The Arrogant Captain's Regret: Chasing My Ex-Wife

Norma

past here. The suite level

p inside Montreal's Bell Centre. Still shivering from the brutal Quebec cold outside,

ld out my laminated Boston Bru

e Bryant Norton

ced at the pas

for the night," he said, lowering his voice.

a beat before I forc

ary," I explained. "I just flew in fro

usted face, let out a qui

e end of the hal

own the hall. For seven years, I had stayed out of the spotlig

orsements, and to take care of his physical health, I had foolishly played along-putting my own caree

out and early lab results tucked inside my coat pocket. Just this m

l, I raised my hand to knock, then paused. The door

e-half the Bruins' starting lineup, foll

air went right out of my lungs. I flinched back

ive floral arch of fresh roses framed a custom

p two buttons undone. The ruthless captain who wore the "C" on the ice was loo

elicate beauty mark beneath her right eye accentuating her smile

n the States for a year," Candice said, her voice sweet and breathy as she raised her

y. He touched his glass to her

t," Bryant said, his voice low a

beer. "Hold up, Cap. Isn't today your wedding anniversary w

d as I waited fo

s face. He took a slow sip of his champag

Besides, Emilia's a total buzzkill at partie

d in my chest. I clutched the ult

my six-year-old son, Jaiden. Carrying a huge plate of double-cho

iped his chocolate-covered hands

his mouth with a napkin. "You know you have a sensitive stomach. If your mom finds

Jaiden scowled, his little

e Mom! All she ever does is nag me and make me eat

tly around Candice's neck and

t, and Mom is just a boring nanny who always smells like weird soup and her

ad woken up at five every morning to prepare custom, gut-healing meals and herbal tonics fr

the door, waiting for him to reprimand

ympathy. "Don't say that, Jaiden. Emilia tries her best. It's not h

o defend me. Instead, he reached over, ruffled J

ght," Bryant said warmly. "Let h

even years of quiet devotion and sacrifice,

ee of them laugh like a real family, my eyes bu

umpled ultrasound paper in my pocket as

hall. Pulling my coat collar up to hide my fa

real's blizzard hit me full force. Razor-sharp snow stung my cheeks

he lock screen was blank. Not even a two-wo

cy announcement I had drafted on the plane earlier, then he

ling wind, I whispered, "It's just you and

wn a passing taxi, and told the driv

ough the speakers, the host raving about Bruins captain

pted email app on my phone-the private server for Synapse Bio-Lab, the prem

y the dutiful wife, letting Bryant treat me like

lips curved into a cold, wry smile. Even if I walked out on Bryant tonight, wit

ena Whitney, Chairwoman Emerita of the International S

dy to c

he headrest and closed my eyes, keeping one

ated sharply in my palm-the screen lighting up with a l