Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 39 ~ A riding prince

ATHENA

"I'll be on the other side as I wait for the final parade. It was a pleasure to meet you miss....."

"Dawson." I respond. Unsure if it's a good idea from how Alex is staring daggers at Arnold who looks unbothered.

"Thank you for inviting me over, Alex." The woman speaks right after the creep

walks away.

"You're welcome." He responds in a tone ive never heard him use on me.

My fingers curl into fists in my lap, nails pressing into my palms as the scent of vanilla wraps around me like an unwelcome embrace.

She stops beside Alex, a soft, knowing smile playing on her lips, and I watch their silent exchange.

"Athena." She finally acknowledges with a smile so plastic, a Barbie doll has nothing on her.

"Hello." I respond, keeping my voice neutral in case I'm wrong about her.

She knows my name while I don't, and it unsettles me.

"I heard what happened to you," she says, her voice full of concern, and I almost raise my brow. "I'm sorry about that."

I force a polite smile, even as her words dig under my skin.

"No need to be. I'm now perfectly fine, thanks to my caring husband." I offer her a smile of my own and her eye twitches.

"That's wonderful. Alex is a caring man, indeed." she continues, her brown eyes scanning my face as if expecting me to cower.

Not happening, sister.

"My name is Leah."

Leah.

The name sits heavy in my chest.

I nod stiffly. "Nice to meet you... again."

She lets out a quiet laugh, the sound delicate, reserved, and poised. Then, without hesitation, she takes the seat on Alex's other side, leaning in like it's second nature.

I watch as her hand skim the fabric of his suit sleeve, as if she has every right to touch him. She laughs at nothing he's said, but he tolerates her, which tells me all I need to know.

She's the other woman.

Alex doesn't move away.

He doesn't acknowledge her touch.

But he doesn't push her aside either.

my chest

the edge of my seat, pushing

bathroom," I say, my

wait for

away, each step careful,

But inside?

Inside, I am unraveling.

I step away, my chest tightens as though a band is wrapped around my ribs, squeezing tighter with each

scent of vanilla still lingers in my nose, and I blink rapidly to keep the burn behind my eyes at

that I have blanks in my head, so I don't

that my marriage is not only

why did

the corner, lost in my thoughts, I crash

shoot out to catch me before

love," a deep voice rumbles, warm and smooth like melted chocolate. He has a british accent, which is

someone or trying to

up at him,

handsome, but not the hard, polished, dangerous kind like Alex.

eyes sparkle with amusement, framed by thick lashes, and his black hair is neatly trimmed, giving him a clean look that somehow makes

pause, black riding boots, slim white riding pants that tuck perfectly into them,

collar, and tucked neatly, giving him a

It's definitely a prince.

quirked, his hands still firm around my

stammer, feeling my cheeks burn as

need to be sorry. Though I must say, if all women here bump into me like that, I might start

laugh despite myself, rolling my

you always flirt with women you almost knocked

pretty ones," he says, flashing me a

pick up line is

feel he knows that,

to him. Normally, such attitude would repel me, but this one seems bearable, or maybe I'm just desperate for conversation. So

shake my head, my lips

"That's pretty lame."

I was running from. "So?

casual. "Just needed some fresh air.

with mischief. "Or maybe a certain someone's getting under

off guard again. "Do you always guess people's

"Only when I'm

a laugh, shaking my head, but before I can respond, he glances down at

look like you belong in a place like this," he says casually, shoving his hands into his riding gloves, but there's no judgment in his tone - only curiosity. "Trust me, I don't," I respond

on that." He winks, and I

his laugh

Who is this man?

tell me, do

confused.