Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 106 ~ Can you help me?

ATHENA

"Dr. Dawson!" Rayen wriggles out of Alex's arms the moment he spots me and dashes toward me with a wide grin.

It took a long time to get him to stop calling me mummy and just call me Dr. Dawson, but after a few explanations he gave in.

I can't lie. Seeing him hurts me, but he's just an innocent boy who finds my presence warming.

How can I push him away?

I barely have time to brace myself before he flings his arms around my waist, nearly knocking the wind out of me.

"Rayen," I breathe, crouching to hug him back tightly. "You're supposed to be in school."

He pulls back just enough to pout. "I told Daddy I wouldn't stop crying until he brought me to see you."

I glance up at Alex, who's now stopped a few feet away, hands in his pockets, watching quietly with unreadable eyes.

"He's very persistent," Alex says.

I rise slowly, my heart still a chaotic mess after everything lan just told me.

"Hey," Alex says softly once Rayen skips off toward the nurses' desk. "You okay?"

I nod, too quickly. "Yeah. Fine. Just got out of a meeting with lan."

He tilts his head, studying me. "You sure you're fine?"

"I said I'm fine,” I snap more harshly than I intend. My walls are back up, brick by brick.

His brows knit together. "Athena-"

"You should go," I cut him off before I let the tremble in my voice betray me." I've got rounds."

"Dr. Dawson, do you hate me?" A sad little voice makes me halt my steps as I look around the busy hospital and walk back towards him.

"No sweetie. I'd never hate you. It's just that this place is full of gems. A baby like you shouldn't be here." I try to explain gently, but the little man gives me a frown.

"I'm not a baby."

tiny hands in mine, "How about we meet

party next week. Can you help me

come but

mad at me, and I don't want her to be angry. Can you help

heart clenches, caught between the tenderness in Rayen's eyes and the chaos of everything spinning around my

that

looks down, his small

cheek, forcing

doing to me what he wants. To break my heart and trap

This isn't my place.

isn't my child. And

promise anything, but

I can he

there," I

brushing a curl off

forehead. "How about that

up

Daddy, can you

his throat behind us, clearly

"Sure buddy. I can."

rise slowly

will be furious when she

between

know," I reply just as quietly. "I'll find a way to quickly

gaze drops, lingering on Rayen with something raw in his eyes and

of

"Good luck with that."

in his tone

out so I

rushes to hold the door open

"Hi Ryan."

he can go back home since Alex says he still

is shocking since it looks like he only brought Rayen to see me right after our awkward encounter, which

begin, my throat suddenly

understand." He pulls his keys out before finding my