Don't Call Me Back, Ex-husband!

Bethany pov

After dropping my son, Jason, off at preschool, I headed to the hospital to get my results. I hoped this test would change everything.

Since having Jason, my husband, Fred, had drifted away. Now he was talking about divorce. He said he'd only stayed this long for Jason's sake. Maybe, just maybe, if I got pregnant again, he'd stay.

The test paper crinkled in my hand as I unfolded it, my pulse hammering. My last hope to hold onto him-NEGATIVE.

I felt a wave of cold settle over me. It was my last chance, and it was gone.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely noticed Fred entering. He grabbed the paper from my hands, holding it just out of reach.

"Looking for this?" he asked, voice cold and distant.

"No-I'm not," I stammered, trying to grab it back, but he raised it higher. With a sneer, he tore it in half, letting the pieces flutter to the floor like ash.

"You went for another test? I warned you, Bethany. It's over. Stop trying to trap me."

"Why?" I whispered, voice trembling. "Who is she, Fred? What does she have that I don't?"

He scoffed. "Let's just say she knows how to make me feel alive. Unlike you."

His words hit like a slap. So it was true. He had someone else.

"Fine," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.

"You're a scumbag, Fred. A complete piece of trash."

He stopped, turned, his expression hardening. "What did you just say?"

"I've given you everything, and this is what I get? I should have seen this coming."

His face twisted with anger. "Don't play the victim. If you really cared, you'd be fighting to make this better, not whining about it. I've done my best to make this marriage work, but you-you're just holding me back."

I grabbed his arm, tears streaming down my face. "Fred, please. Don't do this. Don't give up on us."

He pulled away, cold and unfeeling. "I don't need your stories. I need a new life. With someone who isn't... you."

The final blow landed when he added, "Her name is Chantel."

My hand shot up, and I slapped him hard across the face. He stood there, stunned, then turned and walked out.

---

Four hours later, I was still curled up on the living room floor, exhausted from crying. My mind raced with desperate ideas, but nothing made sense. Life without him... it was unthinkable.

The phone rang, jolting me upright. I grabbed it, hearing Jason's teacher on the line, her voice anxious.

"Mrs. Hart? There's been an accident-Jason's been hit by a car, and your husband took him to the hospital. I thought you should know."

"What?" My heart dropped. "Where did he take him?"

"I think it's Gixe Hospital, the one near the school. Please, hurry."

I barely registered hanging up. I grabbed my keys and ran out the door, dread churning in my stomach. I was supposed to pick him from school myself.

***Gixe Hospital

I burst into the hospital, scanning the waiting room for any sign of Fred or Jason. Finally, I spotted him... with HER.

Chantel stood beside him, looking as if she were here for a dinner date, not a hospital visit.

I marched up to them, my fists clenched. "Where is my son, Fred? What happened?"

He glanced over, barely meeting my gaze. "He's fine."

"Excuse me? Are you a doctor now?" I snapped, fury bubbling up.

"You had no right to take him without telling me. Were you planning to disappear with him, too? Running off with your mistress and my son?"

Fred's jaw tightened, but I pressed a finger into his chest. "Listen to me, Fred-if anything happens to Jason...anything.. I will make you pay."

He said nothing, only glanced away. Hours passed as we waited, each second more agonizing than the last. I felt raw, on edge, my mind spiraling with worry.

At last, a doctor approached, holding a cooler marked for organ donation. My heart stopped, and I staggered backward, clutching at the wall to keep from collapsing.

"No, no, no..." I whispered, desperation choking me. I lunged forward, grabbing the doctor's coat. "Please, tell me he's alive. Tell me my son is okay."

The doctor shook his head, his face somber. "I'm so sorry."

My world shattered. In that moment, everything ceased to exist but the pain. I turned to Fred, my voice broken. "You did this. You killed him. You and your selfish, careless life."

He tried to back away, but I grabbed his shirt, screaming, scratching, pouring my rage into every word. I wanted him to hurt. I wanted him to know what he'd done.

Finally, I let go, falling to my knees. "You wanted a divorce, Fred? Fine. You'll have it. But I swear, I will never forgive you. I will make you regret this, if it takes every breath in my body."

Bethany pov

*2 YEARS LATER*

NEW RET CEMETERY

I stood silently at my son's gravestone, barely breathing, eyes closed, trying to conjure the strength to be here, to face what I lost.

With a shuddering breath, I knelt, brushing the cold stone with trembling fingers. In my hand, a rose flower-Jason's favorite.

"Jason... Mama brought you a flower." I whispered, placing it gently on the grave.

"Promise me you'll wait for me on the other side. Don't go anywhere... Mama will meet you soon."

The weight of the words sank into me, pulling me down. Mama will meet you soon.

If there was a way out of the endless ache, this would be it. My life, once bursting with love, was now as barren as this frozen earth.

Jason was gone, and his father, that bastard, Fred had taken everything else I held dear. The success I'd found in business felt hollow, a counterfeit comfort. Without Jason, life had no color, no taste-just a ceaseless, cold ache.

A tear slipped down my cheek, landing on the stone with a gentle plop. "I'm so sorry, Jason. I never thought... I never thought I'd be here, saying goodbye to you."

The memory of his face, bright and curious, shimmered in my mind. Now all I had was this stone and the rage that had scorched through me since he left.

Two years of barely contained fury, waiting for the moment when I'd face the man who'd caused this and finally have my revenge.

My fists clenched, but the anger left as quickly as it came, replaced by a crushing sadness. "Jason, forgive me," I whispered.

"I shouldn't think of him here, not in front of you."

My hands trembled as I pulled a handkerchief from my coat pocket wiping my tears. "I owe you an apology, love. I'm sorry I couldn't bring myself to look at you one last time in the casket.

If I'd seen you..." My voice broke. "If I'd seen you, I'd have gone with you."

Ten minutes passed in silence, the atmosphere filled with grief and sadness.

I took a quick glance at my watch and saw that I had an hour to my meeting, so I forced myself to stand.

Just as I was about to leave, a voice behind me startled me.

"I think he'd want you to stay."

I spun around, heart hammering, to see Dean, my business associate, whom I had a meeting with standing a few feet away.

He'd never seemed the sentimental type, but he was the closest thing I had to a friend now.

"Do you speak ghost?" I forced a smile, though my heart wasn't in it.

He returned the smile, soft and knowing. "No, just English."

I glanced at him, confused. "What are you doing here? Our meeting's at the restaurant, not a cemetery."

With a casual shrug, he took a few steps closer, hands in his pockets. "Let's just say my ancestors are reaching out for a better business deal."

Despite myself, I chuckled, shaking my head. "You didn't have to come here, Dean."

He paused, staring past me at Jason's grave. "I know what it's like to lose family. You're a fighter, Bethany."

A sad smile flickered across my face. "Fighter or not, it still feels like losing." My voice was barely a whisper.

For a moment, he just stood there, hands in his pockets, before offering gently, "If today isn't a good time, we can reschedule. I didn't mean to intrude."

"No," I said quickly, more for myself than him.

"I'll be fine. Just... head to the restaurant. I'll join you shortly."

"Alright." He nodded, lingering a moment before finally walking away.

Just as I was turning back to leave, a white Mercedes screeched to a halt beside me, nearly hitting my car. I spun around, ready to shout, but the words died in my throat as I saw her-Chantel. The woman my ex-husband had left me for, the woman whose presence had poisoned the last years of my life.

I didn't want to talk to her, didn't want to even breathe the same air, but she strode towards me, her heels crunching over the icy ground, wearing a white gown and sunglasses like she was oblivious to winter.

Her audacity was galling.

She stopped a few feet away, feigning surprise. "Bethany! Fancy meeting you here."

I clenched my fists, trying to keep calm. "I'm not interested in small talk, Chantel. If you don't mind, I have somewhere to be."

Ignoring my attempt to leave, she gave me a once-over. "Still single, are we? It must be difficult... keeping someone in your life."

"Excuse me?" I shot back, my voice like ice.

"I could say the same to someone who wears sunglasses in winter."

She flinched, caught off guard and whined. "Oh, Bethany, still the same defensive spirit. Well, Fred sends his regards."

She let out a cruel laugh. "He still remembers you, you know. That is... when I remind him."

I felt the blood drain from my face as she kept talking, savoring my discomfort.

"Well, in case you haven't heard, we're getting engaged. You're invited to the party." She held out her hand, showing off a ring that wasn't on her finger.

I clenched my teeth. "I don't care about you or him. You don't exist to me, Chantel."

"Oh, Bethany..." she sighed, pretending to be sympathetic.

"It's just sad, you know? You can't blame me for taking what you couldn't hold onto."

The line crossed a part of me I'd tried to keep contained. I stepped forward, raising my hand, fury boiling over.

But before I could slap her, Dean was there, pulling me back.

"Bethany, stop!" His voice cut through the fog of anger, grounding me, and I took a shuddering breath, stepping back.

Chantel smiled, basking in her victory. "So easy to rile you up, Beth. No wonder Fred left."

I felt Dean's hand on my shoulder, and I allowed him to guide me back to the car.

Just as I was about to climb in, Fred stepped out yelling, " Chantel...you said you wanted to say hi, that's all. What the hell is keeping you so long? "

This time I retreated, walking back to their presence.

" Bethany! "

" My Ex-husband Fred, " I said confidently.

" Long time no see. Yet, I see no reason why you should keep my wife waiting! "

I sneered, " Look at you. You have no shame at all. Aren't you supposed to be here grieving for your dead son? No, you're here flaunting your life with your wife! "

" Beth...

I cut him off with a warning, " I've waited my life for this moment, it's been two years so it won't be immature to take revenge on you now. I'm being so sizzling because I will come at you like a lion. You son of a bitch! "

I stared daggers at him before heading to my car but a tiny voice stopped me.

"Hey..., I want to go to school... my friends are waiting."

The voice... it was Jason's voice. I turned, heart pounding, and saw a small boy with familiar, bright eyes tugging at Fred's sleeve.

"Jason?" I whispered, the ground seeming to shift beneath me.

Fred looked up, surprise flashing across his face, but before I could speak, he hurried Jason away. The shock of seeing him alive, Jason, hit me like a tidal wave.

I stumbled back, grabbing onto Dean's arm for support. "That's... that was my son," I murmured, breathless, unable to comprehend what I'd just seen.

Bethany pov

The sight of my son-my Jason-alive, with the same eyes I remembered from two years ago, left me reeling.

My mind screamed it was impossible, that this was a trick or an illusion, but I knew what I had seen. I tried to step forward, to call his name again, but Fred was already ushering him away.

"Jason!" My voice broke, barely rising above a whisper.

The world around me felt like it was spinning, pulling me down into a dark void.

I needed to touch him, to feel him, to hear him laugh just one more time.

But Dean's firm grip anchored me, keeping me upright even as my legs went weak.

"Bethany," he said in a steady voice, pulling me back toward my car, away from the cemetery.

"No!" I snapped, yanking my arm from his grasp and turning back toward where Fred and Jason had disappeared.

"That's my son, Dean! He's alive, he's right there!"

Dean tightened his hold on my shoulder, his expression a mix of concern and confusion. "Bethany, you need to calm down. We don't know what's going on yet."

I fought against him, the urge to break free and run after them nearly overpowering.

"Let me go!" I screamed, my voice thick with rage and desperation. "That man has my son, and he's lied to me. He lied to all of us."

They got into the car hurriedly and rode off.

" Fred! Fred! You bastard! "

A security guard noticed the commotion and walked over. Dean quickly waved him off, giving me a look that held a silent warning: " DON'T CAUSE A SCENE! "

Furious, I turned away, every part of me shaking.

Tears burned my eyes, but I swallowed them back, forcing myself to hold it together as Dean gently guided me to the car.

"Let's get you out of here," he murmured softly, opening the door for me.

"We'll find answers, but not like this."

The drive to the restaurant was a blur, my mind spinning with a whirlwind of emotions-anger, heartbreak, and disbelief.

The memory of Jason's face haunted me, his voice replaying over and over in my head. How could Fred do this? How could he let me believe my son was dead? Why didn't Jason run up to me like he always did?

By the time we arrived at the restaurant, I was trembling. I could barely keep it together as we walked inside, the smell of food making my stomach turn.

Dean led me to our seat, ordering a glass of water for me without saying a word.

The silence between us was heavy, filled with unsaid words and questions.

After a long pause, Dean finally spoke. "Bethany... I think I know where Fred might be tonight."

I looked up at him, my eyes filled with determination. "Then take me there."

He sighed, pulling a ticket from his pocket and sliding it across the table.

"It's a private party. Fred's hosting it at the Grand Luxe Hotel. I wasn't planning on attending, but... I think you should."

Without hesitation, I took the ticket, clutching it tightly in my hand. "Thank you, Dean."

He nodded, a hint of concern in his gaze. "Bethany, promise me you'll be careful. Whatever you find out tonight, remember that Jason needs you to stay strong."

I managed a weak smile, though my heart was still pounding with anticipation. "I will."

-

**Later That Evening - GRAND LUXE HOTEL

I arrived at the Grand Luxe Hotel dressed in a sleek black gown, my hair pinned back, the resolve in my heart stronger than ever.

The grand ballroom was filled with laughter and music, glittering chandeliers casting a soft glow over the elegantly dressed crowd.

But I wasn't here for the ambiance or the luxury-I was here for answers.

As I scanned the room, I spotted Fred near the bar, laughing and raising his glass with a group of wealthy friends.

Anger surged through me as I watched him, his carefree smile making me sick. *How could he laugh, knowing the pain he's caused?

Taking a deep breath, I pushed my way through the crowd and approached him, my heart pounding with rage.

"Fred," I called out, my voice barely containing the venom I felt.

He turned, a look of surprise crossing his face before he regained his composure.

"Bethany," he greeted with a mocking smile. "What a pleasant surprise."

I clenched my fists, barely holding myself back. "Where is he?"

Fred feigned innocence, raising an eyebrow. "Who?"

"You know exactly who I'm talking about," I hissed, stepping closer. "I saw him today, Fred. I saw our son."

His expression darkened, and he took a sip of his drink, dismissing me with a casual wave. "You must be mistaken, Bethany. Jason is gone, remember?"

My voice shook with fury. "Don't lie to me, Fred. I know what I saw. You let me mourn him for two years-why?"

Fred glanced around, clearly uncomfortable with the attention we were drawing. "Bethany, this isn't the place for this conversation. Go home."

"No," I said firmly, refusing to be brushed off.

"I want the truth, and I want it now."

With a sigh, he turned away, signaling the bartender for another drink, ignoring me entirely.

I watched as he sipped his drink, acting as if my presence was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.

The coldness in his eyes, the complete lack of remorse, made my blood boil.

If he wanted to play games, I could, too. I grabbed a drink from the bar, downing it in one go, hoping the liquid courage would give me the strength I needed.

Ignoring Fred's smirk, I ordered another, matching him drink for drink.

An hour passed, both of us caught in a silent battle of wills.

I refused to back down, the alcohol numbing my anger but heightening my resolve.

Finally, Fred pushed his glass aside and looked at me, his gaze intense and challenging. "Are you really ready to hear the truth, Bethany?"

"Yes," I replied without hesitation, my voice steady. "Tell me."

Instead of answering, he stood, grabbing my hand and leading me away from the crowded ballroom.

My heart raced as we entered a dimly lit hallway, his hand firm around mine. He opened a door to a private suite, guiding me inside.

The room was luxurious, filled with soft lighting and the faint scent of alcohol.

Fred poured himself another drink, taking a long sip before turning to face me. "Bethany... you never could let things go, could you?"

I felt a pang of hurt, but I forced myself to stay calm. "I'm not here for your mind games, Fred. Just tell me the truth."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "You want the truth? Fine. I lied to you, Bethany. Jason... he's alive. He always was. But he's my son now-not yours."

The words hit me like a physical blow, the air rushing from my lungs.

I stumbled back, grabbing onto the edge of the bed for support. "How could you... why would you do this?"

Fred shrugged, his expression cold and unfeeling. "Because you were weak, Bethany. Jason deserves better than a mother who can't keep herself together."

The hurt turned to rage, and before I knew it, I'd closed the distance between us, slapping him across the face.

He barely flinched, just smirked, clearly enjoying my reaction.

"Get out," he sneered, but something in his voice wavered, almost as if he was unsure of himself.

The power I felt in that moment, standing up to him, was intoxicating.

I turned to leave, but as I reached the door, I hesitated, glancing back at him.

My eyes locked onto Fred's, my anger and hurt simmering just below the surface. "You lied to me, Fred. You took everything from me."

Fred's expression remained calm, but his voice hinted at a crack in his facade. "I did what I had to do, Bethany. You weren't capable of taking care of Jason."

My hands trembled as my nails dug into my palms. "That's not true. I would have done anything for him."

Fred raised an eyebrow, his gaze lingering on mine "Would you? Really?"

The air was thick with tension as we stood there, the silence between us heavy with unresolved emotions. My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I refused to look away.

Fred took a step closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. "You're still so angry, Bethany. So broken."

My heart raced, my breath catching in my throat. "You have no right to talk to me like that."

Fred's eyes seemed to bore into mine, searching for something. "I have every right. I'm the one who's been taking care of Jason all these years."

The words cut deep, but I stood my ground. "You're not the only one who loves him, Fred."

For a moment, we just stared at each other, the tension palpable. Then, without thinking, I reached out and touched Fred's arm. Maybe it was alcohol doings.

" Why? Why do you hurt me every moment you see me? "

It was a spark of electricity, a fleeting moment of connection. Fred's eyes flickered, his gaze dropping to my hand. I felt a rush of emotions, a mix of anger and sadness and longing.

Without a word, Fred covered my hand with his, his fingers intertwining with mine. It was a gentle touch, but it sent shivers down my spine.

And then, without thinking, Fred leaned in, his lips brushing against mine.

The kiss was soft, tentative, but it ignited a fire within me. Fred's arms wrapped around me, pulling me close as we deepened the kiss.

For a moment, we forgot about the past, forgot about Jason, forgot about everything except the hunger that drove us together.

But as I broke apart, gasping for air, reality crashed back down around me.

My eyes locked onto Fred's, my heart pounding in my chest. What did I just do?

This man, the father of my son, the man who had taken everything from me... and yet, in this moment, he was all I had left.

I returned back to his arms eating ourselves up like we were 17, he got a hold of my blouse and took it off.

His soft kisses were placed on my neck as he whispered funny things in my head. We glanced at each other before falling on the bed.