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."

before pulling his tiny hands in mine, "How about we meet somewhere else when I'm not

light up, "I'm having a birthday party next week. Can you help me plan

can come

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

caught between the tenderness in Rayen's eyes and

might not like that very much, Rayen. Why not do it with Aunt

small fingers twisting in

my cheek, forcing a breath through

to me what he wants. To break my

This isn't my place.

isn't my child.

promise

I can he

there,"

a curl off

forehead. "How about that

face lites up

Daddy, can you

his throat behind us, clearly

"Sure buddy. I can."

slowly

she finds out,"

something between amusement and

quietly.

lingering on Rayen with something raw

of his

"Good luck with that."

at the sarcasm in his

out so I can start my

and rushes to hold the door open with a smile on

"Hi Ryan."

Rayan drives off so he can go back

only brought Rayen to see me right after our awkward

I begin, my throat

I understand." He pulls his keys out before finding my gaze once more and locking me