Once the Forgotten Wife, Now His Biggest Regret

Chapter 5: Chapter 5: An unlikely encounter

"What?" Lucas’ eyes were as wide as saucers as he stared back at me in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

I kept my eyes on him. "I said, I want a divorce."

"Are you serious?" I nodded without hesitation, and he scoffed. "You? You want to leave me? What’s a housewife like you going to do without me? Without my money, you are nothing," he spat, his finger digging into my collarbone.

"It’s so nice of you to care," I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm as I stepped forward. "But trust me, I’m going to do just fine without you." I paused, my lips curling into a smile. "Maybe even much better."

His brown eyes narrowed into thin slits. "You—"

I arched a brow. "What? Did I say something wrong?"

"What about Kayla? Are you going to leave her too?"

My gaze flitted over to my daughter, who was looking at me. Her tiny brows furrowed in confusion, her hand still wrapped around my sister’s as though she were her mother.

I swallowed the knot in my throat and kept my expression neutral. "Yeah, it seemed like she prefers my sister anyway." I turned to my daughter this time. "Didn’t you always wish for a mommy like Jessica? I could leave if that’s what you want."

I watched as Kayla’s large brown eyes lit up with what seemed like pure joy and anticipation at my proposal. She bounced on her toes excitedly, nodding with a wide grin as Jessica ruffled her hair. "Yes, yes! Jessica is the best!"

I tried not to let it get to me, but watching my daughter repeatedly choose my sister over me hurt more than I could imagine. I didn’t let any of those emotions show as I turned back to face my soon-to-be ex-husband.

"See? Kayla will be perfectly fine. Aren’t you happy about this? I thought you had always wanted to be with Jessica?" I asked with an innocent smile, and it was enough to push him over the edge.

"So this is what this is about? Because you’re jealous that I chose to protect Jessica over you?"

I didn’t say a word, only stared at him with the same smile still playing on my lips as I watched him lose his temper.

"Are you seriously upset over that? I already told you, it’s because she is pregnant!" With your baby. Of course, he would choose her over me. "So now it’s my fault because I tried to save your sister and her baby? Did you want the gunman to shoot her dead, then you’ll be happy? I can’t believe you."

A cold chuckle escaped my parted lips. But before I could say anything, my sister interrupted.

I watched her fingers rest on my husband’s forearm as she gazed at him with her wide, doe eyes—the perfect look of an innocent victim who wished nothing but the best for everybody.

"Lucas, breathe. Look at me." His eyes were fixed on hers now, his features softened, and his jaw relaxed. "I’m okay, aren’t I? Thanks to you. But please don’t be mad at Evelyn. If I were her, I would be upset too. It’s my fault...it’s my fault that she’s upset."

My sister averted her eyes as she lowered her head.

"If it weren’t for me...if I had just handed over the necklace, then this wouldn’t have happened. If only I weren’t pregnant, then you would have protected my sister over me, and she wouldn’t have asked for a divorce."

"No, no...don’t say that. This is not your fault at all," Lucas reassured in a low, gentle voice as he held her hands. "If anything, Evelyn needs to learn to be more mature about this, instead of whining and complaining about everything all the time," he sneered, his expression full of disdain when he looked at me.

Jessica turned to face me this time, her eyes glistening with tears. "I’m sorry, sister. I really didn’t mean to...and I would hate to be the reason behind your divorce." She walked over, reaching for my hands. "Just say you understand, and Lucas will surely forgive you. There’s no need to ruin a perfectly good family over this. Kayla...she’s innocent. She deserves a complete family."

I scoffed, yanking my hands out of her grip. I didn’t need her crocodile tears or fake apology. "Don’t flatter yourself, Jessica. I’m divorcing Lucas because I don’t want trash like him. You can have him if you want."

Jessica shook her head and stumbled, only to fall right into Lucas’ arms. "No, no...I don’t want him. Evelyn, you must have misunderstood. There’s nothing going on between us. I swear!"

Lucas shot me a glare. "What the hell is wrong with you? Jessica already apologized. Do you need to push her?"

I didn’t bother correcting him or arguing otherwise. At the end of the day, he’ll only choose to believe Jessica anyway. freёwebnovel.com

"I don’t care if there’s anything between you two. But whether or not there is, I think you and him would know best." My lips curled into a wry smile. "Right?"

As I spun on my heels to leave, I could hear Lucas yelling behind me, but I never once turned back again.

***

My chest felt tight, like I had forgotten how to breathe normally. Each inhale came shallow, uneven, as though my body hadn’t caught up with what I had just done.

I thought that I would have felt good, or at least some sense of satisfaction. I wanted this, didn’t I? But truth to be told, I felt awful.

After all, it was never easy walking away from family, especially my daughter.

The past seven years flashed past my mind, memories replaying like a short montage haphazardly put together.

Lucas standing at the altar in his black suit on our wedding day.

Seeing Kayla’s tiny body in my arms for the first time.

Kayla falling asleep on my lap as I sang her favourite lullaby.

Signing my name at the bottom of the resignation papers.

People brushed past my shoulders, their laughter sharp and bright, completely out of place against the hollow ringing in my ears. As I walked down the busy streets of Brooklyn with my head hung low, tears pricked at my eyes.

I lost track of how long I had been walking alone, I didn’t even know where I was going. But my steps came to a halt as I collided with something hard—like a wall—no, someone’s chest.

"I’m so sorry," I muttered under my breath automatically, reaching up to wipe the tears off my face. But when I lifted my head, all air fled from my lungs as I stared at the man standing in front of me.

He still had the same dark brown eyes and dark hair. But the softness I had once remembered had been carved into something more defined, more restrained.

Something twisted sharply in my chest.

For a split second, I was no longer on a crowded street, but I was transported back seven years ago, standing somewhere else—heart pounding just the same.

Rain was pouring down around us, my fingers slipping from his as I shook my head, forcing myself to walk away while he stood there, unmoving.

"Don’t do this, Evelyn."

The sound of traffic and chatter roared in my ears once again, and I was yanked back to the present.

"...Rhys?"