Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband

Claire’s POV

I didn’t mean to say that out loud. The words slipped before I could stop them, and the silence that followed felt heavier than anything I had ever known. I had seen how much Evander was hurt after he found out about the loss of our child. At first, I thought he wouldn’t care. I thought he would stay cold and indifferent, as he always seemed to be.

But that night, when I saw him burning with fever, everything changed. He looked so fragile, so broken, and then later he confessed his love to me. I realized he must have been in as much pain as I was, maybe even more.

I had misjudged him. Behind his cold demeanor was a man drowning in grief, just like me. For the first time, I saw his pain— not just in his words, but in the way his hands trembled and the way his voice cracked when he spoke my name.

In that moment, I couldn’t help but wonder: had I been blind to his love all along, or had he hidden it too well?

I looked at Evander still in my thoughts, unsure of what to say, but Eliam’s soft voice broke the tension.

"Mommy, is Liam not your son?" He asked, tilting his head curiously as the glint in his eyes was fading.

I forced a small smile, brushing my fingers through his hair. "Of course you are my son!" I said, my voice trembling with emotion. "You are just, kind and precious, unlike your father!"

Evander glanced at me briefly, his eyes reflecting regret, sorrow, or maybe something more, but he stayed silent.

Eliam squirmed in my lap, his innocent joy breaking through the somber mood. "Then Liam will be extra good so Mommy doesn’t feel sad anymore!" He declared, beaming up at me.

For a moment, the heaviness lifted, and I hugged him tighter. "You already make Mommy so happy," I whispered, my eyes glancing at Evander. He remained silent, but his presence beside me felt steadier now, as though he were anchoring both of us in this fragile moment. However, his next words shattered all my happiness, like a delicate glass slipping through fingers.

"Do not make promises and give hope to the little guy that you can’t fulfill," Evander said, his voice was sharp and cold. He reached down and scooped Eliam from my lap without a second glance, leaving my arms empty and cold. "My son might get used to you! So, stay away from him."

I stared after him, stunned, as the warmth of Eliam’s small frame faded from me. A lump formed in my throat, but I swallowed it down.

"Hah!" I scoffed, forcing a dry laugh past the tightness in my chest. To think I was feeling sorry for this man just a moment ago! The audacity.

I stood, straightening my shoulders and meeting his icy tone with one of my own. "Let me remind you, Mr. Kensington... It was you who dragged me here, uninvited, before I could even have a proper breakfast!"

I didn’t care if he thought I was being dramatic. I could feel my irritation bubbling over, the sting of his words fueling the fire in my chest.

Without waiting for a reply, I spun on my heel, determined not to let him see how deeply his words had cut me. I had already lost my baby, and if I was seeking solace in Eliam’s innocent warmth, Evander was determined to snatch even that away from me... the little hope I was seeking.

As I started to walk away, a small, trembling voice stopped me in my tracks.

"Mommy! I... I will be happy to see you once a week, no... once a month is good too..." Eliam stammered as his voice broke and tears were glistening in his eyes. His wide, glassy eyes locked onto mine as he wiggled in Evander’s arms, desperate to reach me.

My heart clenched painfully at his words, the ache of longing in his little voice piercing through every barrier I had built around my emotions. I swallowed hard, struggling to keep my own tears in control.

"I... I will come to see you as much as I can!" I promised, my voice shaking but sincere.

Eliam’s sniffles softened a little, but the sadness on his face was unmistakable. It was then I realized just how tightly I had started to cling to the bond we shared, even if it was still fragile and new. Maybe, just maybe, Little Eliam was the only chain holding me and Evander together... A kind chain that was so delicate it could snap at any moment.

With a faint smile, I looked at Eliam again. "You take care of yourself, okay? And eat all your vegetables!" I added, trying to lighten the mood, though my chest felt heavy.

"Okay, Mommy..." he murmured, his tiny hand reaching out toward me, but Evander turned away abruptly, breaking the moment.

"Let’s have some breakfast before we get to the business," Evander said as he turned around and left, leaving me alone as I was filled with rage and anger.

In the end, I decided to follow him, though I wasn’t entirely sure why. Maybe it was Eliam’s tearful face that kept flashing in my mind, or maybe it was my own stubbornness. Either way, my feet carried me to the dining area.

As I stepped inside, a wave of nostalgia hit me. The room looked exactly as I remembered it, untouched by time. The same elegant table, the same plush chairs, even the soft curtains— it was all of it, just as I had left it years ago.

I paused for a moment, taking it all in. Last time when I arrived here, I hadn’t noticed any of this. My mind had been too preoccupied, panicking as I was rushing to help Evander, who had been burning with a fever so high it scared me.

A maid approached and served breakfast, arranging the dishes neatly in front of me. I blinked in surprise as my gaze fell on the spread. It was all my favorites— golden waffles drizzled with honey, a small bowl of fresh berries, and a steaming cup of my preferred tea.

For a brief second, I wondered if it was deliberate. But just as quickly, I dismissed the thought. It has to be a coincidence, I told myself, pushing the idea away. There was no way someone like Evander would remember my likes and dislikes, let alone care enough to have them prepared.

Still, the thought lingered, no matter how much I tried to shake it. I picked up the tea, letting its warmth seep into my palms, and glanced toward the other side of the table. Evander sat there, quietly helping Eliam with his breakfast.

I hesitated, torn between my pride and the growing curiosity inside me. Should I say something? Should I ask if he—

No. I took a sip of my tea instead, deciding it was better not to read too much into things. After all, I wasn’t here to rekindle old connections. I was here for Eliam, and that alone would be my focus.

However, I still wondered why Evander dragged me here!