Her Ex-husband

Chapter 2

"Why? Why couldn't this just be enough," Joy cries, tears running down her face as she faces him. "Amore mio, I did this for you, for us. Everything here is for us," He replies, trying to reach out to her but she takes a step back. Hurt was visible in his eyes as a frown appeared on his lips. She bit her bottom lip as tears rolled down her cheeks, her eyes glaring at the man she thought she once knew now a stranger staring back at her with sad orbs. She twirled the ring her finger before ultimately taking it off and placing it on the table before opening her chapped lips, "I'm done."

Joy gasped as her body shot up like a spring. Her body was shaking, trembling as sweat trailed down her form, erratic breathing escaped her mouth, her chest rising and falling. Placing a hand on her chest, she slowly took deep breaths repeatedly until her nerves were calm, until she was calm.

Alec nor Milana were in sight but she could hear loud cartoonist music coming from the living room, along with a delicious smell. A faint grin appeared on her lips. Though she wanted to join them, she decided to take care of her hygiene first. Joy entered the bathroom and brushed her teeth before slipping into the shower then returned back to her room, wrapped in a towel. "Look at the most beautiful woman in the world." Joy jumped at Alec's voice. "I hate you," she said, jokingly as she felt his arms wrap around her waist and his beard nuzzle against her cheek, tickling her cheek causing her to laugh. Alec laughed softly before pressing a kiss to her cheek. "I love you," He whispers in her ear. Joy placed a hand on his cheek as he leaned into her touch with a content smile on his face. Her fingers played with his thick beard causing the man to purr almost.

"I got breakfast ready for you and as much as I'd love to stay, I have to be at the museum later on and get ready for possibly the biggest break of my life," Alec frowns. Joy turns in his arms, a hand resting against his cheek and the other resting on his shoulder; a frown appeared on her lips but she nodded.

"I hope to see you both there?"

"Yeah, you can count on it."

Alec grinned before leaning down and pressing a peck on her lips. The couple entered the living room where Milana was in her bouncer, jumping up and down watching a cartoon on TV. Alec leaned down and pressed a kiss on the top of her head before walking over to the door. "See you later?" Alec asked, hopefully but he already knew the answer. "Yeah." Alec kissed her before leaving. Joy closed the door behind him and locked it. Milana jumped up and down excitedly as one of her favorite characters came onto the screen. Joy grabbed her plate and sat down on the couch behind Milana, who was too occupied to even acknowledge her existence. Without anything else to do for a while, Joy ate her breakfast and watched TV.

  It was around twelve or one in the afternoon when they arrived at the museum, packed was the word to describe it, packed to the max. People-important looking people-were everywhere to be seen; suits. Joy held Milana even tighter against her body as she pushed through the crowd. Alec, with a fake smile plastered on his face, was chatting away with, to what Joy assumed was, a couple who presented themselves well but were faker than a gold coin. He was a nice guy but Joy could tell that he wasn't being genuine with either of them.

"Ah, there she is," Alec said as he opened his arms to Joy. "The woman who has stolen my heart." Alec pressed a kiss to her temple before pressing a kiss to Milana's chubby cheek. "Joy, this is Mr. Oswald and his fiancé Miss Swindle. Mr. Oswald, Miss Swindle, this is my girlfriend Joy and her daughter Milana." Alec placed a hand on Joy's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze. "It's very nice to meet you both," Miss Swindle grins, "And may I just say that you have a very beautiful little girl."

Milana cooed back at her. Shortly after,  the couple excused themselves, leaving Joy, Milana, and Alec by themselves. "Thank God. I didn't know if I could hold out any longer talking to them. It was insufferable." Joy laughed at him as Alec rolled his eyes in annoyance as he led her away to another area, more quiet with less people. Paintings hung from the walls in nice frames, artists stood beside their artwork while small crowds surrounded them, some interested and others weren't. Alec escorted Joy over to his artwork. Joy gazes over the artwork while Alec explains its meaning.