A Divorce He Regrets (Alissa Nexus) novel Chapter 79

I straightened my spine, squared my shoulders, and dove back into work, determined not to let anything or anyone—least of all Alex—derail me.

The day felt like it would never end. Each tick of the clock seemed slower than the last, and every moment at my desk was filled with the weight of Alex’s accusations and the anxiety of the looming court date. My mind replayed his words on a loop—Nathan, the orphanage, the college connection. It was exhausting, trying to sort through it all while keeping my composure at work.

By the time I finally shut my computer off and gathered my things, exhaustion had seeped into my bones. All I wanted was the sanctuary of home. A long, hot bath and silence to drown out the chaos sounded like heaven.

But when I stepped into the parking lot, the sight of Nathan leaning casually against my car stopped me in my tracks.

His relaxed posture and warm smile were a balm to my frayed nerves. He looked so effortlessly calm, twirling a card between his fingers like he’d been waiting for me. The tension coiled in my shoulders began to loosen before he even spoke.

“Hey,” he greeted, his voice familiar, comforting, and steady.

“Hey,” I replied, managing a small smile despite my weariness.

Nathan always had this way of grounding me. Just seeing him eased the knots in my chest, even if only slightly.

We exchanged small talk about our day. His easy demeanor, his genuine interest in how I was holding up—it all felt like the kind of normalcy I desperately needed. As he spoke, the storm in my head began to quiet, piece by piece.

Then he held up the card he’d been toying with, his expression shifting slightly. There was a flicker of nervousness in his eyes, just enough to make me pause.

“There’s an auction this weekend,” he began, his tone light but sincere. “It’s for lawyers. They auction us off based on our ranks by different categories, to take on pro bono cases for the underprivileged.” He hesitated for a moment, running his thumb over the edge of the card. “I was invited, but…” He trailed off, finally looking at me directly. “I need a date.”

I blinked, surprised by his candor. There was something deeply earnest in his words, and the cause itself touched me. It wasn’t just another event for the sake of appearances—it was about helping people, making a real difference.

“That sounds wonderful,” I said softly, the stress of the day momentarily melting away.

“You’ll come with me?” he asked, his voice brightening, the flicker of nerves giving way to hope.

I nodded, feeling a small but genuine smile spread across my face. “I’d love to.”

The next day, I headed to my favorite boutique, hoping to find the perfect dress for the auction with Nathan. I needed something elegant, something that reminded me I was still in control of my life, despite the chaos Alex had brought back into it.

The moment I stepped into the store, my stomach sank. There they were—Alex’s mother and Vanessa, browsing racks of designer gowns as if they owned the place.

I instinctively hesitated, debating whether I should turn around and leave before they noticed me. But before I could make my escape, Alex’s mother’s voice rang out.

“Raina!” she called, loud and cheery, though the undertone was unmistakable. “Is this how you’re going to behave with your mother-in-law?”

Mother-in-law.

The words hit me like a slap, grating against my nerves and making my hands clench at my sides. As if I needed another reminder that, legally, I was still tied to Alex. Still his wife, at least on paper.

For a moment, I froze, a thousand responses flashing through my mind, each more biting than the last. But I held my tongue and forced myself to stay calm, knowing full well they were itching for a reaction.