Pregnant After The Divorce: My Ex Husband Knelt Too Late

Pregnant After The Divorce: My Ex Husband Knelt Too Late

Chapter 1: He Choose Her On Our Anniversary

The first crack in my marriage wasn't the divorce papers, and it was the lipstick stain on my husband's white shirt.

A faint crimson mark rested beneath Ethan Kingsley's collar, as if someone had kissed him goodbye moments before he walked through our front door, and I stared at it, unable to breathe.

It was a special night, our third wedding anniversary, and I wanted everything to be perfect, so I spent the whole afternoon cooking his favorite dinner, making sure every detail was just right.

The soft glow of candles danced across the dining table, where beautiful roses filled delicate crystal vases, and a stunning vanilla cake sat proudly in the center, with the sweet words "Forever & Always" written in rich, velvety chocolate. In my mind's eye, I could see Ethan's bright smile, and it felt like he was right there with me, making the moment even more special.

I had pictured us sharing a laugh together, and I had envisioned him gazing at me with the kind of adoration a husband typically reserves for the woman who holds his heart.

He walked right by everything, not even giving it a second look, and then he asked in a calm voice, "You've been waiting?" as he loosened his tie.

I forced a smile, and "It's our anniversary."

"I know."

Just two words, and no apology, no flowers, no gift, no warmth.

I pushed down the lump of disappointment that was rising up in my throat and said "Dinner is ready."

As he was about to respond, the front door swung open once more, and the clicking of high heels on the marble floor filled the air, echoing loudly through the space.

Click.

Click.

Click, and every step tightened the knot in my chest.

She walked into the dining room like it was her own home, and the sight of her took my breath away.

Her long, golden hair perfectly framed her face, which was, quite honestly, flawless. She was wearing a stunning white designer dress that fit her like a glove, accentuating her incredible figure. But what really caught my attention was the diamond necklace resting around her neck - it was truly breathtaking, and I couldn't help but feel my heart skip a beat as I realized I knew that necklace.

A few months back, I went to a charity gala with Ethan, and I caught a glimpse of it for just a split second.

"I thought it was really nice," I said quietly, and Ethan looked at the price tag before saying, "We don't need it."

It caught the light as it rested on her skin, and a smile spread across her face.

"So you're Ava."

I held the cake knife firmly in my hand, and then I asked, "And you are?"

"Sophia Blake."

Her name slapped me in the face like a cold splash of water, and suddenly I was staring at the one woman who had been on the cover of every business magazine - the woman they all called Ethan Kingsley's first true love.

She went right up to him and put her arm through his without stopping to think about it, and he just let her.

A sudden, sharp pain shot through my chest, and I heard someone say "Ethan."

I stared straight into his eyes and asked, "What is she doing here?"

He looked at me for a long time, and for a moment, I thought I saw something in his eyes that I hadn't seen in years - a glimmer of regret. But then, just as quickly, it was gone.

"I picked Sophia up from the airport."

I stood there, expecting something else to happen, but nothing did.

"You brought another woman to our anniversary dinner?"

"It couldn't be avoided."

Sophia let out a gentle laugh and said, "I actually told him we should come tomorrow."

Her eyes swept across the candles, the flowers, and the beautifully arranged table, and "What a shame."

Her words sounded like she was just saying what she thought I wanted to hear, not really feeling it. "You sent me a message," I said quietly.

"I know."

"I asked you not to be late."

"I know."

"Then why?"

Silence.

The old clock struck eight, its deep chimes ringing out and echoing off the walls, each one feeling like a final blow, locking my marriage in place forever.

Ethan dug into his briefcase and pulled out a thick brown envelope, which he then set down on the table.

My name was printed neatly across the front: Mrs. Ava Kingsley, and a chill raced down my spine.

"What is this?"

"You should read it."

My hands were shaking, but I just couldn't help myself - I had to open that envelope, no matter how much my mind was screaming at me to leave it alone.

The first page stared back at me: PETITION FOR DISSOLUTION OF MARRIAGE, and the words blurred.

"...Divorce?"

He said "I've already signed" in a voice that was calm, almost too calm.

"Our anniversary..."

"I know."

"You planned this?"

The truth can be painful, and sometimes it's the honesty that cuts deeper than any deception.

I laughed, and it sounded hollow.

"So while I was decorating this house..." "...you were preparing divorce papers?"

"I delayed this long enough."

My hands were shaking, and I couldn't help but wonder, what had I done wrong?

"You did nothing."

I blinked, and "If I did nothing wrong..." "...why are you divorcing me?"

Ethan shut his eyes for a moment, and when he opened them again, they were just as hard to read as they always were.

"I never should have married you, and my family needed the Carter family's support."

Joining the two companies together was a good idea and helped both of them. It was a smart move for business.

Every sentence felt like another knife, and "So our marriage..." "...was just a contract?"

"Yes."

I swallowed hard, and "What about me?"

His face tensed up, and he said, "You deserved someone who could really love you."

I was left speechless, and all I could do was try.

His voice dropped lower, and "I really did."

As I stood there, I felt a sudden surge of uncertainty, because the words he spoke didn't seem to come from someone who was completely indifferent. But before I could even begin to grasp what he was trying to say, Sophia moved forward, her actions interrupting my thoughts.

She had feelings for Ethan that went way back to their university days, and a smile spread across her face, like she was already convinced that everything was going to work out in her favor.

As she began to recount her story, she mentioned that she had traveled to Paris with the goal of establishing her company, and upon her return... Her hand rose, and the soft glow of the candle danced across the stunning diamond ring that adorned her left finger, its brilliance mesmerizing in the warm light.

"...he proposed."

My heart stopped, and "I said yes."

She gazed at the ring, her eyes fixed on it for a moment, before turning to me with a deep sense of longing in her voice, and said, "I've waited years to be in your position."

Her gaze drifted through the grand mansion, her mind fixated on the whispers of "The Kingsley Legacy", "A Dynasty of Power", and "A Future of Greatness".

Her eyes didn't sparkle with love, but with something entirely different - a fierce ambition, a hunger for power, and a desire for victory.

My phone suddenly buzzed, and the noise broke through the heavy stillness that filled the air.

An unknown number, and I unlocked the screen.

DON'T SIGN THE DIVORCE PAPERS.

I scowled, and then, without warning, another message popped up.

IF YOU SIGN TONIGHT, YOU'LL REGRET IT FOREVER.

My heart started racing and I thought, do I regret it? But the bigger question was, who was behind these mysterious messages?

I slowly lifted my head, and "Ethan..."

His face had turned white as a sheet, and for the first time all evening, he looked really upset, like something had finally gotten to him.

"Who sent this?"

He didn't say a word, instead he came closer to me and carefully took the phone out of my hand.

"Ethan."

I reached for it, and "Give it back."

His jaw tightened, and "Ignore the messages."

"Tell me who sent them."

"It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me!"

For just a split second, a flicker of fear crossed his eyes, it was genuine fear, but then in an instant, it was gone.

He turned off my phone and put it in his pocket, then said "Sign the papers, Ava."

I couldn't take my eyes off him, and suddenly the room was so still it felt like time itself had stopped.

Something just didn't feel right, but I couldn't quite put my finger on what it was, all I knew for sure was that something was off.

If Ethan truly wanted to destroy me... why did he look like the one falling apart?

As I looked down at the papers, my eyes started to well up with tears, and everything became blurry.

No, I wouldn't beg, not today, not ever.

If this was the last memory Ethan Kingsley would have of me... he would remember my dignity, not my desperation.

As I held the pen, my fingers trembled slightly, and with a sense of finality, I signed my name: Ava Carter Kingsley.

As soon as the ink dried on the paper, I carefully removed my wedding ring from my finger, something I hadn't done in three years, not even once, it had been a constant presence on my hand, a symbol of my commitment, but now it felt like a reminder of what was lost.

I set it down gently on top of the divorce papers, and all I could say was "I loved you."

My voice was steady, but the words cut deep as I said, "I hope whatever you're choosing is worth it, because it's clear that it's more important to you than I am."

For a moment, his calm demeanor faltered, and his gaze drifted to the ring, his eyes locking onto it with a mix of longing and hesitation. His hand jerked slightly, as if he was fighting the urge to reach out and grab my arm, to stop me from doing something, to say something that was bottled up inside him. But the words never came, and he just stood there, frozen in a sea of unspoken emotions.

He simply gathered the papers, and "Thank you."

Two words, three years, that was all, and "You should leave now."

They didn't say a word to each other, and then the front door shut.

Silence swallowed the mansion, and I stood alone in front of the untouched anniversary dinner until my knees finally gave way.

A sharp pain ripped through my lower abdomen, and I gasped.

Another wave followed, then another, and something warm ran down my legs.

I looked down, and blood. Too much blood.

"No..."

My hands flew to my stomach, and "Please..."

Not my baby...

The room spun, and darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

Everything had gone dark, but then my phone suddenly flickered to life on the floor, somehow managing to turn itself back on just before all went black.

One last message popped up: LIVE. The truth will catch up with you.

Everything just went black, the screen and me, I lost consciousness.