After Divorce, I Sold Anti-Ex Cards—He Bought Ten Chapter 15

After Divorce, I Sold Anti-Ex Cards—He Bought Ten Chapter 15

After opening the shop, business became much more stable than it ever was at the pop–up stand. 

My routine was set: shop for ingredients every morning, prep 

at noon, open in the afternoon, and work until ten at night. 

Staying busy left no time for overthinking. 

Julian didn’t show up again. 

But every single morning, a single flower appeared at my door. 

Not roses. 

The first day was a sunflower. 

The second was a daisy. 

The third was a carnation. 

Tucked under every stem was a note. 

They weren’t love letters. 

They were a list of apologies. 

The first read: 

[I’m sorry. The first time I visited your parents, I didn’t notice 

how hard it was for your dad to move around, yet I let them 

slave away over a full dinner.] 

The second: 

[I’m sorry. On your birthday, I shouldn’t have answered Abby’s call, and I definitely shouldn’t have left.] 

The third: 

[I’m sorry. When you told me my mother made you uncomfortable, I shouldn’t have told you that you were being 

sensitive.] 

The fourth: 

[I’m sorry. I never learned how to be a husband, but I let you 

carry the weight of being the ‘mature‘ one in our marriage.] 

Every time I read one, I tossed it into my drawer. 

Daisy asked, “Boss, why not just throw them in the trash?” 

I replied, “They’re evidence.” 

She blinked. “Evidence for what?” 

“To prove I wasn’t just being difficult back then.” 

Daisy went quiet. 

A moment later, she said, “Boss, you’ve really been through a lot.” 

I flipped a hot dog on the grill. “Less drama, please. We’re out of diet coke, go restock.” 

She ran off immediately. 

On the seventh day, the flowers stopped coming. 

I figured it was finally over. 

But that night, as I was closing up, someone unexpected was standing at my door. 

Abby. 

She was much thinner than before, stripped of that fragile, self–assured vibe she used to have. 

When she saw me, her first words weren’t an apology. 

“Sadie, you won.” 

I didn’t stop locking the door. “Was I ever competing with you?” 

She gave a hollow laugh, and tears spilled out. 

“Julian won’t see me anymore.” 

“Then go find him.” 

“He blocked me on everything.” 

“Congrats.” 

My indifference made her gasp for breath. 

“Do you think I deserve this?” 

I looked up at her. 

“You want the truth?” 

She didn’t answer. 

“Yes.” 

Abby’s tears fell faster. “But I’ve loved him for years.” 

“So?” 

“So how can you just let go like it’s nothing?” 

The question was both ridiculous and pathetic. 

I looked at her, and suddenly, the urge to jab at her was gone. 

“Abby, you aren’t struggling to let go of him.” 

“You’re struggling to let go of the fact that you didn’t win.” 

She froze. 

I continued, “You always thought he was settling for me.” 

“You believed that as soon as you came back, he’d realize you 

were his one true love.” 

“But he didn’t choose you.” 

“What you can’t stand isn’t unrequited love.” 

“It’s finally realizing you weren’t that special to begin with.” 

Her face went deathly pale. 

Under the streetlight, she looked like a piece of paper soaked 

in rain. 

After a long silence, she asked, “And you?” 

“What makes you so special?” 

I smiled. 

“I’m not.” 

“That’s why I’m done waiting.” 

Abby stood there for a long time before turning to leave. 

She walked a few steps, then looked back. 

“Sadie, if I hadn’t been in the picture, do you think you two 

would have stayed married?” 

I thought about it. 

“No.” 

She was stunned. 

I said calmly, “Because you were just an excuse.” 

“The real reason I left was that he never once stood by my 

side.” 

Abby didn’t say another word. 

After that day, she never showed up again. 

And Julian’s flowers never returned. 

My life finally felt like it was back on track. 

That was until a month later, while I was chopping fruit in the back, I heard a familiar voice outside. 

“I’ll take one Drop Your Ex Baggage Combo.” 

My knife froze. 

It wasn’t Julian. 

It was my dad. 

He stood at the counter with his cane, my mom right behind him. 

Daisy looked nervous, unsure if she should take the money. 

I rushed out. “Dad? What are you doing here?” 

He shot me a look and huffed, “Can’t I visit?” 

“No, it’s just, your leg isn’t fully healed yet.” 

“If I didn’t come now, how would I know my girl was being bullied like this?” 

My mom gazed at the sky, looking guilty. 

I understood instantly. 

“Mom, you told him?” 

She whispered, “He saw it on his feed.” 

My dad tapped his cane against the floor. 

“Where’s that guy?” 

I was torn between laughing and crying. “Dad, we’re divorced.” 

“Doesn’t mean I can’t chew him out.” 

He pointed at the menu. 

“Give me ten of these combo meals.” 

I stared at him, speechless.