Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"I had to check on you guys. Did anything happen?" He asks, and my frown

deepens.

"What are you talking about?" | ask, confusion etched on my face.

He steps in and pulls my hand to the couch. I let him because | want to hear why he looks like he crunning.

"Listen to me, don't pick any calls in the meantime. Do you understand? I've brought you a new line you can use

for family and close friends for now." His thumb brushes my knuckles.

"Am | a wanted woman? What the hell is going on?" | ask.

"Well... you see-"

Before he can complete the sentence, Rayen rushes forward

"Daddy!" he grins, grabbing Alex's hand.

"Come! You have to see my new bedroom. | arranged my toys like you showed me!"

Alex chuckles, glancing atbefore giving in. "Alright, little man. Lead the way."

| watch them disappear down the hallway, my mind racing with a dozen questions Alex didn't get to answer.

A few minutes later, | call out from the kitchen,

"Rayen! Dinner's ready!"

Little footsteps patter down the hall, followed by heavier ones. Rayen appears first.

"Mummy, can Daddy eat with us?" he asks hopefully, looking over his shoulder as Alex walks in behind him.

| open my mouth to say something, but Alex beatsto it.

"I'm very hungry, actually," he says, meeting my gaze with a straight face. "I missed lunch."

| narrow my eyes at him.

That's very possible because even while we were married, he used to skip lunch and burry himself in work.

But isn't that too intimate?

| don't want to paint a false picture for my son only to cand disappoint him.

But one time, it can't hurt.

Right?

| throw Alex a nasty glare while setting the plates.

As Rayen climbs into his chair and starts babbling about school, I lean toward Alex and whisper,

"What's wrong with you?"

He leans in, too, his lips twitching. "You're not about to kick out a hungry man, are you?"

His tone is smug and low, teasing just enough to makewant to throw a spoon at his face.

| exhale sharply, muttering under my breath,

"Unbelievable."

Alex just smiles wider and pulls out the chair beside Rayen.

| swear, if he keeps this up, | might actually start throwing forks.

"I'm so happy today!" Rayen leans on his father's shoulder while his eyes slowly close.

We had supper sgood hours ago. | was hoping Amex would leave, but Rayen kept insisting they play games

for a while since it had been so long.

| didn't have the heart to take that excitement away from him, so | went upstairs to

get swork done, and now, hours later, he has finally started dozing.

"I can help put him to bed." | whisper, walking to take Rayen, but he holds onto his father even tighter.

"I want Daddy to do it."

Alex looks up at me, his expression softening in the dim light of the living room.

"Is that okay with you?" He asks me.

I'm taken aback. It's like someone clowned my ex-husband and replaced him with

a human being.

"Yes. Of course." | agree.

He's the father, | can't keep him from tucking in his son now, can I?

He rises gently, adjusting Rayen in his arms as if he's cradling something fragile.

"I'll be right back," he says, his voice a low whisper.

| nod, crossing my arms as | watch

them head upstairs. Rayen's smal hand clutches the fabric of his father's shirt his headresting peacefully against

Alex's shoulder. s

It shouldn't hurt to see them like this.

But it does.

Because this was supposed to be normal.

This was supposed to be our everyday life.

A normal family.

I remember a twhen this was all | could dream of.

But now, so much has changed.

| turn away before the sting behind my eyes wins, busying myself with collecting

the empty mugs and Rayen's scattered toys from the carpet.

A few minutes later, Alex returns. He doesn't speak at first. He just stands at the

foot of the stairs, watchingquietly.

"He's out cold," he finally says, breaking the silence.

I nod once. "He had a long day."

He doesn't leave.

Instead, he walks over and picks up one of Rayen's tiny socks left behind on the couch.

"You're doing a good job," he says after a beat. "With him. With everything."

His words hit deeper than | expected. | don't know if it's the sincerity in his voice

or the fact that it's coming from him, but it stirs something in me.

"I'm trying," | say quietly.

Alex moves closer, placing the sock on the table, and for a moment, our eyes lock.

The air shifts, thick with everything unsaid.

"You'll never have to do it alone" he promises. "I'll always have your back, Athena.

No matter what happens, callor, better yet, just chome."

He says as he places a gold card.

The one he uses to open the penthouse.

"I'm not keeping that card, Alex."

He sighs,

"I know you hate me, Athena. Words

can't express how sorry | am for hurting you spend the rest of my life making it up to you and Rayen. But that is

not why I'm giving you this." He says, makingangry. s

I hate it when he does this.

| pull back slightly, a protective wall already rising between us. "We're not doing this, Alex."

"I'm not asking for anything," he says quickly. "I'm not even asking that you forgive me. | just need you to keep

this card in your purse, in case you need a safe house and | cant, get to you on time.

tos

"Why would | need a safe house? You rushed here tellingto change my number and now, I'm hearing about a

safe house. What is going on?" | cross my

arms.

"I'm Alexander King, baby. Protection can't be comprised. As if that wasn't enough, you're also in possession of

the formula to the drug. That puts a target on your back."

"I only told Noah, how did you know?"

"You told-" He pauses as he runs a hand through his hair.

His eyes settle on me, his face so serious as he speaks,

"No one can know you have the formula. Even if my heart stops, don't use it on

me. Do you understand?"

If this was any other day, | would have fired shots about how I'd rather watch him die than save him.

But we both know, if his heart stopped beating, | would save him.

"Why?" | ask.

"You know why. I'm sure you were told. Isn't that why you've kept it hidden and

rejected lan's offer to help remark the drug?"

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