Ex-Wife Returns with Babies: The CEO Regrets Everything

"Sign the divorce papers."

Maria Lewis froze at the doorway, her hand still on the doorknob.

In the two years she'd been married into the Bennett family, James's mom had never once given her a warm look. Still, she hadn't expected to be forced into signing a divorce all of a sudden.

She glanced around the living room-James wasn't there.

"Quit wasting time and just sign it already. Can't even have a child. Pathetic. And your parents? Ran a company straight into the ground even after I poured in all that money. Total disgrace to our family."

Maria's face turned pale.

Panic creeping up her spine, she quickly took out her phone to call her parents. No signal. Not one call would go through.

"Save your effort," James's mom said impatiently. "They already skipped town last night."

Maria's lips trembled. Her voice was tight. "Even if we're getting divorced, that's between James and me."

His mother's expression sharpened. "Still clinging on? Fine, let me call him for you-so you finally get the message."

She dialed right in front of her. "Hello, James? I'm here with Maria, talking about your divorce. What do you say?"

Maria stood there, heart pounding.

"Go ahead," came James's voice on the other end-low, cold, no hesitation.

That one sentence felt like a knife slicing flesh one cut at a time. Maria stared at the phone as her heart plummeted into an icy abyss. She couldn't even find her voice.

As if that wasn't enough, his mother added, "Oh right-you remember Amelia? She got back today. James went to see her."

Maria's mind went blank. She couldn't even hear what else was being said. Didn't remember how she signed the papers.

So Amelia was back. James and Amelia were probably getting back together.

And her?

When she married him, she was already feeling down, but little by little she'd come to love him.

She never thought James would actually agree to a divorce.

While she cried to herself in silence, something reckless sparked to life in her mind.

That night, she drank. A lot.

By the time James got home, she was totally out of it-red-eyed, tipsy, and swaying on her feet.

His sharp eyes swept over her, frowning. "You're drunk."

"I'm not..."

She stared at him, as if trying to memorize his face one last time, raised her wine glass, and offered a crooked smile. "We're about to end things. Share a drink with me?"

She poured him one and handed it over. "Just. one final toast."

James didn't move, his brow furrowed.

Maria's heart ached. "Seriously? Not even that? Just one drink, that's all I'm asking."

In the dim light, her eyes held a quiet plea. Slowly, James took the glass.

A faint, broken smile touched Maria's lips.

The next morning.

James woke up.

The bed was a mess, clothes scattered on the ground-no doubt about what happened last night.

But Maria was gone.

Only thing left behind was a note on the nightstand: