Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"Is this why you broughthere?" | turn to Luca, who has been watching the whole scene quietly.

"es."

| hated him when he threatened to take my chance of my being with my son.

| hated how he looked like he was barely holding back the feeling of murdering

me.

But now | understand.

| would have done the sfor my friend. Hell, Isabelle has been my best friend for only a few months, and she

has already been to hell and back for me. | can imagine what that did to Luca after being at a threat of losing his

friend and having his legacy ruined at once.

"I bet you're having a blast knowing I've fucked up." I laugh in defeat.

"Not exactly."

| find that hard to believe. Luca thrives on being right.

"Why not?"

"Because my best friend is barely holding on. There is nothing blast about that." Right.

Guilt.

Guilt is an ugly feeling that slowly eats you up until you're nothing but a shell. You start giving yourself excuses

hoping they will save you but even those are never enough.

Alex may have hurtin the past but he also saved me. Spent months trying to make up for his mistakes and

yet | took all that and spit it in his face as | wished he was dead.

| feel my heart clench painfully in fear of that actually coming to pass.

| was angry and in truth even if he was the one to have taken the drug, | would never want him dead.

Fear gripseven harder as the realization sinks in my bones that he has no formula or drug to help him.

"It's not your fault." Luca's voice pullsback and | shake my head.

"It is. Maybe | even triggered it. Everything is falling apart. Everyone hates me, Luca. The hospital looks at me

differently. I hid the one thing they have been desperate about. | bet they believe | accused Alex because I'm

obsessed with him and want his attention. | even messed up surgery today!" Tears roll down my face as my

heart clenches painfully.

Everything I've been holding on to comes crashing down and my shoulders shake with sobs not caring about the

fact that I'm not alone.

| should run to the hospital where Alex is but what will | do when I'm there?

The formula is missing so unless they find a heart donor in less than a week, he.....

Oh God!

This is my fault.

"Athena. Look at me." Luca commands but | shake my head as my heart keeps clenching painfully. "Look at me."

I look up, barely seeing him since my tears are bluring him.

"Alex loves you. Hell, he will killfor what I did to you once his awake. There is no way he would blyou for

any of what happened. You're a victim and | too know that. | had to use force because that was the only way you

would cwithand listen to Zayan's confession.

| could have drugged you but that would be crossing a line. | know everything is falling apart. But | guess that's

so it can all align. The father of your son needs you to believe in yourself now more than ever. That's the only

way you'll have a head clear enough to save him."

"Do you regret threateningwith Rayen?"

He shakes his head.

"No. | was willing to do whatever it took to get you here."

I nod.

A painful groaning sound reaches our ears making us both turn to face Zayan who

had passed out and is just waking up.

Luca pulls himself from the wall, "Do you wantto shoot him?”

What?

"No! Luca! No!"

He cocks his head to the side, "Even after what he did? You still want him to live?"

I sigh, feeling defeated as everything hitsat once makingcollapse on the

concrete floor not minding the stabs from the tiny stones.

"He made a mistake, mistakes. But so did Alex, so did you and so did I. He needs to live to make up to that poor

girl he raped who has probably been traumatized and

uffering

from God knows what all because

he wouldn't own up to his mistake.

I'll lead by example by owning up to mine." s

Luca looks at me, his face softening and his earlier anger gone. It seems he thought | would still defend

Zayan Was that why he was angry

or was it something else?

belongs to s

"No can do. No one can know the source was you. | can't have more trouble in my

hands as well as Ariana hating you, not when Alex is fighting for his life."

Guilt gripslike a painful stab to the chest.

"lan will never forgive me."

"You can worry about that later, you need to find the formula. It's the only way to save Alex, but he was against

it and it will be impossible to get through his father. I'm at a fucking dead end here." s

| laugh.

"What's funny?"

| release a sigh.

"This whole situation is. Two hours ago | was sure you wanteddead and |

hated you for it. But now | understand why."

"I was angry, but I didn't want you dead. But let's do this blshit once we know

we can save him."

Silence swallows us,

"How bad is he?"

"Seeing Zayan's state would tell you how urgently | needed him to talk."

I nod.

"Do you know who has the formula?"

Luca nods.

"lan's adopted shitty brother must have it."

“Let's go and get it then.” | respond standing up.

"No. I'll go get it, Ryan will take you to the hospital and I'll meet you there." Luca

says pulling out his phone.

"What? No! | won't stay back Luca. | will save Alex. | need to save him, please." | plead.

"You can-"

"I need to be there when you get the formula. That son of a bitch has been

targetingfrom the word go. | want to return the favour."

Something that seems like a proud smile tugs on Luca's lips.

"What about Zayan?" | ask, hoping he doesn't pull out his gun and aim for his forehead.

He has disappointed me. But | understand him though what he did can't be justified, or forgiven. | think he's a

good person deep down.

"I'll have him thrown into prison." He eyes me, something flashing so fast | don't

get a chance to catch it. "But that will be after he visits the victim."

My heart warms with gratitude as | hug Luca.

He pushesback by my forehead like his little annoying sister but | still smile

with tears as | say,

"Thank you."

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