The Retribution of the Ex-Wife

They say that second chances at love are better in every way.

Two longtime friends who had feelings for each other in the past went their own ways to satisfy each other's needs, and now they find themselves back together.

In fact, the only thing that can satisfy a heart's desire is completing oneself.

As Gideon cast a peek in Addison's direction, he masked the feeling he had been suppressing.

He desired to wrap his arms around the woman and keep her to himself.

As Addison took a quick glimpse at the man and said, "Gideon?" her jaw fell in shock at the unexpected revelation.

She narrowed her eyes to ensure that her brain wasn't playing tricks on her because she hadn't heard anything about the man since they parted ways. She repeatedly blinked to ensure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.

When Gideon laughed, Addison was startled and immediately returned to the present.

She reflected on how much she cared for the man sitting beside her.

Her heart continued to race at the same rate, and she knew that the only person who could make her feel this way was Gideon Harris, the boy she had loved initially as a teenager.

-FLASHBACK-

"Are you serious? Me? You wanted to go on a date with me?" Addison scowled and pointed at Gideon, who was grinning to himself.

"Come on, Addison, do I look like I'm going to spout some kind words in your direction? I really mean this. I will continue to pursue our relationship despite your refusal. Gideon whispered something under his breath as he moved closer to Addison. Each time Gideon took a step closer, Addison retreated until she was close enough to the library shelf to feel the texture of the thick books.

As Addison felt a flutter in her tummy, which caused her to become short of breath, she averted her sight.

Addison was the only close friend that Gideon Harris had in college, and up until this point, Addison had no idea how the two of them first became friends. Gideon Harris had a reputation on campus for being a playboy.

After getting to know Gideon, Addison realized he was good-natured. On the surface, he may appear cruel and naive, but deep down, he is caring, ambitious, and twisted. To earn the man's trust, all that was required was for another person to comprehend his emotions.

When Addison is around, Gideon can relax and enjoy the peace that comes with her presence. He fell even further in love with her as he learned more about her feminism and passion. In addition, he had a sense of liberation and transformed into his authentic self. The woman never gave any indication that she was repulsed. Consequently, she will laugh and talk about the things that have happened to her in her life.

It was clear to Addison that she felt the same way about Gideon. On the other hand, Landon Baker put a lot of faith in her. While still in school, she couldn't afford to put her feelings first. She had high aspirations of becoming a physician and didn't want her parents to be disappointed in her.

At first, Addison was hesitant to spend more time with Gideon; however, as they spent more time together, Addison realized that Gideon had changed; he was no longer a playboy, and he always put her ahead of anything else in his priorities. This made Addison realize that she should spend more time with Gideon. They would get together, hang out occasionally, and make trips together.

Addison was under the impression that nothing would change. Her academic performance suffered as a result, and she put the responsibility on herself for spending so much time with Gideon. Therefore, she made a choice even though it went against her instincts. Addison went looking for Gideon to talk to him about her predicament, and she requested him to allow her some space so that she could improve her failing grades.

When Addison finally caught a glimpse of the man she had been searching for, she was taken aback. When she saw Gideon smiling with another woman in the hallway as if they were the only people there, her heart broke into a thousand pieces.

"What exactly do you anticipate from him?" Men are nothing but filth, plain and simple. Addison thought Gideon was a playboy, exactly like her father, who had many different mistresses. She swore that her heart would never be in danger again. She let out a bitter laugh before turning and walking away with her heart broken.

Since then, Addison has been avoiding Gideon, which frustrates him. Gideon had no idea what could have caused Addison to behave antagonistically toward him.

"I don't understand. Why are you trying to get away from me in this way, Addison? Everything was normal between us the last time we chatted, but after that, you started avoiding me like the plague!" Each drop of rain causes Addison's body to become increasingly chilly.

Both of them were saturated thanks to the relentless rain that had been falling. Addison immediately drew attention to Gideon, and she clenched her palm. "Let's stop talking to each other," she said. She whispered the words while shaking. As he stood up, Gideon's eyes were extremely wide. "W-what? Why? Have I spoken or done something to make you angry?" Gideon asked. He endeavored to attract the attention of the woman.

"I was doing so poorly in school... that was it." She said something and then bowed her head. As tears began forming in Addison's eyes, the only thing she could see was the grass on the field.

"Hold on," Gideon inhaled deeply, "You can get up to speed. I'll give you time. While you are studying at the library, I shall maintain my composure. I promise—"

"That's not the point at all, Gideon! I really didn't want to continue having this kind of connection with you! You are causing me to become distracted. Gideon, I cannot rely on you in any way. I desired to devote my attention solely to myself while I pursued my goals." When Addison saw the agony in Gideon's eyes after she had said it, she immediately wished that she could take back what she had said as soon as it had left her mouth.

She wanted to shout that it was all a misunderstanding, that she was motivated by jealousy, and that her situation was complicated, but she knew that once she said it, she couldn't take it back.

He bowed his head and let out a booming breath in response. It seemed he was shaking when he asked, "Is that what you wanted?" "Addison, if this is the last time we will see each other, please come closer and hug me."

When Addison realized Gideon was crying, it triggered her emotional breakdown, and she sobbed uncontrollably. He smiled broadly as he spread his arms apart. She rushed into his arms and wrapped her arms around him one final time as the rain poured down heavily around them.

Gideon's hushed words, "Take care of yourself, Addison," gave Addison the impression that something terrible would happen. She was going to speak, but Gideon interrupted her as he kissed her forehead and turned his back on her. This prevented her from speaking.

A weak smile formed on Addison's face as she clutched her chest. Under the ominous clouds and gloomy weather, the two people went their separate ways without ever revealing how they felt about one another. Addison didn't find out that Gideon had already left the nation until the next day when she realized that he wasn't around anymore.

- END OF FLASHBACK -

The question was repeated by Addison, who blinked twice. "Gideon, could that really be you? What exactly are you up to at this place?"

She flushed in shame as Gideon snatched the glass of Martini she was holding and drank it without hesitation. "I was just in Los Angeles yesterday and just got back home. This bar used to be operated by a buddy of mine. After that, I was walking back home from the business when suddenly, I noticed you. Maybe it would be best to remain here for the rest of one's life."

The way that Addison supported her head on Gideon suggested that she had been accustomed to the position at the time. "Today is the filing day for my parent's divorce. And what could be more ludicrous than that? My mother and I were disowned by my father when he fathered a child by her mistress. I was at a loss for words when it came to telling my mum... The tragedy recently befell our family, and we lost everything at a moment's notice."

It appeared as though Gideon was stunned by his quivering lips and wrinkled face. "It makes me sad to hear that. It has to be challenging for you." As Gideon responded, he pulled her hair behind her ears and continued their conversation.

After a few minutes had passed, Addison's phone began to buzz. It was a note from the nurse in charge of her mother's ward, letting her know that her mother had regained consciousness and was awake. When Addison saw Gideon, she turned to him and said, "I have no choice but to return. It's been a while, but it's great to have you back, Gideon."

When Addison first put her foot on the ground, it appeared she was a little tipsy and fell onto Gideon's stern chest.

"I'll give you a ride. You don't need to worry about your car because I will tell my secretary to get it." Because she had no other option, Addison nodded and let Gideon support her. As soon as she got inside Gideon's car, he tightened her seatbelts, which caused her heart to accelerate as their eyes met in a level position. Gideon twitched her nose and laughed as he stepped away while maintaining eye contact.

As soon as they got to the hospital, Addison made a beeline for her mother's room. "M-Mom…" To become closer to Chiara, Addison traveled the distance that separated them. She encircled her mother in a loving embrace and held her captive there.

"Sweetie, I'm sorry..." Amid their embrace, Chiara, her mother, murmured something to her daughter.

"Mom, I don't understand why you did it. I'm still here…" Chiara averted her eyes and sighed.

The attention of Addison and Chiara was brought to the situation when Doctor Weiss cleared his throat. While the doctor was speaking, Addison sat there with her mother's hand in hers and listened intently.

"I would appreciate it if you could lend me your ears for a while. Please be aware that I have both good and bad news to share. Let's start with the strong option first. The fractured leg that your mother sustained can be repaired with the help of a variety of medications and treatments. Recent tests, however, revealed that she had a blockage in her heart, which is a very severe condition. Your mother's life could be in danger if there is a total obstruction of blood flow in her heart, which could bring on a heart attack. She required surgery right away, as soon as it could possibly be done. In addition, in the interest of full disclosure, I estimate it will cost three hundred sixty-six thousand dollars."

The look on Addison's face suggested that a bomb had just gone off in front of her. As she looked at her mother, tears began to form in the corners of her eyes. Chiara stated that she had been coping with it for a long time, but she had chosen to ignore it for so long because she didn't want Addison to be concerned about her condition.

After moments of stillness, Addison finally breaks the silence by telling Doctor Weiss, "Let's begin with the operation."

"But..." "Don't worry, Mom, I'll figure something out, alright?" The reassurance that Addison gave to her mother The look of disapproval in Chiara's eyes indicated that she disagreed with her decision. There was no way that Addison could have come up with such a significant quantity of money on her own, and she would never ask her father for money to pay for her mother's medication.

As soon as Addison had decided what she wanted to do, Doctor Weiss nodded and excused himself from the room. Addison gave her mother a friendly grin before planting a peck on her mother's head. "Don't worry, Mother," I assured her. She mumbled something. For her mother's sake, Haley would cling to the blade of a knife if that was what it took to keep her alive.

When Chiara fell asleep, Addison palmed her face and thought about how many jobs she would have to acquire to ensure she had enough money to pay for the procedure her mother needed. Then the thought of Gideon entered her thoughts, and she stopped thinking about how many jobs she would have to get. She failed to remember that Gideon was accompanying her.

After deciding to relax, Addison stepped outdoors, where she was taken away to see Gideon reclining against the wall. Addison had decided to spend some time for herself. In response to the movement of his stare toward her, Addison quickly averted her look. "I've heard everything," Gideon admitted, "and I don't care."

With a grin, Addison said, "Please accept my apologies for having brought you here. I'm convinced you're a b—huh?" The tears that had started to pour from Addison's eyes were wiped away by the palm of Addison's hand as she stroked her cheeks. As Gideon closed the distance between them and pulled her closer for an embrace, he released an expletive.

After a few distraught moments lasting only a few minutes, Addison and Gideon sat in the waiting area close to her mother's room. While talking to Addison, Gideon brushed her hair and said, "Addison, I can offer you my money."

"No, Gideon. Talking further is unnecessary because we just met today, and you drove me here." Addison murmured something as she smiled broadly, but Gideon could tell from her eyes that she was hiding something.

"Okay, if you change your mind, here," the waiter said. Gideon gave Addison his business card and told her, "Call me whenever you need anything." As Gideon brought her into his arms and ended Addison's concerns, Addison gave a satisfied nod. Now that he was safe again, he had no intention of letting go of the woman in his arms.