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?"

stare out the window, the sun glowing over the city, making me jealous of

well put it

"Athena?"

blinking back the tears burning at

admit softly. "Making a

away. The silence stretches, heavy with the weight

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

but my heart jumps as if calling me out

"Not your thoughts. Not your pain. And

are soft, but they hit hard, like gentle

look down at my hands, fingers

Another pause.

hand reaches across the

hate seeing you like this,"

do you have until

a look at the time

"Two hours."

at the same time,

vibrates with laughter, "I guess even your

in my hands. "That

think it's cute." He laughs, making me hit

into a small café

hidden places with ivy climbing the brick walls and soft jazz leaking

Our usual hiding spot.

used to come here a lot when I was still in school. Noah has really been

for me.

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

a table by the window, the morning sun casting golden

and glass display filled with

over menus, but Noah doesn't

"You want the usual?"

blink at him.

a lopsided smile. "I remember everything

like a lame

breakfast, Noah's

okay?" he asks softly, his gaze

"Yeah.

not what I