A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 39:

I sighed, giving her a rueful smile. Faith had always been able to read me better than most. She knew me too well.

I tried to brush it off, to laugh, but it came out thin, hollow. “Of course not. I’m not stupid.”

Faith arched an eyebrow, giving me a look that told me she didn’t buy it for a second. “You’re too stubborn for your own good, you know that? Don’t do this alone, Raina. You have to at least tell Dominic.”

My heart twinged at the mention of him. Dominic had already done so much for me. He’d been there in ways Alex never was, and I hated the idea of putting more on his shoulders. “I just… I don’t want to drag him into this more than I already have. He’s got his own life, his own worries.”

“Raina.” Faith’s voice was soft but firm. “You’re family to him. And he would do anything for you—I don’t just think it, I know it. So don’t make this harder on yourself by shutting him out. You have people who love you. Lean on them.”

Her words hit me hard, like a truth I’d been avoiding for too long. I’d spent so many years fighting my own battles, trying to survive by myself, that I’d forgotten what it felt like to have someone in my corner. Slowly, I nodded, letting her words sink in. Faith’s hand hadn’t left mine, and her warmth felt like a lifeline in the quiet kitchen.

For a few moments, we sat there in silence, the sounds of spoons clinking against bowls filling the room as we ate. I hadn’t realized how much I needed this—someone to share the weight, even if just for a moment. Eventually, Faith gave my hand a reassuring squeeze and leaned back.

“I mean it, Raina. You don’t have to do this alone. Whatever you decide, I’ve got your back. And so does Dominic.”

A small, tentative smile spread across my face. “Thank you, Faith. Really.”

She smiled back, a warm, comforting smile that chased away the shadows, if only for a moment. We finished our ice cream in silence, our words already spoken, and the quiet felt like a promise that I wasn’t alone in this. For the first time in what felt like forever, I allowed myself to believe that maybe… maybe I didn’t have to do it all on my own.

We said goodnight, and as I lay in bed that night, Faith’s words echoed in my mind, a gentle reminder that I was stronger than I’d realized and maybe, just maybe, I didn’t have to face the darkness alone. But I also knew what needed to be done: first, I’d have to get my phone back. And I’d be by Liam’s side as soon as the sun came up.

With a small sigh, I closed my eyes, letting Faith’s quiet strength seep into me as I drifted off to sleep. But morning came too soon, bringing a fresh sense of urgency. I needed two things before work: to find my phone—and to check on Liam. Every fiber of my being wanted to slip out quietly, to do this without drawing any attention. But as I made my way down the hall, Dominic’s voice stopped me in my tracks.

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“Going somewhere?” His tone held a playful edge, but his gaze was sharp.

I turned slowly, caught in the act. “Faith, you really need to shut up sometimes…”

“You know, don’t you?” I muttered, unable to keep the frustration from my voice.

ALEXANDER

The text came through just as I was sitting down in my study to review some contracts for the night. Four simple words burned through my screen: We found the bastard.

A surge of adrenaline shot through me, and without a second thought, I stood, grabbing my jacket as I read the rest of the message. We found him at the train station about to leave town. They had the doctor—the man who’d dared to do this to my son. My mind was ablaze with images of Liam lying helplessly in that hospital bed, all because of this man’s twisted loyalty to someone else. Whoever had paid him to harm Liam had no regard for a child’s life, and I was ready to ensure he’d feel every bit of the pain he’d inflicted.

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