam the entire place but no one is in sight. Thinking she must be in the bedroom having a nap, I find myself walking towards her bedroom.
Just before I can get close to the door, a sound stops me.
Not sound. This is definitely a moan.
Is she watching a porn movie? Where is that sound coming from?
I want to knock so she can stop the movie before I enter but something stops me again.
The moan is louder. And the voice is familiar.
The sound is coming from her.
Fear consumes me and a knot forms in my throat.
“Yes, Jake!” She moans out again and my confusion melts slowly into realization. Blood roars in my ears and my pulse pounds.
“Jake!” She screams out again, jerking me away from the reverie as I step forward with rage bubbling inside of me, pull the door open and enter to see a naked Eve in the arms of another man.
The sound of the door startles them both and she sees me. The man’s back is to me but I am not curious to see his face.
The look on Eve’s face isn't that of guilt but she steps away from him quickly, grabbing a shirt to cover herself.
I am about to turn away in disappointment when the man moves back and I see his face.
Jake Davenport.
My friend.