Forgotten Wife: My Ex-Husband Regrets It After I Left novel Chapter 128

128

Sienna’s POV

I reached for the glass of water in front of me and took a slow sip. The cold liquid was refreshing, but not enough to calm the chaos in my head. Beside me, Noah was still engrossed in the picture book of dragons he had picked up from the bookstore earlier. Every now and then he would show it to me, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

“Mommy, look. This dragon can fly really high,” he said, pointing at the big illustration.

I gave him a faint smile, stroking his head. “Yes, sweetheart. That dragon is really strong.”

Liam, sitting across from us, leaned forward to look at the book too. “Do you like dragons, Noah?” he asked.

Noah nodded quickly. “Yes! I want to have a real dragon, so I can fly to school every day.”

A small laugh slipped from Liam’s lips, and I could only smile while shaking my head slightly. The sight felt strange but warm at the same time Noah being so open, Liam willing to be involved, and me just sitting there, observing, trying to understand this new dynamic.

For a brief moment, I caught Liam’s gaze on me. There was something in it soft, calming, but also unsettling. I quickly looked down, pretending to tidy Noah’s book.

“So, what plans do you have for tomorrow?” Liam’s voice broke the silence.

I glanced at him, then shrugged. “Nothing special. Probably just staying home, tidying up a bit.”

“Noah’s going to help too, right?” Liam looked at the little boy.

“I can, Uncle! I can tidy up my toys myself,” Noah replied eagerly.

I chuckled, though inside I felt a small pang hearing him call Liam “Uncle.” There was a thin, strange pause as if their relationship was closer than such a polite address suggested.

Liam only nodded with a smile. “Good. Smart kids do that.”

Silence crept in again, broken only by the soft notes of background music from the restaurant’s speakers. I leaned back against my chair, trying to calm my heart. But every time my gaze accidentally met Liam’s, my heartbeat quickened.

I knew I should keep my distance. This felt too comfortable, too dangerous. The warmth I felt could easily turn into a double–edged sword lulling me in, only to leave scars behind.

“This restaurant is too fancy,” I finally said, breaking the growing heaviness of silence. “I’m not used to it.”

Liam looked at me calmly. “I know. But I didn’t bring you here to make things awkward. I just wanted enjoy today in peace. That’s all.”

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I bit my lip, guilt rising for assuming too much. Meanwhile, Noah seemed completely carefree, busy placing his toy on the table as if it were joining us for dinner.

“Tonight you don’t have to think about anything, Sienna,” Liam continued in a low voice. “Just enjoy it.”

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I fell silent. His words were simple, but they touched something deep inside me. Noah looked up, adding innocently, “Yeah, Mommy. Just enjoy it. We almost never eat at places like this.”

I managed a small smile, holding back the heavy breath in my chest. For a moment, I let myself go with the flow as if tonight really did belong to the three of us.

Liam looked at me, then spoke softly. “I know you’re still uncertain.”

I turned to him, startled. “What do you mean?”

“Your eyes don’t lie. You’re still wondering if this is right, if we’re not just going to repeat the same mistakes.” His voice was calm, but it struck straight to the core.

I stayed quiet, unable to deny it. My gaze fell on Noah, now busy drawing with the crayons the restaurant had provided. His face was calm, innocent, happy with the simplest things.

“I just don’t want to be wrong again,” I finally whispered. “I don’t want Noah to get hurt.”

Liam reached his hand across the table, his fingers brushing lightly against the back of mine. “I don’t either. That’s why I’m trying now. Because I’ve realized what I’ve been searching for has always been right in front of me.”

His words made my eyes sting. I quickly pulled my hand away, afraid tears would fafthere and now. “Liam, don’t say sweet things if you’re just going to break them again,” I said, trying to sound firm though my voice trembled.

He didn’t take offense. Instead, he smiled faintly. “I understand. You need proof, not words. So let me show you through my actions.”

I couldn’t respond. I just looked at him briefly before turning my gaze away.

Not long after, the food arrived. Noah squealed with delight at the large portion of fried chicken in front of him. His hands got busy right away, his mouth never stopping as he chewed and chattered. “This is so good! Mommy, Daddy, you have to try!”

I smiled, tasting a small piece of chicken from Noah’s plate. It was delicious, crispy and savory. But what felt even better was seeing my son’s face lit with happiness.

Liam tasted it too, even playfully bickering with Noah over bites, making the boy laugh. That sight lit something inside me, a vision of a small, warm family I thought I had lost forever.

“Daddy, when I go to school, you’ll take me, right?” Noah suddenly asked, his eyes sparkling with hope.

The simple question made me freeze. I turned to Liam, waiting for his answer, my heart pounding.

“Of course,” Liam replied without hesitation. “Daddy will take you on your first day, and if possible, every day.

Noah’s eyes shone even brighter, as if his new world was about to begin perfectly. I let out a long breath, gazing at my son with deep affection. All the weariness and confusion seemed to fade every time I saw his innocent smile.

Liam then turned to me, his gaze warm. “I hope Mommy will be there too. Because I want Noah to know he has.

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both of us.”

His words left me silent. Tears threatened to spill, but I quickly looked away, pretending to busy myself with the piece of salmon on my plate. “We’ll see,” I answered briefly, trying to close the door on too much hope.

Liam didn’t reply, only offered a faint smile as if he understood that I needed time.

Dinner went on in a surprisingly warm atmosphere, filled with Noah’s laughter and occasional light conversations between Liam and me. There were no arguments, no shadows of the past looming over that table. There was only the three of us, as if beginning a new chapter.

I realized then that maybe I’d been too hard on myself, too intent on refusing. Because the truth was, I needed moments like this too. I needed to feel that home didn’t always mean being alone, that I could lean on someone, even if just for a little while.

Noah finished first, leaving some fried chicken on his plate. “I’m so full! Mommy, Daddy, can I have ice cream?” I was about to refuse, but Liam laughed first. “Just one scoop, okay? Daddy will order it for you.”

Noah jumped with joy. I exhaled, unable to hold back a faint smile as I watched them.

While waiting for dessert, my gaze drifted back to the window. The city lights had already come on, twinkling like stars scattered on the earth. A quiet calm slipped into my chest, though deep inside, fear still lingered. In this small moment, I felt maybe I could try again. Not just for Liam, but for Noah and for myself.

I turned back, watching Noah animatedly telling stories as he waited for his ice cream, and Liam laughing patiently at every word. This time, my smile came more sincerely.

For tonight, I allowed myself to believe that everything could be okay.