Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

I rush out as the wind slaps me on my face. Everything comes crashing down,

and I feel my heart pump even faster.

"How'd it go? Does he have it?" Zayan asks when I enter the car.

"Even if he does, he wouldn't admit it." I grind out as I hold back my tears.

He betrayed me.

My hands shake as I look at the photos on my phone. They're from the security footage, and in it is Ryan. Walking into my apartment empty-handed and walking out with a damn box.

Anger surges through me in ways I didn't know was possible. How dare he do this

to me?

What did you expect, Athena? That the man had fallen head over heels for you?

A little voice taunts me in the worst way possible.

The car suddenly feels too small, and I feel like I can't breathe.

"You don't have to be strong with me, Athena. You can cry if you want to. You know I'm here for you." Zayan says, but it does nothing to soothe my aching heart.

"Thank you for being here. Without your connection, I wouldn't have gotten that footage." I whisper with a small smile.

Zayan doesn't smile back. He just watches me, his eyes filled with concern. One hand is gripping the steering wheel while the other is clenched like he's holding himself back from doing something reckless.

"I'd do worse than get footage if you ask me to," he mutters. "He shouldn't have touched that box. That was your parents. That was your peace."

"Maybe he needed it. He is sick after all." I mumble.

to face me, "Alex is

these years, I guess he wants to prevent it before it gets too late. But for him to steal from me? That was so wrong." I shake my head as a bitter laugh

flood I've been holding in since I saw the video. Since I walked into that office. Since

squeeze my eyes

again, then quietly pulls the

to breathe," he

I'm running low

on the edge. When I was young, I had to work hard at school, so I didn't end up disappointing my family.

be the best so they'd

they died, and I found myself in the Kings family. The pressure became even worse because I not only had to strive, I had

a shredded heart

Isabelle was right.

it. So he could be cured. Alex doesn't ask for permission or see the need to just does things. I shouldn't

Maybe this was what

silence in the car is

by my unsteady breathing. My hands

tighter, staring

in the

belongs to s

reminder of who Alex really

pulls back onto the road without

pulls into the parking lot of a quiet outdoor café by

the soft breeze carrying the scent of salt and roasted coffee

car and

You need something

of vodka, but I have to pick Rayen

so coffee should be

order two coffees and

crash gently against the shore, people walking