All Chapters of The Ex Wife's Regret : Chapter 41
- Chapter 50
81 chapters
Chapter 41
John's POVThe 48 hours pass without incident and the team cautiously celebrates over breakfast, everyone visibly relieved that the anticipated attack never came. Maya made pancakes to mark the occasion, which feels weirdly optimistic for people preparing for war.But I can't shake the feeling that something's wrong with the entire situation. The Syndicate doesn't make empty threats, doesn't waste resources on elaborate surveillance without following through. Either they changed their plans for reasons we don't understand, or we're missing something crucial about their actual intentions."This doesn't make sense," I say, pushing pancakes around my plate without eating them. "They don't just give up."Thomas voices my concerns more eloquently during the morning briefing. "I've been thinking about that intercepted communication. The encryption was actually weaker than most Syndicate communications I've monitored.""Meaning?" Silas asks."Meaning they might have wanted us to intercept it
Chapter 42
John's POVI spend a restless night analyzing what we know and what we're missing, feeling like I'm trying to assemble a jigsaw puzzle while someone keeps hiding half the pieces just to fuck with me. The Syndicate's moves make sense individually but don't form a coherent picture when you put them together.Why fake the kidnapping threat? Why plant listening devices when they could simply grab Ariel and leverage her immediately? Why are they conducting surveillance instead of just taking action?The questions circle endlessly in my head like a really annoying song you can't get rid of, and by dawn I've given up on sleep entirely. There's no point lying in bed staring at the ceiling when my brain refuses to shut up.Morning brings unexpected news that further complicates an already confusing situation, because apparently my life wasn't complicated enough. Lawrence finds me in the library around eight, his expression carefully neutral in that way that means he's about to tell me somethin
Chapter 43
John's POVBenjamin shows up at dawn, which honestly surprises me because I half-expected him not to come at all. Maybe send some text about being sick or having a family emergency to dodge. But no, he's standing at the gate when I come back from my run, holding a notebook like a kid on the first day of school who actually gives a shit about making a good impression.Lawrence lets him in and I don't say much, just gesture for him to follow me inside. He looks nervous, which is probably smart given that the last time we were in close proximity I rearranged his face.I start him on the most boring tasks I can think of, because if he can't handle tedium he definitely can't handle the important stuff. Organizing medical supplies in the storage room, making sure everything's labeled correctly and arranged by type and expiration date. The kind of work that makes you question your life choices after about thirty minutes.Then cleaning equipment that doesn't really need cleaning but could alw
Chapter 44
John's POVA week has passed and I decided that we go on a field trip. I take Benjamin and Marcus to Dr. Huang's clinic early that morningg, explaining in the car that they'll be helping treat patients under my supervision. Benjamin goes noticeably pale when I mention actual patients, and I can see him reconsidering every life choice that led him to this moment.Too late now, buddy.Marcus looks more comfortable with the idea, having spent time around normal people instead of living in a wealthy bubble his whole life. He's engaged to a pregnant woman and working toward building his own business so it's safe to say that he gets it.Dr. Huang greets us warmly when we arrive, his clinic already filling with people waiting for care. Elderly folks with chronic conditions, workers with injuries that probably happened days ago but they couldn't afford to miss work, families with sick children they've been treating at home until it got too serious to ignore.The reality of illness and poverty
Chapter 45
Rachael's POVMy first day at the new job starts in a sleek conference room with Ms. Webb, my supervisor, explaining my first project. The project she describes sounds innocuous at first. Compiling information about medical practitioners and rare artifact collectors in the city, creating a database of their specialties and connections. Market research, she calls it, for potential investment opportunities in an expanding sector.Okay. I can do market research. But then the questions start getting specific in ways that make my stomach hurt."We're particularly interested in practitioners with traditional medicine backgrounds," Ms. Webb says, her manicured nails tapping on the table. "Those who might have access to rare items or unusual knowledge. Family connections to old medical lineages, for instance.""That's pretty specific for market research," I say carefully."We like to be thorough." That smile again. "Now, let's discuss John Gaffer. You were married to him for three years. Wh
Chapter 46
Johns POVThomas practically kicks down the library door during breakfast, which is unusual because he's normally the quiet, non-dramatic one who prefers keyboards to human interaction. His laptop is already open, screens full of data that probably mean something important to him but look like complete gibberish to the rest of us mere mortals."I found a pattern," he announces, not bothering with good morning or any other social pleasantries that normal people use. I'm mid-bite into a piece of toast that Lawrence made, and I nearly choke on it. "Jesus, Thomas. Ever heard of knocking?""This is more important than knocking." He's practically vibrating with excitement, which for Thomas is the equivalent of most people doing backflips. "The Syndicate communications have intensified over the past week. References to tjat convergence stuff are everywhere, always with a two-week timeline."Well, shit. That gets everyone's attention real quick.The team crowds around his laptop while he exp
Chapter 47
JOHN'S POVI spend the next day deliberately slowing down, which goes against every instinct screaming at me to do more, prepare better, work harder. But constant intensity burns you out, makes you stupid when you need to be sharp. My master taught me that rest is a weapon too, that showing up fresh beats showing up exhausted every time."A tired mind makes fatal mistakes," he used to say, usually right before forcing me to take breaks I didn't want.So I'm taking his advice, even though it feels wrong.I grab a mystery novel from Lawrence's collection, some detective thing with a twisty plot that's actually pretty good. The library becomes my hideout for the morning, sunlight streaming through windows while I lose myself in someone else's problems for a change. Feels almost guilty to waste time on fiction when real threats loom, but that's kind of the point.Around noon I need to move, so I take a walk through the neighborhood. No destination, no surveillance sweep, just walking beca
Chapter 48
JOHN'S POVI wake up to an empty mansion, or at least it feels empty until I get to the kitchen and find a note on the counter.Had an early meeting I couldn't miss. Thanks for dinner last night, and sorry for falling asleep on you like that. You're a good pillow though.- ArielThere's a terrible stick figure at the bottom that I think is supposed to be her waving. It makes me smile like an idiot.Lawrence finds me standing there grinning at a piece of paper and just shakes his head, pouring coffee without saying anything. I fold the note and stick it in my pocket."You're keeping that, aren't you?" Lawrence asks."Shut up."Benjamin and Marcus show up together around nine, which is weird because I didn't know they'd gotten close enough to coordinate arrivals. They're talking about something, Marcus using his hands the way he does when he's excited."We want to show you something," Marcus says the second he walks in.I make fresh coffee and we sit in the library."So I've been thinki
Chapter 49
JOHN'S POVThomas finds me in the gym the next morning, interrupting my workout with his laptop already open. His face has that expression that means he found something I'm not going to like.I'm mid-push-up when he walks in. "This better be important.""It is." He sets the laptop on a bench. "I've been monitoring Syndicate communications like usual. They're tracking a woman who recently started working for one of their front companies."I finish the push-up and sit back on my heels. "And?""Mid-thirties, former business owner, recent bankruptcy." Thomas pauses. "Rings any bell?”My stomach drops. *Rachael?”“Exactly”"Fuck.""Yeah." Thomas pulls up the intercepts, turning the screen so I can see. "I kept the details minimal, but the implications are pretty clear. She either got recruited willingly or walked into a trap."I stare at the screen. Communication logs, employee records, all carefully anonymized but the timeline matches perfectly. Rachael's bankruptcy finalized three weeks
Chapter 50
RACHAEL'S POVTwo weeks into this job and the assignments keep getting darker.Ms. Webb no longer pretends we're doing market research. She just asks me directly now to identify vulnerabilities. Personal conflicts, financial pressures that could be exploited. She wants to know who's in debt, who's having affairs, who has addictions or secrets worth protecting.I compile the information because what choice do I have?The contract I signed has teeth. Real teeth. Clauses about intentional underperformance and breach of confidentiality that would destroy me completely. They'd sue for everything I don't have and blacklist me from every industry I could possibly work in.I'm trapped by my own desperation and stupidity.But I tell myself it's just research. That I'm not actually hurting anyone. Information exists whether I compile it or someone else does, right? I'm just doing a job, following orders and most importantly,nim just trying to surviveThe rationalizations get easier each day.Wh