Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

ATHENA

I stare down at the document again, still in disbelief. "This whole island?"

Alex just shrugs, like it's no big deal.

"Yes baby, all of it."

"Alex, this is insane. This is like... billionaire-movie-level romance."

"You married me, baby," he says with a wink. "I don't do average."

I shake my head, half-laughing, half-speechless. The idea that this breathtaking paradise is mine now feels surreal.

Other girls would be like no this is too much, but not me. I'll take it as an apology for the pain he put me through for three years. So yes, I'm taking the island. Thank you very much.

Twenty minutes later, I'm slipping into a deep green bikini I found tucked neatly into one of the villa's drawers, brand new and clearly pre-planned by my over- prepared husband.

It hugs my curves perfectly, the top held up by thin gold straps and the bottoms high-cut enough to make walking in front of him dangerous.

Alex stands near the open glass doors, already shirtless, again. He's wearing black swim trunks that hang low on his hips. He turns when he hears me approach and freezes.

His eyes trail down my body slowly, then rise again to meet my gaze with an expression so intense it sends heat flooding through me.

"You sure you want to go outside?" he rasps, stepping forward. "Because if I take one more look at you, I might forget what sunlight feels like and take you right back to that bed."

I smile, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward the beach. "Then don't look, just run."

We dash barefoot across the wooden deck, my laugh echoing into the salty breeze as the sand greets our feet like warm silk.

The beach stretches wide and empty with no other person in sight.

"Why didn't we go to a public beach like normal people?" I ask, trying to catch my breath from all the running.

"Unless you want me to go on a murder spree." He says nonchalantly.

"Why would you murder people?"

"If any man saw you like this, Athena. I'd blind them. If they touched you," He shakes his head, "Let's just think of this private island as you saving humanity from extinction. Especially the male population."

"Now I'm very sure that you're crazy." I laugh even though the back of my head knows he would do exactly just that.

The ocean sparkles in every shade of blue, the waves rolling in gentle and rhythmic as the sun kisses our skin.

"I bet you can't catch me," I tease, bolting into the surf.

"Oh, you're really trying me today," Alex growls behind me.

shriek when he catches up, his arms wrapping tight around my waist as he lifts me off the ground, spinning us both into the shallow water. I'm laughing so hard I can barely

down!" I gasp between

This is what happens when you run from your man," he grins, then drops me gently into the

the last few weeks washing away with every wave. At some point, he pulls me under for a kiss, our mouths meeting beneath the sun in a perfect, salty moment that makes me

onto the sand under a palm tree. I lie back on the towel we brought with us, my chest heaving, my hair damp and

up on an elbow,

happy," he murmurs, like it's the most important

so wide my cheeks

kissing the tip of my nose. "Because we're not

I hit

give you another island, so we can make new ones."

onto

"I'm crazy about you."

rest my chin there.

drug so I can save

there for a while, tangled in each other under the palm

into that

for his

bedtime," he murmurs,

immediately, brushing the sand

damp hair,

almost

t four year old

notice

what I

a

slightly messy, his cheeks flushed, and a wide grin spreads

"Mummy! Daddy!!"

breathe, smiling

and I wave with both hands like a total

jungle?" Rayen asks, squinting at the trees

at the beach," Alex answers, "but technically, this whole island is your mums. So you're looking at

widen. "Can I

"Of course,

tells us about his day, how he helped his friend with math, got picked to lead the morning pledge, and scored two goals during

I expect. My eyes sting

so animated, his dittle hands

growing up

you sleeping

quickly. "Yes.

Isabelle

turns to make warm