When My Ex's Worst Enemy Became My Sanctuary novel Chapter 313

“What now? Beatty, I know you like Latham, so if you’re here to stir things up, just stop. I’m not interested in hearing any more of it.”

The more they tried to pull her away, the more Dorothea wanted to stay by Latham’s side.

Beatty just smiled. “No, I’m not here for that. What I want to tell you is actually really important. Honestly, after you hear it, you might end up loving Latham even more.”

Dorothea felt her throat tighten.

“Okay. Tell me.”

Beatty let out a long sigh. “I’ll admit it. I used to have a crush on Latham. I wanted to come back and see him again, and I was really curious about his first love—the one he never stopped thinking about.”

“You probably don’t know this, but when Latham was recovering, he had a really tough time. From my professional perspective, our psych evaluator said he was dealing with severe depression.”

Dorothea’s heart clenched hard.

Depression?

She had never in her life connected that word to Latham.

“Yeah. Depression. He had to take medicine every day just to keep his negative thoughts under control. He kept his room completely dark, curtains drawn so not a bit of sunlight got in. He barely talked to anyone. Every day, he’d just drag himself through boring physical therapy, then come home to a silent, empty house where nobody answered him. He just… existed, day after day.”

“How do I know all this? One day he left something in the therapy room, so I went to drop it off. When he opened the door, I’ll never forget his eyes. There was just this emptiness… so dark, like moss in a shadowy corner, with no life in it at all.”

“I told him that day, if he kept up that attitude, it was going to be impossible to recover. Our bodies need hope, even just a little, to heal. I said, if you can’t force yourself to be positive, maybe think about the most important person in your life. Hold them in your heart. Say their name every day, like they’re right there with you. Maybe it’ll help.”

Dorothea already knew what was coming next.

“So, was the name he said… mine?”

Beatty nodded softly. “Yeah. Sometimes he’d stand by the window, muttering to himself, but he wouldn’t let us get close, so I could never really hear. But once, when he fell asleep in the rehab room, I heard him call your name in his sleep.”

“After I figured it out, he started telling me a little more about you. Just small things. He said you were beautiful, and when you were scared, you looked like a startled bunny. He said your name was lovely, so I remembered it.”

“When I first came back, I’ll admit, I felt this weird jealousy and even a little resentment when I met you. But it went away fast, because you really are great, and you two just fit together. Last time I tried to ask him about it, I realized he’d never told you any of this. So, before I get married, I wanted to give you this gift. I hope it means something to you.”

By then, Dorothea could barely speak through her tears.

“Thank you.”

Thank you for telling me all of this.

She felt guilty for ever doubting him.

“I’m sorry, I have to go. There’s somewhere I need to be.”

Beatty nodded. “That’s all I wanted to say. I wish you happiness.”

Dorothea smiled softly. “I wish you the same.”

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