Divorce To Restart: Vengeful Ex-Wife Strikes Back!

Chapter 38 A Friend Indeed

XANDER’S HOME, NEW YORK. Xander groaned as he watched Jace devour his precious meal hungrily while whining about how devilish the female gender was. And he made promises of never liking anyone again. “Didn’t you say you weren’t into Minny, and it was just casual?” Xander queried Jace glared at him like he had said something wrong. “Can’t a man be allowed to change his mind? That was what I thought when we started, but it’s different now.” “What changed, and what exactly did she do wrong?” His lips parted as he got prepared to sob. “Minny went on a date with another man and even flaunted it on her status. She has never even posted any half pic of me. Women are evil!” He hollered. Xander watched him for a few seconds and, in no time, burst into a fit of laughter. Jace felt betrayed by his brother’s lack of sympathy. “I hope you know your time will come,” Jace mumbled. “Is that a threat?” His brother asked. “Take it whichever way you choose. Just let me be; I am grieving. ” “Quit being such a pussy and stop wailing.” “Don’t tell me what to do. Let me be!” “It would be fun to let you be if you weren’t in my house. I would gladly have left you in the middle of the road if I had to. If you want to keep mopping, you can leave my house.” Jace sniffed and stared up at him. “Why are you so cold-hearted? What would it take you to sympathize with me?” Xander hummed, “You know what the problem here is? You are lying to yourself. You don’t love Minny or crazy enough to want to let your life go. You hate seeing them move on when you are still dating them.” He pouted, pretending to think for a brief moment. “How did you guess?” “Would I be your brother if I can’t catch that little detail about you? You are such a sore loser.” He laughed, not feeling any ounce of guilt for stressing Xander. “You have always been too smart for your good.” Rolling his eyes, Xander sat on the couch, spreading his arms. “On a more serious note, Jace. Are you sure you don’t feel deeply towards Minny?” Jace nodded, looking very sure. “Not enough to deprive me of my appetite. She is amazing, but just like her sister, she is far too obsessed with herself.” “Yet you keep her as a sneaky link.” “Accidentally!” He corrected. “Would be considered accidental if it didn’t occur again. You two have been at it for a year now. That should tell you something.” “You mean on and off while she has an actual boyfriend she is seeing and cheating on?” “What?” Xander exclaimed in shock. “She has a man?” Sniffing, Jace finished up with the food and dropped the plate in the sink. “Your help would be around by morning, won’t they?” “Don’t you even dare! Clean up after yourself, little brother. I do not like leftover plates hanging around.” “Stuck up much.” He grumbled under his breath, washing the plates. “And yes, Minny has a man. I guess she felt bad for wanting to let all of my greatness loose. So she improvised.” Xander rubbed at his forehead as he felt a headache coming through from the conversation. “You are everything like your father. What in the world do you live like this for.” He turned and winked. “Because you only live once. So I intend to enjoy it to the fullest.” “Right…” The doorbell rang, calling their attention. Jace went towards the door and checked who the visitor happened to be. He rolled his eyes. “Who is it?” Xander asked with his head bowed as he dusted off the dirt on his shirt. “Dawn. Should I pretend like we aren’t home or what?” A tired sigh escaped his lips. “She must have seen our cars. Just let her in.” Jace didn’t look pleased with the response, but he had no choice but to open up. He did not even try to find out what brought her to the house before walking away to sit on the couch. Dawn ignored him and hurried towards Xander while holding out the front of her white dress dented by a cocktail. “Hey, Hun. Please take a look at my dress, it’s ruined. And I still have an outing to attend,” Dawn whined “If that is the case, you could have gone home.” Jace retorted. “Stop, Jace.” Xander cautioned. “But why here, Dawn?” Dawn snickered. “I met with a friend not too far from here, which was why I thought of you first when it happened.” She explained while eyeballing Jace on the side. “Can I just throw it in the washing machine real quick? I will change into one of yours.” She didn’t wait for the house host to decide where she would go before she sprinted up the stairs. “I smell trouble,” Jace said to his unbothered-looking brother. Xander muttered. “Don’t worry, she is cool. Just excessive sometimes.” “Time will come.” “You are screwing her sister. Don’t be so shady.” “What happens between me and her sister has nothing to do with her imposing on you.” “Let it go, son. Why don’t we make dinner together?” Jace didn’t look pleased at the request. “You should get Carla back or hire a living chef. Your life is not in any way amusing.” “The plan was not to impress you in the first place. Come on now, chop chop.” He urged, dragging him by the hand. Xander had just put Jace on cutting the veggies when Dawn appeared from the stairs wearing one of Xander’s white shirts. She even took her time to style it, making it seem sexy. “Hey.” She drawled. Xander stared with no emotion in his eyes. “Why are you wearing my work shirt, Dawn? You could have picked other play T-shirts. That’s a Tom Ford.” He sounded pained. Dawn giggled. “Don’t sound like anything I pick from your wardrobe wouldn’t be pricey. I can always get you another for your birthday. Let me be the one wearing this whenever I come by.” She sniffed it. “Our smells already merged, smells amazing.” Jace exchanged a glance with his brother before scoffing in disbelief. “What the…..” His words were cut short when the doorbell rang. “I will get it.” Dawn offered, rushing towards the door before anyone could stop her. Without checking the tab first, Dawn lunched at the door. She paused abruptly at the opening, raising a brow. “And what do we have here?” “What’s taking her so long?” Xander questioned as he walked towards the door. “Who is there, Dawn?” Dawn made a hand gesture with a sneer towards the guest. “Nina?” Xander mumbled when he saw her. “I will leave to it.” Dawn drawled, caressing his chest seductively before walking away. He let out an awkward laugh, surprised to see her. “I wasn’t expecting you, Nina. Please come in.” Nina gulped at the sight of Dawn taken aback in Xander’s clothes. “No, please. I should have also called before coming. Here, I came to give you this.” She said, handing him a food box. “Carla made one of your favorites, and I thought I would drop by myself to take the opportunity to appreciate you for your help.” He smiled genuinely. “That is so thoughtful of you. It would be best if you came in all the same. I was just about to prepare something nice.” “No, don’t bother. I have to meet with Tania.” She didn’t wait for him to respond and scurried off. Xander looked conflicted about whether to run after Nina or not. He would have loved for her to stay, and then they got to talk better, but she was long gone. Dawn was seated in the kitchen showing off her thighs while being a pain in Jace’s ass as she kept picking the carrots he had diced. “Get this witch away from me before I commit murder.” He growled at his brother. “Why are you always so itchy? It’s just veggies.” Xander mumbled, putting down the food box on the kitchen island. “Yeah, it’s just veggies.” Dawn mocked Jace. Jace tightened his grip on the knife. “Better leave now before I do what I promised.” He insisted on not backing down. Dawn let out her tongue at him, stole a quick kiss from Xander, and hurried off. “Why the hell did she do that?” Jace looked like he had just witnessed the horror. He blinked rapidly when no response came from Xander. “What up with you? I even forgot to ask: who was by the door? You had a delivery?” Xander shrugged. “Nina came by.” “Wow, by herself? Why didn’t you let her in?” “She just wouldn’t come in saying she has an outing with Tania. But it feels like a lie. She had brought food over from her house that Carla prepared.” “Why do you look dejected?” “I can tell that she intended to spend some time around here. I don’t know why she changed her mind.” “Can you not see why she changed her mind?” His brother asked. He looked confused. “What do you mean?” Jace groaned. “Come on, Xander. You had a woman in your shirt open the door to another that caught your interest. Anyone will think they are intruding a moment and would want to leave. I know mum will gladly leave because she would no doubt keep counting the days she would be expected to carry her grandchild.” Xander gasped like the scene never clicked in his head. “What the hell? I didn’t even think of that.” “You see why I keep saying that lady up there is bad news? If you know what is best for you. You will tell her off and draw a line between you two.” “You hate her that much?” “Do I have to pretend like I am enjoying the sight of her?” He snorted. “Alright.” “That is not the response I am expecting. Go ahead and tell her to leave. You also need to talk to Nina.” “I will talk to Nina when we resume work tomorrow. As for Dawn, just let her be. Didn’t our parents, especially Mum, teach you about how to treat a woman? Well, what am I saying? You probably missed the classes intentionally.” He taunted, grinning. “It’s not funny. You aren’t making any sense. Just remember that I warn you. This smells too much like trouble.” Xander kept mute with his hands folded. “What’s wrong?” Jace asked, chewing on the carrots as he gave up on cutting up any veggies. “It’s not as if I am being foolish or too kindhearted harboring Dawn’s shenanigans.” “Then what are you?” “Stop, Jace. Just hear me out.” “Fine.” He snorted. “You might not know this because it took you a while to associate yourself with the Bakers. But Dawn and Minny grew up in a toxic home. Dawn, especially because she was quite older and had enough insight into her parents’ situation. Their father was quite abusive, and it took a toll on their mother. After his death, she ended up living quite loosely. Unfortunately, Dawn ended up with a miniature of her father. And it was worse on her end because he became a stalker and followed her down here just to make her life miserable. The sane Dawn you see today is a compilation of therapy sessions and a continuous show of affection from my end. Letting her know there are better men out there.” Jace looked unmoved by his touching story. “So what fault of yours is it that all that happened to her?” “Jace!” “No, Xander, don’t give me that. We have all endured one situation in life one way or the other, and if we keep using it as an excuse to get at people, then maybe there is something we aren’t telling ourselves. There is obvious manipulation on her end, and you refuse to see it. I can see right through the bullshit, and you know it. She waltzs into your space with the excuse of being cute. Calling you whenever she pleases, something you have never allowed mum to do. And here you are, trying to give an excuse for her obvious misbehavior. Isn’t that absurd?” “Did you listen to me at all? Is she still healing?” “It’s been over five years since she returned home. What sort of fucking healing moment is that.” Xander’s face darkened. “So are you saying my grieving for over ten years only shows how crazy I am?” Jace stared back at him with the same expression. “If you think you will gaslight me into feeling guilty, you have reached a word, my man. It’s been over ten years since you were lied to and had your heart broken for no reason. Yet, never for once have you tossed your burden onto another or made anyone feel responsible for making you happy. You have shouldered it all and maintained a good heart. That lady up there knows nothing close to empathy. She is all about herself. You mark my words! The day will come.” He sucked his teeth and went to the couch to sit with his airpods that he brought out of his pocket plugged in his ears. Xander licked his dried lips as he glanced towards the stairs. He knows how right his brother is. But then, Dawn is his friend, and he is obligated to her. Manipulative or not.