Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

The drive back to the manor was quiet-Athena remained silent the entire way, wrapped in her own thoughts. Anna, too, said nothing.

When they arrived, Tyler gently helped Athena out of the car and walked her up to her room, his arm steady around her shoulders. She didn't protest or even utter a word.

He called for the doctor, who came to tend her wounds. Afterward, Tyler knelt down, soaking a towel in warm water, and began to carefully clean the dirt from her feet.

Athena was exhausted her whole body ached. When Tyler cradled her foot in his hand, the heat from his palm almost stung. She tried to pull away, but his grip was gentle yet firm, refusing to let go.

"Don't move," he murmured. "Let me clean you up. You need to rest—you can't take a shower right now."

Athena glanced at him and managed a soft, "Thank you."

Tyler paused, a little thrown by her sudden formality. He finished drying her feet carefully, then slipped away into the bathroom to clean himself up.

His own ankle was only mildly sprained, so he took a quick shower before returning to the bedroom.

happened that night. But when he heard her quiet, even breathing, he hesitated—and let the questions fade away as he drifted off to sleep

her high school days, of that boy who seemed to step out of a sunlit memory-laughing, running across the basketball court, surrounded by the cheers of their classmates. When she woke, she

that had shaken her so badly. Her emotions

living room, pacing restlessly. She'd made up her mind: today she would finally tell Tyler the truth, expose Athena for

stairs. Tyler had come down a while ago, but Athena was still nowhere

seen.

up, “Tyler, is Athena just sleeping

else was ready to go-why should they all

night and ended up hurting herself She won't be joining you for the camping trip today-I'm

had

just leave her here alone,

for Athena? Everyone said he was a player, that he

Athena had Kerwin to protect her. Now

to Athena, Tyler. She used to have a first