Ex-Husband's Regret (Ava and Rowan) novel Chapter 57

What did I want? Was I using him or did I genuinely want him? I didn’t want to confuse things or myself for that matter. I was determined to get over Rowan, but was I going about it in right way?

I didn’t want to hurt Ethan, especially if he is genuinely interested in having a relationship with me, but parts of me fear that I’ve grown an unhealthy attachment to him.

He makes me forget about Rowan and my love for him. I’m afraid that’s the main reason I’m drawn to him.

Even though it looks bad, I can’t help thinking, is it really bad? We all want someone for one reason or another. Is it wrong to want Ethan because he makes me forget about my pain and heartbreak?

A horn blaring behind me makes me jump. I had been so deep in thought that I didn’t even realize that I was already at Noah’s school.

I drive to the parking lot, turn the ignition off and get out. I survey the expensive cars lining the lot. I begin walking and notice some of the parents sneering at me. Of course my car wasn’t expensive and I wasn’t dressed head to toe in Gucci.

This is one of the things I hated about this world. These people placed social status and the size of your bank account above everything else. They look down on people who they view as poor and they don’t even bother hiding their disdain for them.

I’ve grown up around wealth but I swore from a young age never to be like them. Never to place money above the value of another person.

I take a seat that was available and wait. I watch as the other parents and their children walk in and out of the school.

I check my watch. It was already three and Rowan wasn’t here yet.

Taking out my phone, I call him. It goes straight to voice mail. With each second that passes, I feel my anger rise. Two hours later, I’ve had enough so I call Gabe.

“Hello?” he answers gruffly.

“Hi, Gabriel, it’s me, Ava…” he cuts me off before I can finish.

When Mrs. Smith calls me again, I go in. It seemed like Rowan wasn’t going to show up anyway.

Since Noah wasn’t physically here like the other kids, we settle on a video call with him. He’s excited at first, but then his face falls when he realizes that Rowan wasn’t present.

The entire time Mrs. Smith talks about Noah’s excellent and stellar performance in school, my anger rises up. Noah was sad and his face showed. I hated seeing him like this.

By the time we're done, I was beyond furious.

I force a smile and thank Noah's teacher before leaving the classroom.

“Why didn’t he come mommy? He promised me he would. I wanted him to hear what a good student I was. That I was top of my class” he says sadly, tears filling his eyes.