Ex-Husband’s Regret by Evelyn M.M novel Chapter 502

I am jealous. Jealous that Ava has this with Noah. She also has a close relationship with Gunner. Why didn’t I wake up from my foolishness before it was too late? My only prayer is that even if Gunner and I don’t get to be as close as Ava and Noah are, at least we’ll get to the point where he doesn’t hate my guts.

“I’m not, I promise,” I whisper even as my voice catches.

He gives me a searing look before he turns.

"Noah,” I call to him before he leaves. His back stiffens but he looks at me over his shoulder. “I’m sorry. For treating your mom horribly and trying to get between your father and her. I’m truly sorry.”

I didn’t expect him to say anything back, and he doesn’t. Instead, he turns back around and leaves me standing at the door.

Sighing, I wonder whether I should enter or just wait for Ava to come and welcome me. My mother’s teaching was still ingrained in my head years later. I’d never enter someone’s house without an invite.

Seconds later, Ava walks towards me. More like wobbles. Her baby bump was becoming more visible each time I saw her. She couldn’t hide it now. It was obvious she is expecting, even with baggy clothes.

“Oh my God, Emma,” she exclaims in a sweet voice. “I’m so sorry for Noah’s behavior. I didn’t know that he’d leave you standing on our doorstep when I sent him to open the door. Come on in.”

She hugs me before stepping aside for me to enter.

“It’s okay. I know that I’m not his favorite person.”

“Still, it was rude of him and he’ll be hearing from me later on. Don’t take it personally; once he gets to know you, he’ll understand that you’re really not a bad person.”

“It’s okay, Ava. I understand. He’s just protective of you.”

“And Gunner. They’re best friends.”

“No, I am good.”

She nods her head and then takes a seat right next to me. “I was afraid you had changed your mind. I’ve been looking forward to hearing from you.”

“I admit that for a while I almost backed out, but it’s not because I don’t want to be in his life, but because I doubted that I was doing the right thing. I was afraid that I was going to make things worse if I went ahead with those plans.”

Ava’s brown eyes stare deep into mine with an intensity that makes me squirm before she finally speaks. “As a mother, you’ll come to learn that those moments of doubt are a lot. You’ll always doubt whether what you are doing is good for them. You will always doubt if you are a good mother. You’ll always doubt every decision that you make concerning them.”

Taking a deep breath, she continues. “Don’t let those doubts destroy what you are trying to do for them. Being a mom means fighting for them with all that you have. That’s what Gunner needs right now. He needs to see actions, not just pretty words. He needs to see you put in the effort and fight for him. He needs to know that he matters to you. That he matters so much that you are willing to do anything for him, including living in someone else’s house just to be near him.”

Gosh. What she just said rings true in my head. For the longest time, I treated Gunner in a way that showed him he didn’t matter. I showed him that he wasn’t important. Now I need to prove otherwise. I need to show him that he is all that matters.