Dear ex-Wife please be mine again

Chapter 87

Alexander POVE

I stood in the doorway of the bathroom, watching as Emma sat in the tub, her small hands gripping the edges, eyes distant. Ethan stood beside me, arms folded, refusing to get in. Both of them looked so drained, their usual spark dulled by the weight of worry. I sighed, stepping in and kneeling beside the tub.

“Emma” I said softly, dipping my hand into the warm water and gently splashing it over her arms. “Sweetheart, I know this is hard, but you need to bathe. You’ll feel a little better, I proinist

She shook her head slowly, barely acknowledging me. Ethan led beside me. “I don’t want to do anything until Mom5 comes back,” he muttered, his voice shaking with suppressed team.

I swallowed hard. my heart aching for them. They didn’t deserve this, to be scared and hurting like this. “Hey, look at me,” I said, turning to Ethan. Tm doing everything I can to find her, okay? But I need you two to stay strong, for her and for me. She wouldn’t want to see you like this.”

“But you haven’t found her yet, Ethan whispered, his voice breaking “What if you can’t? What if…?

“No.” I grabbed his shoulders gently, turning him to face me. His tear–filled eyes searched mine, pleading for an answer, for reassurance I wasn’t sure I could give. But I had to “I will find her, I won’t stop. Not until she’s back with us, safe. I swear it.”

Ethan blinked, his lips trembling, and I pulled him into a hug his small body pressed against mine. “It’s going to be okay.” 1 whispered into his hair, holding him tightly, feeling his tears soak into my shirt. I promise you, buddy.”

After getting them dressed. I tried to make breakfast, but neither of them touched their food. Emma poked at her cereal, staring at it as if the effort to even lift her spoon was too much. Ethan had pushed his plate aside entirely.

“Please, guys, you need to eat something. I pleaded, kneeling beside Emma. “You can’t keep going like this. Your mom would be so upset if she saw you like this.”

Then bring her back, Emma whispered, her voice barely audible. Her eyes met mine, full of sorrow, and my chest tightened painfully. I wished more than anything I could snap my fingers and make everything right. But I couldn’t.

I ran a hand through my hair, feeling the exhaustion creeping in Between taking care of them and trying to get leads on Christiana’s whereabouts, I hadn’t slept. Every call to the authorities, every attempt to find some way to communicate with the kidnappers had hit a dead end. It felt like I was running in circles, trapped, helpless.

The kids were still too shaken to go to school. I had called earlier, explaining the situation to the headmistress, trying to hold myself together as I spoke.

I sat down at the table, watching Emma and Ethan with a tight chest. They didn’t deserve this..none of us did. But I was their father. I had to be strong, even if inside I felt like I was slowly unraveling.

“You know what?” I forced a smile, trying to lighten the mood. “How about we do something fun today? A movie? Or maybe we can build a fort in the living room?”

Ethan shrugged, not looking at me, and Emma just shook her head. I sighed, standing up and pacing the kitchen, rubbing. my face in frustration. Nothing I did seemned to reach them, and it was killing me.

I felt the anger rise in me, but

through this, I muttered to myself,

1/3

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18:15 Fri, Oct 18

Chapter 87

669

The door to my

I barely had time to glance up before my mother’s sharp heels clicked across the floor. Her entrance, as always, was loud, intentional. “Alex,” she hirked, not

“Why didn’t you

disapproval hanging in the air. “Because, Mother,” I said, keeping my voice flat as 1 turned to face her, “this has nothing to do

sitting on the couch, looking small and fragile. They were quiet, withdrawn, and it wasn’t hard to see how deeply this was affecting them. They hadn’t eaten. much, and neither of them had spoken more than a few words since the

sitting here, half–starved, scared out of their minds, and their so–called mother is missing. I think it has everything to do with me. She crossed her arms, standing tall and

but I forced myself to stay calm. “I didn’t want to burden you

But my grandchildren her gaze flicked back to the

Ethan and Emma. Her usual hard edges softened just slightly as she reached out to them, arms open. “Come here,” she said firmly, her voice still devoid

more…..human.

into her grandmother’s arms, and Ethan followed, burying his face in her shoulder. It

hand brushing through Emma’s hair. “You’ll be alright. You’re with me now.” She wasn’t kind, not in the way

frustration building inside me. She wasn’t here for Christiana. She’d never care about her. This was

has she been gone?” she asked, not looking

afternoon,” I replied, trying to keep the irritation out of my voice. “I’ve been looking everywhere, I’ve

enough, Alex. You need to be more aggressive. You know how

words boiling under my skin. “I’m doing everything I can,” I

finally turned to face me, her eyes narrowing. “I think you’re being too soft.

exasperated. “I’m not holding back. I’m searching everywhere, I’ve got

time.”

her. “If you don’t bring their mother back soon, they’ll be even more

surprising to see her talk like this, when before she wanted to take the