Chapter 1
**Divorce**
Alexander Hawthorne had regained his memories, and just when Evelyn Greenwood thought they’d found a comfortable routine to last through the years, everything
unraveled.
Visions of his true love, Isabella Whitaker, flooded back–especially memories of the woman he was supposed to marry. And then there was Evelyn, the girl he’d had a
years under childhood betrothal with yet had never loved. She had taken advantage of his amnesia, slipping into the role of his girlfriend, and they’d been married for two
false pretenses.
The golden glow of the chandelier above felt unbearably bright as Evelyn found herself pushed down, the weight of Alexander’s fury pinning her to the cold floor.
His usually solemn face appeared particularly menacing in his rage.
Evelyn’s face drained of color. She opened her mouth to explain, but no words came. She dared not meet his eyes, staring down at the expensive carpet instead.
“Miss Greenwood,” he hissed, his voice laced with ice, “is lying fun for you? Playing the role of my girlfriend and usurping your best friend? Does it feel good to be Mrs. Hawthorne?”
His words struck her like a slap, each syllable wrapped in frigid contempt. Evelyn trembled, a sense of dread rooting her to the spot.
“You’ve deceived me for two whole years.”
Somehow, he had crossed the distance between them, towering over her, shaking with barely contained anger.
Evelyn’s body quaked even more violently.
“I treated you like a wife, and you’re just a fraud, pretending to be someone else and stealing their happiness,” he scoffed. “Evelyn, you’re quite the master manipulator.”
He crouched in front of her, his long fingers gripping her chin, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze.
She winced, a surge of pain shooting through her as she felt her bones threaten to crack under his hold, his expression dark and unyielding.
“The divorce papers will be delivered shortly. Effective tomorrow, I don’t want to see you within a hundred miles of Golden City.” His voice was devoid of warmth, icy and sharp as winter. “If you dare set foot in this city again, I promise you’ll regret every moment of your existence.”
With that, he released her chin, standing and striding toward the exit.
“Wait… just wait a second.” Evelyn’s voice broke through as she summoned her remaining courage.
She raised her tear–streaked face to his hulking back.
Alexander halted but didn’t turn, his indifference palpable.
“Did you ever… love me? Even for a second? Just a little?” She felt a tremor in her words, a desperate plea filled with silent hope.
“Never,” he replied swiftly, his voice hard, infused with impatience.
And with that finality, he vanished through the doorway, leaving Evelyn alone in the expansive living room, despairing and empty.
So much for love built on a foundation of lies.
She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably as her tears flowed freely.
A few moments later, the sound of heels echoed from the hallway.
In strode Charlotte Montgomery, Alexander’s mother, her shoulders draped in an elegant shawl, eyes filled with disdain as she surveyed the wreck that was Evelyn. “Well, did you really think you’d be safe forever? Alexander’s just regained his memory; he didn’t die on you. Why the waterfall of tears?” Her voice dripped with contempt, glaring down at the woman who had dared to occupy her son’s affection.
Evelyn quickly wiped her tears and stifled her cries, clenching her mouth shut.
Charlotte Montgomery, with her cold demeanor and sharp tongue, had never seen Isabella as worthy. She had been the one to urge Evelyn to seize the opportunity during Alexander’s amnesia to secure her illegitimate marriage. But now, after Evelyn’s parents had tragically passed and her family’s affairs collapsed, Charlotte’s disdain for her had grown all the more palpable.
With a few quick sniffles, Evelyn fell silent.
“Here’s the deal,” Charlotte said coolly as she sank onto the sofa. “The divorce papers are ready; let’s just get it done. You can sign right here.”
She carelessly tossed the freshly drafted documents onto the coffee table.
Evelyn stared numbly at the paper, still processing the harsh reality of being tossed aside.
Charlotte sipped her tea contemptuously, eyeing her with disdain. “Your family left behind a mangled mess that we had the decency to clean up. You marriert into the
Ex–husband’s regret
Chapter 1
**Divorce**
Alexander Hawthorne had regained his memories, and just when Evelyn Greenwood thought they’d found a comfortable routine to last through the years, everything unraveled.
Visions of his true love, Isabella Whitaker, flooded back–especially memories of the woman he was supposed to marry. And then there was Evelyn, the girl he’d had a childhood betrothal with yet had never loved. She had taken advantage of his amnesia, slipping into the role of his girlfriend, and they’d been married for two years under false pretenses.
The golden glow of the chandelier above felt unbearably bright as Evelyn found herself pushed down, the weight of Alexander’s fury pinning her to the cold floor.
His usually solemn face appeared particularly menacing in his rage.
Evelyn’s face drained of color. She opened her mouth to explain, but no words came. She dared not meet his down at the expensive carpet instead.
eyes, staring
“Miss Greenwood,” he hissed, his voice laced with ice, “is lying fun for you? Playing the role of my girlfriend and usurping your best friend? Does it feel good to be Mrs. Hawthorne?”
His words struck her like a slap, each syllable wrapped in frigid contempt. Evelyn trembled, a sense of dread rooting her to the spot.
“You’ve deceived me for two whole years.”
Somehow, he had crossed the distance between them, towering over her, shaking with barely contained anger.
Evelyn’s body quaked even more violently.
“I treated you like a wife, and you’re just a fraud, pretending to be someone else and stealing their happiness,” he scoffed. “Eyelyn, you’re quite the master manipulator.”
He crouched in front of her, his long fingers gripping her chin, forcing her to meet his piercing gaze.
She winced, a surge of pain shooting through her as she felt her bones threaten to crack under his hold, his expression dark and unyielding.
“The divorce papers will be delivered shortly. Effective tomorrow, I don’t want to see you within a hundred miles of Golden City.” His voice was devoid of warmth, icy and sharp as winter. “If you dare set foot in this city again, I promise you’ll regret every moment of your existence.”
With that, he released her chin, standing and striding toward the exit.
“Wait.. just wait a second.” Evelyn’s voice broke through as she summoned her remaining courage.
She raised her tear–streaked face to his hulking back.
Alexander halted but didn’t turn, his indifference palpable.
“Did you ever… love me? Even for a second? Just a little?” She felt a tremor in her words, a desperate plea filled with silent hope.
“Never,” he replied swiftly, his voice hard, infused with impatience.
Ex–husband’s regret.
Never, ne lepneu swity, its voice naru, unused with patience.
And with that finality, he vanished through the doorway, leaving Evelyn alone in the expansive living room, despairing and empty.
So much for love built on a foundation of lies.
She buried her face in her hands, sobbing uncontrollably as her tears flowed freely.
A few moments later, the sound of heels echoed from the hallway.
In strode Charlotte Montgomery, Alexander’s mother, her shoulders draped in an elegant shawl, eyes filled with disdain as she surveyed the wreck that was Evelyn.
“Well, did you really think you’d be safe forever? Alexander’s just regained his memory; he didn’t die on you. Why the waterfall of tears?” Her voice dripped with contempt, glaring down at the woman who had dared to occupy her son’s affection.
Evelyn quickly wiped her tears and stifled her cries, clenching her mouth shut.
Charlotte Montgomery, with her cold demeanor and sharp tongue, had never seen Isabella as worthy. She had been the one to urge Evelyn to seize the opportunity during Alexander’s amnesia to secure her illegitimate marriage. But now, after Evelyn’s parents had tragically passed and her family’s affairs collapsed, Charlotte’s disdain for her had grown all the more palpable.
With a few quick sniffles, Evelyn fell silent.
“Here’s the deal,” Charlotte said coolly as she sank onto the sofa. “The divorce papers are ready; let’s just get it done. You can sign right here.”;
She carelessly tossed the freshly drafted documents onto the coffee table..
Evelyn stared numbly at the paper, still processing the harsh reality of being tossed aside.
Charlotte sipped her tea contemptuously, eyeing her with disdain. “Your family left behind a mangled mess that we had the decency to clean up. You married into the Hawthorne family without suffering any loss. Frankly, we’ve been more than good to you. Now, stop stalling and just sign.”
Evelyn pushed herself up, legs like jelly as she stumbled to the table. The weight of the paper bore down on her–an ultimatum of finality.
All the intimacy they had shared, the moments that had felt so real, spun in her mind. She’d done everything right to fill the role deemed necessary, but none of it mattered. His heart had never belonged to her, not even when he forgot who he was. It had always been Isabella.
Tears streamed down, splattering against the divorce papers like raindrops on pavement.
With trembling hands, she reached for the pen, her handwriting shaking as it crossed the page, signing away two years of
her life.
“That’s it. You’re no longer Mrs. Hawthorne. From now on,
don’t you
dare mention your connection to Alexander. If I catch wind of you claiming that title again, you will wish you’d never set foot in this family,” Charlotte sneered, her voice dripping with bitterness.
With a dismissive wave, she motioned for Lewis Franklin, who appeared promptly, ready to escort Evelyn out.
Ex–husband’s regret
with a smirk, ne helped usner ner toward the door.
Evelyn stumbled out onto the stone pathway, the chill of the day biting at her skin.
Her belongings–clothes and personal items–were tossed unceremoniously at her feet, a stark reminder of her ousting.
“Miss Greenwood, it’s time to leave. Believe me, you don’t want to be here when Alexander returns; it won’t end well for you,” Lewis said with a faux–sympathetic smile.
With a heavy heart, she gathered her things, dragging her suitcase along the roadside.
The dreary, gray skies had been pouring rain for days, and now the drops felt like they’re mingling with her tears.
When she finally reached the Greenwood home, the only place that had ever been hers, she was soaked to the bone.
This was the house left behind when her parents had tragically passed.
Having once kept it spotless, she now found no energy to clean or even shower. She wrapped herself in a blanket and sank into her old bed, falling into a restless sleep.
Morning broke with a bang on the door that sent her jumping upright.
The door burst open, revealing two burly young men who immediately displayed shock upon seeing her.
“Isabella! There’s someone here!” one of them shouted.
Evelyn shook her head, struggling to clear the fog that clouded her mind. Stumbling to the door, she steadied herself against the wall.
Isabella stepped into view, high heels clicking against the floor as she approached, sunglasses perched on her nose. A playful smile danced across her lips, and she lifted them to reveal a triumphant gaze. “Evelyn, it’s been a while.”
C
Evelyn bit her lip, holding back the flood of emotions swirling inside her.
Isabella chuckled, a tone dripping with mockery. “Sorry for the drama last night! Alexander needed to apologize profusely, but I took him back. So soon, I’ll be the one wearing the crown as Mrs. Hawthorne.”
Evelyn’s heart sank under the weight of Isabella’s words, a hopeless knot twisting within her.
Ex husbands regret
