Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 104 ~ Did you tell anyone?

ATHENA

"22nd October." The words echo in my mind like a depressing song on a loop.

My baby was born on the 22nd of September.

Which means... Rayen isn't mine." Not biologically. Not by blood.

God, I feel like such a fool.

I shouldn't have come. I should've stayed away like I promised myself I would. But

I saw the ambulance that day, saw the way Alex held him, panic written all over his face. Something broke in me. Something deep and aching.

Maybe it was guilt. Maybe it was that stupid glimmer of hope I've been secretly nursing like a wound that never healed.

And that damn birthmark.

"We even have the same hair color!" Rayen's happy voice rings at the back of my head, making my eyes sting.

I wrap my arms tightly around myself.

I was so hopeful.

I'm so sure there was a reason I felt that pull to Rayen every time I saw him. The way he'd cling to me. The way I knew how to soothe his cries like I'd done it a hundred times before.

But it was just in my head. It's just a cruel coincidence.

Wishful thinking.

And Alex... the way he looked at me, the way he held me... it messed everything up.

Because no matter how hard I try, I can't stop loving the man who tore me apart. The jealousy in his eyes and how he looked like he wanted to rip Noah's head off reminds me of that night I danced with Zayan.

I don't know why he behaved like that.

"I can hear you thinking." Noah's deep voice pulls me back to his car.

"Am I that obvious?" I sigh, not having the strength in me to pretend.

"What were you doing with Alex, Athena?"

glowing over the city, making me

well put

"Athena?"

blinking back the tears burning

know," I admit softly. "Making a fool

respond right away. The silence stretches, heavy with the

still love him?" He asks, making me realize that he's misinterpreted my statement, but that sounds better than what

but my heart jumps as if calling me out

Noah says finally. "Not your thoughts. Not your pain. And definitely not

hit hard, like gentle truths dressed

at my hands, fingers twisted in my

Another pause.

hand reaches across the console, brushing lightly

seeing you like

until your next shift?" He

take a look at the time

"Two hours."

says at the same time, my

"I guess even your

in my hands. "That was so

cute." He laughs, making me

into a small café

corner of a quiet street, one of those hidden places with ivy climbing the

Our usual hiding spot.

here a lot when I was still in

for me.

step in, It smells like roasted coffee and warm pastries, and for the first

a table by the window, the morning sun casting golden light

glass display filled with croissants and

menus, but

"You want the usual?"

blink at him.

tugging into a lopsided smile.

sounds like a lame pick-up line."

a few jokes into our breakfast, Noah's laughter

asks softly, his gaze searching

"Yeah.

not what I