Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband

Claire’s POV

I couldn’t stop myself. Seeing Evander’s lonely and lifeless state tore at my heart in ways I couldn’t describe. It was as if he had no real desire to live anymore and was just barely holding on by a fragile thread.

I had always seen him as a cruel, cold man— someone who could never be vulnerable. But now, watching him like this, I saw another side of him. A side so broken, so raw, that it pulled me closer despite all the walls I had built around my heart. Before I knew it, I had wrapped my arms around him.

This hug wasn’t just for him— it was for me too. Somehow, I felt the weight of his pain mingling with my own, and it was unbearable. I had spent so long convincing myself that I hated him and that I didn’t need him. But in this moment, it became clear— I needed him just as much as he might need me.

I had always craved his attention. The cold, distant Evander I married had rarely shown me the warmth I desperately sought. And yet, when I finally got a glimpse of it, I became greedy. So greedy that I couldn’t handle the way it felt— too overwhelming, too consuming. My fear had driven me to leave him, to run from the very thing I had wanted all along just because of my stupidity.

But standing here, with his vulnerability laid bare before me, I realized something. I didn’t want to run anymore. I wanted to stay. I wanted to be with him, not just for now but for the rest of our lives.

However, I wasn’t going to tell him that. Not yet.

Evander had spent too long keeping people at a distance, pushing away those who cared for him. If he wanted us to have a chance, he needed to learn to earn what he wanted— love, trust, everything. Only then would we truly have a future together.

For now, I would stay by his side. I would hold onto this decision quietly, knowing that someday he would finally win me over. Because even though my heart ached for him, I needed to know if he wanted this as much as I did.

We were still wrapped in each other’s arms when Eliam’s cheerful voice suddenly broke through the silence. His excited tone echoed in the room, pulling us back to reality.

Startled, I hastily stepped away from Evander, feeling the heat rush to my cheeks. I avoided his gaze, overwhelmed by a shyness that I couldn’t explain. The intimacy of the moment was unexpected, now felt exposed under the curious eyes of a child.

Eliam, as innocent as ever, trotted toward us with outstretched arms, his bright smile lighting up the room. While I was still trying to compose myself I welcomed Eliam with open arms.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to do. My instinct was to pick up Eliam and leave the room, to retreat to the safety of some quiet corner where I could gather my thoughts. But Evander’s quiet yet earnest desire to hold Eliam stopped me, or rather... he didn’t wish for me to leave.

I handed Eliam reluctantly over to him, feeling a pang of emotion I couldn’t quite name. The sight of them together was unexpectedly tender, a reminder of the softer side Evander rarely showed. Yet, my embarrassment lingered, making it hard to stay in the room any longer. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

I looked around, searching for a reason to excuse myself without drawing too much attention. That’s when my eyes landed on the landline phone I had brought in earlier. I reached for it gratefully, clutching it as though it were my lifeline.

With a deep breath, I turned and quietly slipped out of the room, leaving Evander and Eliam to their moment. My heart was still racing, the mix of emotions from the hug and Eliam’s interruption swirling inside me. All I needed now was a moment to collect myself and figure out what this connection between us truly meant for me.

I was still trying to steady my racing heart when a maid approached me, her voice hesitant and barely above a whisper. Her shy demeanor only added to my discomfort, as if she had witnessed something she wasn’t supposed to.

She held out my phone and pronounced. "Your cell phone is charged," she murmured, glancing away as if she were embarrassed. "I went to find you earlier but didn’t want to interrupt, so I sent Eliam inside instead."

Her words sent a fresh wave of heat rushing to my face. My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I recalled the hug and the unexpected intrusion. "Oh," I managed to mutter, my voice unsteady as I reached for my phone.

I took the cell phone from her, and I quickly handed back the landline that I had been carrying. Turning away to hide my confused state, I heard my phone ring again. Its relentless vibration in my hand added to the tension knotting in my chest.

I glanced at the screen and froze. Sissy.

Over two hundred missed calls.

Panic surged through me, twisting my stomach into knots. I had been away since morning, and Sissy must have been going crazy for me.

I bit my lip, my hands trembling as I stared at the phone. I just didn’t know how I should explain everything to her since she had called me so many times.

Damn it.

Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for whatever awaited on the other side of the call. My mind raced, searching for an explanation as I pressed the phone to my ear. Whatever it was, I had no choice but to face Sissy’s wrath.

I held my breath as I dialed her number. It didn’t even ring once, and Sissy took the call.

"You heartless lass! Where the hell are you!" Sissy’s angered tone came from the other side as her voice echoed through the empty hall.