Married To My Ex-Husband’s Rival

Chapter Twenty One

Amber’s POV.

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I took a deep breath to steady my nerves, the cool air filling my lungs, before releasing it in a

long exhale. There it was–the restaurant where my father had asked to meet me.

It was so strange to receive a call from him out of the blue, pleading with me to spare him just a little bit of my time. The very thought of speaking to any of my family members again, especially my father, filled me with an odd mix of anger and curiosity.

As I approached the entrance, I reminded myself of my resolve. I had convinced myself that I would

never engage with my family again and that their absence from my life was what I truly needed.

But that call, that unexpected request to meet, gnawed at my thoughts throughout the night. Despite

my hatred for my family, including my father, I couldn’t help but be drawn to the mystery of what he

wanted to discuss with me. And so, against my better judgment, I had made up my mind to meet him.

I entered the restaurant, my footsteps echoing on the tiled floor, and my eyes scanned the room until

they landed on a figure sitting at a table, head slightly bowed. It was him, my father.

I approached with a mix of resignation and curiosity, clearing my throat to announce my presence. He looked up, his eyes meeting mine, and a fleeting expression of pity flashed across his face.

Taking a deep breath, I pulled out the chair across from him and took a seat. There was no time for pleasantries or false niceties. I had come here with a purpose, and I intended to get straight to the point. “Let’s not waste any time, Father,” I said curtly, my voice tinged with a hint of impatience.

“What did you want to talk to me about?”

Martin Grey, my father, stared at me for a moment, his eyes filled with a mixture of regret and longing. I could see the weight of his actions etched on his weary face, and I couldn’t help but be even more upset at the fact that he was looking so sorry but wasn’t willing to do anything to change things. “Amber, my dear, it’s good to see you,” he began softly, his voice laced with a hint of sadness. “I wanted to see how you were doing and how life has been treating you.”

I scoffed at his words, the bitterness boiling within me. “As you can see, Father, I’m doing just fine. ” I replied coldly, my voice void of emotion. “But let’s not play games. I’m here because you called me, and I highly doubt it was t

e point.”

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He lowered his gaze for a moment, his hands trembling slightly, before finally looking back into my

17:11 Fri, 23 Feb.

Chapter Twenty C

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eyes. “You’re right, Amber. I didn’t just call you here to check on your well–being,” he admitted

with a sigh, his voice filled with regret. “I understand that I’ve made mistakes and that I’ve hurt. you deeply. And I’m truly sorry for that.”

I stared at my father, my eyes filled with a mix of anger and pain. How dare he apologize to me out

of the blue, as if that would somehow erase the fact that he had betrayed me just like Marlene had?

My sister had the audacity to marry my ex–husband, but instead of calling her out for it, my own

father supported her. Now, here he was, coming in front of me and acting like he was sorry for

everything. It was infuriating.

“You think saying ‘sorry‘ is going to change anything?” I seethed, my voice laced with bitterness.

“You stood by their side and walked Marlene down the aisle with a smile on your face, like you were

the happiest man in the world. Don’t you dare come here and pretend like you’re sorry.”

My father’s face contorted with shock, his eyes widening as if he couldn’t comprehend my words.

“Amber, I… I didn’t know that you were at the wedding.”

I realized in that moment that I had unknowingly revealed something that I shouldn’t have. My secret

attendance at the wedding, my silent witness to my family’s happiness, had slipped out. Panic briefly

crossed my face before I cleared my throat, attempting to regain control of the conversation.

“Never mind that,” Linterrupted curtly. “How did you expect me to react after your lame apology? Do

you think it changes anything? Because it doesn’t. You had no right to support Marlene and my

ex–husband after what they did to me, but you did anyway.”

There was a heaviness in my father’s sigh as he ran a hand through his graying hair. “Amber, I know

you’re upset. And you have every right to feel that way. I apologize for not realizing the extent of

the pain you were going through. But I needed to see you, to apologize in person, because I haven’t stopped feeling guilty since the last time I saw you.”

I scoffed, feeling a surge of anger rise in me. “Last time you saw me? That was over three months ago, Dad. If you really cared about me, if you had an ounce of fatherly love, you would have come to

find me much sooner. But instead, you’ve been living your life as if everything is just fine. I mean,

you successfully managed to keep being in–laws with the Black family. It’s not an easy feat.”

My father’s expression fell, regret etched in every line of his face. His voice grew softer as he Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

spoke, and his words were filled with sincerity. “Amber, I am sorry. Truly sorry. I can’t undo what’s

been done, but I want you to know that I’m pretty sorry for everything that happened.”

I crossed my arms defensively, my walls rising higher as his words echoed in my ears. Sorry? Did he

think that one simple word could erase what he and his family had done to her? “Sorry doesn’t cut it, Father,” I snapped, my tone biting. “I’m not going to sit here and pretend like I’m capable of forgiving you when I know that I will never forgive any of you for what you all did to me. So let this be the last time you call me, Father. Forget that you have a daughter named Amber; is that clear?”

I wasted no more time before getting up and leaving the restaurant. I regretted coming out in the first place, because at the end of the day, he just reminded me of how big of a coward he was and just how much he valued money and reputation over his own children.