Chased By My Billionaire Ex-husband
Chapter 107: Gloria’s Downfall

Chapter 107: Gloria’s Downfall

Author’s important note: Forgive me that I am uploading the Chapter late. I had a high fever; I couldn’t write. I corrected the Chapters, so please enjoy.

Evander’s POV

I didn’t linger in the mansion a second longer. The weight of my decisions pressed heavily on my shoulders, but my resolve was unshakable. Turning to Zaniel, I gave him a firm order, my voice as cold as steel.

"Shut down that NGO," I commanded. "If they dared to cross me and take my son without consent, they don’t deserve to operate another day."

Zaniel nodded without hesitation; his silence was a reassurance.

As for Gloria, I couldn’t bring myself to throw her out entirely, even after everything she had done. She was, after all, the woman who brought me into this world, no matter how strained that bond had become. Instead, I decided to lock her in the mansion, ensuring she couldn’t meddle in our affairs any longer. She had nothing left to her name, and the power she once wielded was now a mere shadow.

But this wasn’t over. We still had to fight for custody of Eliam in court. That thought alone made my chest tighten. I couldn’t risk losing my son again, and for that, I needed Claire by my side. I took my son and left for our mansion. I needed to calm him down, as he was really afraid and cried for a whole hour.

Claire had hugged Eliam until he fell asleep, and I was sitting beside him so that he wouldn’t think that I had abandoned him.

"It seems he has fallen asleep," Claire said in a hushed tone. "Let me get some fresh air." She said and walked out of the room cautiously.

I looked at Eliam and couldn’t help but feel bad for him. He had gone through so much today that my heart was aching. However, what I realized at the moment was that... Eliam needed Claire more than I needed her.

And... for that, I had to persuade her to stay with me and not to leave me! If she couldn’t stay here for my sake, but at least stay for Eliam. I kissed gently on his forehead and left the room.

Later that evening,

I approached her cautiously, finding her in the garden. The soft glow of the setting sun cast a warm light over her face, but her expression remained guarded, her strength evident despite the turmoil we had endured today.

I had always known Claire for her brave stances. But seeing her in action for years, I fell for her even more.

"Claire," I began, my voice steady but quieter than usual. She turned to face me, her gaze piercing through me. "I have something very important I would like to discuss with you if you give me the permission."

"Sure," Claire nodded. "What choice do I have? The more I wanted to stay away from the Kensington, the more I became entangled with them. So, I can’t do anything about that."

"Please, forgive me." I apologized. "I understand that you don’t want me to ask you to stay here, but I have nothing I can do."

"Please get to the point, Mr. Kensington," Claire said in a cold tone. She still seemed to be angry that I hadn’t received the call and let Eliam go through all these things.

"I am sorry but... We still have a battle ahead of us. The court will demand proof of a stable family environment for Eliam, and..." I hesitated for a moment before continuing, "I need you with me for this. For his sake."

Her eyes softened, but only slightly, as she studied me carefully. "Are you asking me to stay here, Evander?"

"Yes," I admitted, stepping closer. "I know I don’t deserve your trust, not yet. But for Eliam, I will do whatever it takes. Please, Claire, I am asking this not just as his father but as someone who has finally realized what matters most."

I didn’t know if she would agree, but I felt like I was finally fighting for the right reasons for the first time in years.

Claire’s POV

My heart shattered into pieces seeing how hurt Eliam was. From the moment we picked him up from the main mansion, he clung to me tightly, refusing to let go. His small arms wrapped around my neck as if I might disappear if he loosened his grip.

I held him close, my tears threatening to spill as I whispered softly into his ear, "I am here, Eliam. Mommy is here. You are safe now." But no matter what I said, his little body trembled against mine, and I could feel his pain seeping into my soul.

I didn’t know how to soothe him. Every word I spoke felt shallow, and all I could do was keep hugging him, gently patting his back, hoping he would feel the love and safety he so desperately needed.

To my surprise, Evander was by his side the entire time. I watched him kneel beside us, his strong hand carefully caressing Eliam’s soft hair. His voice, usually so commanding and firm, was gentle now— a tone I had rarely heard from him.

"I am here, Eliam," Evander said softly, his words carrying a promise. "I will always be here for you. Nothing will hurt you again. I swear."

Eliam buried his face deeper into my shoulder, but I could see his small fingers reaching out to grab Evander’s hand. The sight made my heart ache even more. In that moment, I realized that no matter the mistakes of the past, Evander was trying to be the father Eliam deserved.

The three of us stayed like that for hours until I couldn’t take it. When Eliam finally fell asleep, I walked out of the room.

It was already evening, and I was planning to leave. I hadn’t informed Sissy before coming here, and she must have been scared and worried about me by now. My phone had died hours ago—it had an old, worn-out battery failing me again.

As I sat there lost in thought, Evander arrived. The moment I saw him, the memories of everything Gloria had done to him and Eliam flashed through my mind. A flicker of anger crossed my face, but Evander seemed to misread it. He paused for a second, his expression turning guarded, as though he expected me to lash out. I didn’t bother correcting him, letting the misunderstanding linger.

I was just too tired to explain anything.

Then he said something that made my heart skip a beat. He wanted me to stay.

Stay?

He wasn’t asking me to stay at some other place. No, he wanted me to stay at the same mansion where I had endured the most hellish moments of my life. My chest tightened at the thought. This was the place where my self-worth had been crushed repeatedly, where I had been made to feel small, powerless, and utterly insignificant.

Yet, it was also the place where I had escaped the suffocating nightmare I once called home. Compared to that where I lived my childhood, this mansion had still been better! It was a cruel irony I couldn’t ignore. At least here, I had experienced fleeting moments of happiness with Evander, and now, especially with Eliam in my arms, I am so happy to have him.

Still, the idea of returning felt suffocating. My mind warred with itself as I looked at Evander. His expression was serious, almost pleading, and for a brief moment, I saw a vulnerability in his eyes that caught me off guard.

I sighed heavily, torn between the urge to protect myself and the thought of giving Eliam the stability he needed. "I will think about it," I finally muttered, though my voice betrayed the turmoil raging within me.

Evander nodded, his shoulders relaxing slightly, but I could see he wasn’t entirely satisfied. He knew I was reluctant, but he also knew he couldn’t push me further.

As he walked away to give me space, I stared at the dimming sky outside the window, wondering if staying was the right choice or just another step toward reopening old wounds.

I sighed, standing there for a moment, trying to recollect my thoughts. My mind was racing with worry for Sissy. I had decided to live here, but Sissy was all alone in this country.

The apartment we rented wasn’t just lonely and weird; it was downright eerie at times, and I couldn’t leave her in that frantic condition.

I decided to inform Sissy, and I called for a maid. When she arrived, I asked her to bring me a phone.

Moments later, the maid returned with a landline phone. I picked it up but paused before dialing. How could I explain everything to Sissy? She would be worried sick, and knowing her, she would probably insist on coming over immediately.

I hesitated, then set the phone down gently. A thought crossed my mind—if Evander really wanted me to stay, he couldn’t expect me to leave Sissy behind. She had followed me here in an unknown country, and I couldn’t bear to leave her alone.

"Where is Mr. Kensington?" I asked the maid, hoping to find him and discuss the situation and make a few things clear before I agree to his words.

"He is in his study, Madam," she replied politely.

"Thank you," I said with a faint smile, appreciating her work. I

I turned on my heels and left the garden as I thought how I would break the news to Evander.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.