Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

The cab driver clearly didn't buy her story. As Athena prepared to get out, he kept on with his concerned advice.

"Listen, sweetheart, your boyfriend seems like a good guy. That car following us? Bet it's his, right? Even after a fight, he's worried about you riding home alone."

Athena glanced down the street and, sure enough, spotted Tyler's car parked a short distance away.

But she didn't go to him. Right now, her mind was consumed by a need to uncover the truth from all those years ago.

Back in her apartment, Athena immediately pulled out her phone, searching online for information about that actor-Adam. But all she could find was his name; any details about his family were vague at best.

With nowhere else to turn, she messaged a few old contacts from the tabloid circuit, hoping someone might have dug up more about Adam's background.

Despite all her years in showbiz, Athena had never really built up much of a network. She disliked socializing, and now, faced with this investigation, she found herself at a loss.

She sat on her couch, wired some money to those reporters, but the information that came back was frustratingly sparse. No one seemed to know how to reach Adam's mother or his younger brother.

Athena's anxiety grew. She finally had a few leads, but now she was stuck, unsure how to move forward.

She crossed to the window and peered out. Tyler's car was still parked below.

If it were Tyler, with his connections, he'd probably have the answer in no time.

She drew a deep breath, thoughts spinning, but in the end, her decision was made. She grabbed her keys and headed out.

Downstairs, she stopped in front of Tyler's car. He was in the driver's seat, lost in thought, but when he saw her, surprise flashed across his face.

Athena tapped on the window. Tyler rolled it down right away. "Tyler."

He opened his mouth, clearly expecting her to tell him to leave.

But Athena's gaze lingered on his face. She noticed a tiny mole had reappeared

at the tip of his nose-exactly where it used to be.

For some reason, her heart ached at the sight.

She'd barely noticed during their talk earlier that he'd gone and had the mole put back. Typical Tyler-always the player pretending to have turned

Lover

a new leaf Why bother with this charade?

s

Her emotions tangled, but she couldn't help but ask, "So, your mole is back again?"

Tyler stiffened, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.

"It's my face, isn't it? I can do what I want with it! If I want to put it back, I will. What's it got to do with you? What, you came down here to kid kick me out? Newsflash, you don't own this street-I can park wherever I want." s

He was halfway through his tirade when Athena suddenly leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

It was as fleeting as a spring shower, but Tyler's pupils shrank as if struck by lightning. Every sharp word died in his throat.

A moment later, Athena walked around and slid into the passenger seat.

"You-"

"You-"

He stammered twice, lips trembling, utterly lost for words.

Athena buckled her seatbelt, leaned back, and said, "Let's not stay here. Take me home with you."

Tyler drove back in a daze,

half-convinced he was dreaming More than once he glanced over at the passenger seat, wondering if he was hallucinating from missing her so much. s

When they finally pulled up outside his house, he gripped the steering wheel in silence, making no move to get out.

Athena turned to him. "What kind of soup do you want tomorrow? I've learned a few new recipes lately."

That simple question hooked Tyler so completely, he forgot to breathe.

He didn't dare ask why Athena had suddenly changed her mind, or why she was

being kind again. He just followed her inside, his heart pounding.

In the bedroom, his hands moved with practiced ease, undressing her.

Athena didn't resist.

Tyler lost himself in her, clutching her as if afraid she'd vanish, kissing her over and over. He couldn't bear to let her go-not even as dawn broke through the window.

Chapter 2197

Athena was truly exhausted. More than once, she nearly drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake by what they were doing.

She gazed at Tyler, who was sprawled over her, his cheeks flushed with color and sweat streaming down his brow.

For all his faults, Tyler certainly kept himself in good shape.

She cupped his face in her hands, suddenly realizing she really did prefer him with that little mole. If it disappeared, she doubted she'd even want to speak to him.

But as Tyler looked at her, his eyes turned red and watery.

Damn it.

She couldn't deny it she did love that mole.

Thank God he'd had it put back.

He pulled her close, pressing his lips to hers with a desperate hunger, as if he wanted to merge her into himself completely.

Athena ended up sleeping through most of the day. She'd planned to get up early and make some soup, but after the way Tyler had kept her up half the night, she simply didn't have the strength to drag herself out of bed.

By the time she finally woke, the last rays of sunset were painting the windows gold.

She rolled over and heard him on the phone.

"Yeah, that's right. I had the mole restored. Mind your own business. So what if it's embarrassing? It's my life, not yours. And don't push me—I'm not in the mood."

Back when Tyler had the mole removed, everyone had asked him about it. He'd just shrugged and said it was his body, his choice.

But it wasn't long before he went and had the mole put back, and of course, people got curious-why the change of heart?

Tyler refused to say a word about it, except to snap at Bert, who knew the truth.

If Bert hadn't egged him on, Tyler wouldn't have broken up with Athena so soon after they started seeing each other.

At least Bert had the sense to try to talk some sense into him.

"Look, man, when you landed in the hospital after your breakup, she didn't even visit you. And now she suddenly comes back? Doesn't that seem fishy? I'm not against you two getting back together, but if she's just going to hurt you again, maybe it's time to move on. You've never really dated before, maybe that's why you're so stuck. Why don't we just go out and clear your head for a bit?"

Bert was a bit of a jerk, sure, but he had Tyler's back.

In the past, neither of them had exactly been upstanding citizens.

knew Athena's attitude was odd. But did it matter? Whatever she

finally revealed her real reason for coming back, Tyler nearly

the table. Even through her oversized T-shirt he could see the faint marks

was calm,

me. Kerwin drowned trying to save his brother. When Adam was drunk, he let slip that five million suddenly appeared in his mother's account back then. I want to know if someone paid for

fork, saying nothing. Kerwin.

was she still obsessing over someone who

he knew if he did, she

down at his glass of milk, misery churning in

help you investigate everything that happened with Kerwin. But

"What terms?"

tracing the rim of his glass with his finger.

seemed to weigh his

minute ticked by before

"Marry me."

thinking she must have misheard. Everyone knew Tyler didn't believe in

"What?"

instinctively, her disbelief

suit jacket from the back of the chair, and walked straight

the dining table, unmoving. For once, she didn't want to think about

house, he headed

opened Bert's front door, he was greeted by clothes strewn

mess aside

lost in a passionate

"Tyler?"

she hadn't expected anyone to walk

a cigarette, ignoring

rubbed his forehead with a sigh and gently coaxed

clothes, head

towel, Bert strode over and slumped

give me a heads-up before you drop by next time?" Tyler sat there, cigarette dangling from his fingers, looking utterly defeated. Bert frowned, puzzled. Weren't he and Athena

on the phone this morning? I'll say it— honestly, you look better with that mole. The women always liked

changed her attitude because she wants to find out

took a swig, and shrugged. "What's the point of digging into some guy's death after all these years? Even if she gets answers, nothing will change. The dead don't come back, That's why I don't get women sometimes. If a guy loses his true love, he'll have a new

before you know it."

to s

seemed to bounce back fast, playing the field without

of them

a real difference between men

about his own family. Years ago, his

save her or

to stay

his

the sight of the toddler so that precious ruit of

was no exception. He just

women insisted on

was being foolish too. If she just

Instead, she insisted on digging into

snatched it away and tossed it

Chapter 2199

silent, and Bert couldn't be bothered to ask

killing time playing video games,

wasn't until seven in the evening that his phone finally rang. Athena was calling. "The

but at those words,

on the couch, raised

going? The food delivery's almost here, man. I

Athena made soup," Tyler

picking up a hint of pride in Tyler's

within half an hour, was back

he opened the door, the

apron tied around her

that, Tyler felt his eyes sting. He realized then how little he truly

be selfish for a few more years-keep her by his side for just a while longer.

He'd walk away with nothing, making sure

didn't even love him. If something happened to him, it probably

as he stepped into the kitchen. "What kind of soup is it? Smells amazing," he asked,

come home, ladled some soup into

drinking

Bert

said. Then, after a beat, added,

two

didn't want to say anything to shatter the calm. He quietly

marry me? You know I'm only doing this

know," he replied

eye. "Alright then. If we're getting married ters get a prenup Let's add up what I've saved and what you've saved over the years-keep

from Tyler if they divorced. She just didn't want him to worry about it she figured a prenup would put his mind

down at his bowl, silent and

assumed his quiet meant he

up and asked, "If I died tomorrow,

like that was a miracle. And with the way Tyler drank and stayed up late he

s

CUMS

was squandering a life others would give anything

back, yet he didn't seem

waited for Athena's answer, but when he saw her frown and purse her lips, he realized just how hard this question was for

ache settled in his chest, and he fell silent,

night, he expected Athena would want to sleep in a separate room. But after his shower, he walked into his bedroom and saw

flash of inspiration struck

for a while, then seemed to realize she'd never laughed so freely in front

Tyler kept thinking about her

out for drinks. Tyler ignored them. All he could think about was that Athena had agreed to marry him-did that mean they could get

rolled over, facing

on the idea of marriage—especially since the groom was Tyler, something she'd

to marry me, why don't

couldn't wait

hadn't expected him to be so eager. For a moment, she

interest in finding out

dawn broke, he was up, pulling on a new suit. He

"Getting married today."

was obvious-Bert called him

right? You're actually doing it? Athena

march headlong into disaster-worse, he was

lan and the others. Silence

the most dramatic. He sent five

a few minutes, then finally offered up some congratulations. Tyler, feeling more than satisfied, picked Athena up and drove

snapped a picture of their marriage certificate, posted it on Facebook, and sent it to his group chats. Immediately, the

to get married? He tagged several people just to

"The bride's really unlucky."

good a mood to fight back. He decided to treat everyone in Greenfield to

friends from their circle. Ian came with Maja, having left their

Dylan was there too. He'd come to visit Maja and had brought along a sweet-looking girl who barely looked up from her food, except to bear shyly

Chapter 2201

overwhelmed with emotion, but for a

realized Carol had actually

an unspoken

dinner finally wound down, Carol reached