Return, My Love: Wooing the Neglected Ex-Wife

Chapter 839:

“Dulce, why didn’t you greet Michael just now? Did you two have a fight?” Johnny asked, his voice laced with curiosity.

“It’s nothing. There’s no possibility between us anymore.” Dulce straightened, shaking off the moment. “Let’s go, I’ll take you to meet Hodge!”

Hodge Acosta, Dulce’s senior, was a well-known figure in the industry. Although he was usually based abroad, he was in the country on business. Johnny had this rare opportunity to meet the industry heavyweight thanks to Fannie, so he decided not to dwell on the awkwardness between Dulce and Michael.

Meanwhile, Michael stood in the hallway, feeling a heavy weight in his chest, like a suffocating pressure he couldn’t shake. His anger mingled with confusion, and he couldn’t stop himself from replaying the moment with Dulce over and over in his mind.

He had believed her flirtatious words, allowing himself to hope, but it was clear now that she was nothing more than playful, treating emotions lightly and without depth. How had he let himself fall for her? He questioned himself repeatedly.

Did he no longer love Lacey? The answer to this burning question had become a shackle, chaining him to an unyielding and painful reality.

That evening, Michael called Adrian for drinks. What stung the most was the dawning realization that his love for Lacey had turned into something he had to consciously maintain, a love he had to question over and over just to reassure himself that it still existed.

He had once convinced himself that he would never love anyone else again, but with each passing day, Lacey seemed to fade further from his life. Had he changed? Was he a jerk?

He sank deeper into the bottle, the alcohol numbing the edges of his pain. After Lacey’s passing, it had become his refuge, a way to escape his guilt and sorrow. At least when he was drunk, he could almost feel her presence, as though she were still with him.

But now, even if he drank until his body gave out, Lacey’s spirit never returned. Perhaps she sensed his wavering, his growing uncertainty, and that was why she stayed away.noveldrama

With his hands trembling, Michael buried his face in them, allowing himself to cry. He longed for her so deeply, it was a physical ache.

If Lacey were still here, he wouldn’t have these doubts. He would love her, unshakably, and they would have the family that everyone else seemed to have. Adrian laid a comforting hand on Michael’s back and took the glass from his hand. “Enough, Michael. If you keep going like this, you’ll ruin yourself.”

Michael’s grip tightened on Adrian’s collar, his voice raw with emotion. “I’ve failed her, Adrian. I’m worthless. I’m nothing but a monster. Hit me if you have to. Make me feel something!”

Adrian’s gaze softened, knowing exactly who Michael was mourning. “Michael, you’ve done more than enough. Lacey knew how much you loved her. She knew you tried.”

Michael shook his head, his thoughts clouded. “It’s not enough.”

If he had truly done enough, why did he feel the need to interfere in Fiona’s life? Was it only because she was Lacey’s sister, or was it guilt that pulled him in? And why had he let Dulce into his world? Why keep drowning in alcohol?

Ultimately, it was because he felt he hadn’t done enough.

Michael reached for the glass once more, but Adrian quickly stopped him.

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