Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

"Where did Daddy go?" Rayen asks as Luca drives us back home.

I don't know what to say or how to answer that question. Yesterday passed in a blur.

I can barely remember what happened after Alex left or how I hugged Rose

goodbye with promises of catching up.

I've been holding onto my phone like it's my lifeline. Hoping and praying Giana is alright.

She saved me. Gave me an education and made my life so easy.

She had another heart attack and could die.

I have the formula. Maybe I should stop hiding it and use it to save her and have Alex take a dose to prevent this from ever happening to him.

"He had something to do, sweetie. You'll see him soon." I finally find the strength

to answer my son, who nods and focuses on his game.

Luca and I share a look through the rearview mirror.

"You can't keep it hidden from him forever." He says.

I know he's right, but I don't admit it.

I'll tell him when I hear how she's doing.

"Do you think the formula can help?" I blurt out the question.

Well, if Alex knows, then Luca totally knows about it.

"Are you talking to me?" He asks, giving me a straight face.

"Forget it!" I mutter. Not having the strength to fight him today.

"No you can't. It was last used seven years ago. Plus, Giana is old. You'll need to do more tests on its effectiveness, and that could take another seven years. I also suggest you don't repeat that question outside."

I let out a tired sigh and look out the window. Trees blur past. Sunlight flickers through the leaves, painting golden patches across my lap, but it doesn't calm me. My fingers keep twitching, my phone burning a hole in my palm. Still no updates. "Some new people just landed," Luca adds suddenly as he hands me his tablet. "Figured you should see this."

The screen shows a photo taken outside Quinn's Medical Center.

A tall man who looks a hell lot like Alex's dad and a woman with blond hair, is stepping out of a sleek black car.

The woman's face is mostly covered by oversized sunglasses. The man looks cold and makes my backbone shiver.

I frown. "Who are they?"

Luca doesn't answer immediately.

"That's Noah and Sloane's parents." Luca finally answers, and I gasp.

I slide next, and in the next picture, the woman has pulled off her glasses.

"She looks so identical to Ariana. Are they sisters?" I ask.

funny that I'm hearing about these two for the first time. I assumed his parents were late since neither of them spoke about them.

that's

up now? Their daughter has been

and slight shake

crazy but John is one

hiss with a glare as I turn to look at Rayen,

"That kid will be cursing soon, too.

"Why is John sick?"

you tell? He married a woman who looks exactly

meet his gaze through the rearview, and he shakes head

brothers fell off. Giana handing

is that he even made her study law and dyed her hair blond too. She's a brunette originally. But I hear she's now a cold ass

mother

to have a hidden agenda I try to convince

I agree with Luca.

That's pretty sick.

future, I suggest you be careful and don't let them near Rayen. You have

a bullet for me, I'm sure we will start on a very lovely note." The sarcasm

focuses back on the road. His silence feels more

pull into Isabelle's driveway twenty

of the

tension sitting

opens before we

barefoot, wearing one of her oversized tees and leggings, a

eyes immediately flick past me straight to Luca and her entire body jolts. She nearly drops the

say, frowning at

cheeks flush a bright pink. She

hi- ahh.." She clears

smile on his face but his eyes

"Hi, Isabelle."

nearly chokes on

runs past us and jumps into her

I missed you!" He

you even

says shifting

I'll fit you in later. Just... can you please watch him

I know it's

course. Go. I've

okay? Be good. I love

"I love you too!"

then nod and follow Luca

shake what I

Isabelle's reaction was... weird.

I glance at Luca.

His face is unreadable.

Nope.

Not going there.

circus. Not

car rolls to a slow

entrance.

Security is tight.

are stationed at the front doors, their eyes