The Unwanted Wife's Return (Ex-Husband Wants Me Back) novel Chapter 30

Love Doesn’t Erase Wounds 

HANNAH’S POV: 

A WEEK LATER: 

The twins had been relentless. For seven straight days, it was either, “Mom, talk to Uncle Lucas, please” or “Why don’t you just forgive him already?” or a very confused Amelia questioned why we were even fighting in the first place. And surely, there was no way I could just tell me, 

“Oh, your Uncle Lucas brought a man, who just so happens to be your father, the man that raped me twice, and treated me like garbage because he wanted my sister and not me. He just brought him to me with prior notice dr warning, because he is a selfish, wicked friend.” 

I couldn’t just tell them that so I just told them, it was just some issues at work. Lucas left it all to me as he returned very late at night and left very early, so the kids couldn’t confront him. 

It was a lot and they would pout at the breakfast table, stage exaggerated sighs at bedtime, and even refuse to get in the car unless I promised to at least try. It was as if they thought this was my entire fault since Lucas was avoiding us. I really would just love to kill him for this, and for making us even fight in the house. 

I couldn’t decide where they had gotten their stubbornness and cunning ways from, and it was either from their grandmother or their father. Either way, they’d won. 

So here I was, a week later, sitting stiffly in the driver’s seat with two eager children in the back. They were practically buzzing, convinced they were masterminds of a great peace treaty. I had them coming with me to work because they wanted to come. 

“Good morning, Miss Jones. They are so cute…you two are so cute.” The receptionist then smiled brightly at the kids and handed them a candy while I talked to one of the employees by the counter. 

“What are you supposed to say?” I asked, smiling at the receptionist. 

“Thank you!” They both chorused and followed next to me as we walked into the elevator. 

Lucas was waiting outside the office when we arrived at the top floor, leaning against the glass doors, his arms folded. His eyes darted nervously when he saw us, then softened when the twins leapt out of the elevator before it had even fully opened. 

“Uncle Lucas!” they squealed in unison, launching themselves at him. He bent low, scooping them both up into a messy hug. His laughter was strained, but real. 

I stayed by the elevator for a beat, before it dawned on me that it could close any second from now. So I inhaled deeply, squared my shoulders, and walked over. 

“Hey,” he waved gently, setting the twins down. 

“Hey,” I replied, my voice more clipped than I intended. 

The twins exchanged hopeful looks, then bolted toward the showroom with the kind of mischief only children could get away with. They were smart enough to leave us standing awkwardly by the corridor. 

Lucas shoved his hands into his pockets. “Look, Hannah… I was wrong. I should have told you Elijah was the investor before you walked into that boardroom. I thought I was protecting you, but really I was just being selfish. I didn’t want to risk you pulling out of the deal because I-” He broke off, shaking his head. “Because I wanted to see you win. Even if it meant blindsiding you.” 

I crossed my arms, studying him. His words were honest, but honesty wasn’t always enough. The sting of betrayal had been sharp, and part of me still bled from it. 

“I hate secrets, Lucas,” I said finally, my voice low but steady. “You know that better than anyone.” 

“I do,” he said quickly. “And I promise no more secrets. Ever. Not from me.” He assured me. 

Silence stretched between us until I sighed and rolled my eyes. “I’m still mad at you,” I admitted. 

“I wouldn’t believe you if you weren’t,” he answered with a crooked grin. 

Something inside me loosened, just slightly. I let out a laugh small, reluctant, but real. And just like that, the wall between us started to crack. 

We walked inside my office, the tension not entirely gone, but bearable. 

The office was warm, humming with quiet energy. Maya was at her desk, speaking rapidly into her phone while scrolling on her tablet. She looked up when she saw us and mouthed good before gesturing toward my office. 

“Who gave you all these?” Andrew asked, grinning mischievously. 

I swallowed hard, slipping the note into my drawer before they could see it. “Just… an admirer,” I answered lightly, forcing a smile. 

“QuuuuuOuuuu…Mummy has an admirer.” They teased in a singsong voice in chorus and I couldn’t help but laugh and shake my head. 

Lucas caught my eye over their heads, his expression unreadable. 

I wasn’t sure if Elijah’s persistence felt like hope, or a trap to embarrass and hurt me further. All I knew was that for the first time in a long time, it felt good to get flowers from anyone who wasn’t a friend, especially because I had been so dismissive of the men that dared me romantically. 

And I didn’t like that one bit. Especially being that it was Elijah Martinez. 

“Excuse me for a second, kids.” I announced taking the card with me and leaving the twins admiring the roses. 

I dragged Lucas from the side of the door, and whispered to him, “Can you please get the lawyer on the line and remind her of the divorce papers?” 

He stared at me with wide eyes and asked, “You’re really going to do this…now?” 

“The partnership is sealed and I did say I was going to focus on getting the divorce after. Or what? Are you terrified that he might try to pull the deal because of this?” I asked, raising my eyebrow and he looked completely offended by my words. 

“What? Of course not… You… You know what…I will get her on the phone and you should call and agree to the dinner or do you need to help you with that too?” He retorted, and the tension between us was back on the rise. 

“No, I got it.” I said lowly and walked off. 

“Alright.” He retorted.