Dear Ex-wife Marry Me (Maja and Ian) novel Chapter 1961

Waking up, a whirlwind of thoughts stormed through her mind, such as the notion of leaving.

But what about the kid?

She had missed out on four years of Nolan's life, four years during which he constantly feared she'd abandon him again.

She considered taking him with her, but those years had been filled with Fitch’s tireless care, always by his side. Would Nolan even want to leave his dad?

No matter how she looked at it, it was a catch-22.

Seeing Nolan’s tears now twisted her heart like a knife.

Nolan approached, tears still tracing lines down his clear, innocent eyes.

Clutched in his hand was that photo—Zoey’s photo.

The memory of Fitch saying how Nolan always carried her picture with him hit her hard.

Feeling as though she had been struck in her Achilles' heel, Zoey quickly lifted her hand, gently ruffling his hair.

“I’m not leaving.”

Nolan looked up, his eyes filled with cautious hope. “For real?”

The hesitation in Zoey’s heart vanished in an instant, and she nodded slowly.

Nolan’s eyelashes fluttered, and his tears fell even faster.

“Why the tears again?”

“Happy... Mommy... wants... Nolan.”

Hearing his speech so labored, no mother’s heart wouldn’t ache.

Zoey, whose heart was not made of stone, thought about the circumstances of his birth and couldn’t hold her tears back.

But as the adult, she couldn’t cry; she had to comfort him.

“Mommy never said she didn’t want you. Something happened back then, and I forgot about you, Nolan. I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault.”

Nolan clung to her hand, tears still streaming down, his voice choked with sobs.

She saw compassion in the eyes of a child.

“Not... Nolan’s fault... couldn’t... protect... Mommy.”

Knowing how she loved him once made it painfully obvious when she didn’t.

That realization was a gap in his heart that couldn’t be filled.

What was he supposed to do now?

It felt like everything that could be done was done, like a convict waiting for the gunshot. The waiting was torture.

But he knew, compared to what Zoey had endured, his suffering was trivial.

He deserved it.

He could have been with her, but he snuffed out that chance, erasing her feelings with his own hands.

Fitch stood there for another hour before entering. Inside, Nolan was trying to pour water for Zoey.

Concerned he might hurt himself, Zoey quickly tried to get up.

Fitch moved faster, taking the cup from Nolan and lifting him onto the stool to sit.

He poured the water, holding it up to Zoey’s swollen, tear-stained eyes.