A Divorce He Regrets

Chapter 222:

The expression of horror on my face just made her laugh harder.

“Grandma!” I finally gasped, in equal parts embarrassed and indignant. “I don’t believe you!”

“Oh, hush now,” she said, waving her hand at me. “You’re acting like a teenager caught sneaking in after curfew. It’s nothing to be ashamed of.”noveldrama

I groaned and slumped back into my chair.

Grandma’s laughter died away, and she regarded me with a warm, encouraging look. “Listen, child. I like Alex. He’s a good man, and he’s exactly what you need right now.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up a silencing finger.

“I know you’re scared. And you have every right to be after everything you’ve been through. But anyone with eyes can see how much that man loves you. And those kids of yours? He adores them.”

I sighed, the weight of her words settling heavily on my chest. “But what if—”

“What if he hurts you again?” she finished for me. “What if the past repeats itself?”

I nodded, unable to look at her.

Grandma placed a tender hand on mine, her voice soft but firm. “Love is always a risk, Raina. But it’s worth taking.”

I hesitated, staring down at my hands as Grandma’s words hung in the air between us. “I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. “Last time, it broke me, Grandma. I haven’t been the same since. What if it happens again?”

Grandma reached over and placed her hand over mine, her grip firm yet comforting. “You’re not wrong to feel that way, Raina,” she said gently. “But let me tell you something about life, about love—it’s messy. It’s not always what we dream it to be, but sometimes, it’s worth fighting for.”

I looked up at her, unsure of what to say. She smiled softly and settled back in her chair.

“You didn’t grow up with us, so you wouldn’t know, but your mother and father’s marriage wasn’t always perfect,” she began, sounding very serious.

𝕍𝕚𝕤𝕚𝕥 𝕤𝕚𝕥𝕖: g𝕒𝗅𝗇𝗈ⱽ𝖊𝗅𝗌﹒ⅽ𝗈𝗺

“What?” I blinked at her in surprise. I’d always thought of my parents’ marriage as idyllic—a love story cut tragically short.

Grandma nodded. “Your father had an affair early in their marriage. It was devastating for your mother. She fell into depression and even thought about leaving him for good.”

I leaned back, stunned by her words. “I never knew that.”

“I know, my dear child,” she said gently. “But what’s important is how your father handled it. He realized the pain he caused and worked tirelessly to fix it. He cut off all communication with the other woman and sent her away, permanently.”

“It worked?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“It did,” Grandma said, her expression softening. “It wasn’t easy. Trust took years to rebuild, but they made it through. And when they did, their bond was stronger than ever.”

I looked down at my hands, my mind swirling with thoughts. “It’s just… they didn’t get to grow old together. It’s a shame they died so young.”

Grandma’s hand came up to brush a stray tear from my cheek. “Yes, it’s a shame. But they loved each other deeply, Raina. And your father proved himself worthy of that love. Alex reminds me of him in that way.”

Her words hit me harder than I expected. “You think Alex is like my dad?”

Grandma smiled warmly. “I do. He’s trying, Raina. He’s showing you, not just telling you, that he’s a different man. Don’t let fear keep you from seeing that.”

I swallowed hard, her words sinking in. Could I really let my guard down? Could I trust Alex to be the man he claimed he wanted to be?

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