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 jealous of

and well put it

"Athena?"

burning at the corners of

don't know," I admit softly. "Making a fool

stretches,

me realize that he's misinterpreted my statement, but that sounds

confidence, but my heart jumps as if calling me out on

him anything, Athena," Noah says finally. "Not your thoughts. Not your pain.

they hit hard, like gentle truths dressed

my hands, fingers twisted in my

Another pause.

his hand reaches across the console, brushing lightly over

hate seeing you like this,"

long do you have until your next shift?"

my phone to take a look at

"Two hours."

I drop you off at the hospital.” He says at the same

vibrates with laughter, "I guess even

face in my hands.

cute." He laughs, making me

a small

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

Our usual hiding spot.

to come here a lot when I was

for me.

coffee and warm pastries, and for the first time today, something inside

the window, the morning sun casting

glass display filled

menus, but Noah doesn't even

"You want the usual?"

at him. "You remember my

his lips tugging into a lopsided smile. "I

a lame

jokes into our breakfast, Noah's laughter fades, and for a

you're okay?" he asks softly,

"Yeah. I'm

not what