Dear Ex Wife Please take me back

ATHENA

One week later....

"If I didn't know better, I'd say Alex has fallen for you." Isabelle joins me on my lunch table.

"Alex doesn't for anything." I correct her as I take a sip of my drink.

All this time, I thought he loved Leah, but it turns out it was just gratitude. How cold is he that his heart can't open up to truly love?

"Then why has he been coming here every day for the past five months? Because Rayen misses you?" Isabella laughs, "Sloane will die of laughter when she gets back."

I glare at her, trying not to let the little twitch at the corner of my lips betray the part of me that's secretly... affected.

"Sloane doesn't need to hear anything about her cousin who happens to be my ex-husband!"

"Too late. I already told her yesterday when she called."

I groan and rest my forehead against the table. "You're the worst."

"And yet, I'm the only one willing to speak the truth while the rest of you dance around it like it's an open-heart surgery."

I lift my head and stare at my half-eaten lunch.

"Alex hates me, Isabelle. But that's okay because I hate him just as much." I finally respond.

Isabelle doesn't even look up from her plate as she mumbles, "Uh huh.”

"Izzy!"

"What?" She wiggles are eye brows like this is an interesting show she can't wait to see the end of.

I shove the last bite of salad into my mouth just to keep from snapping.

I roll my eyes, dropping my fork. "You know nothing."

She sighs, flicking a crumb off the table. "Okay, fine. Let's agree on this: you hate him, he hates you, Rayen adores you, and the rest of us are just collateral damage."

I can't help a reluctant laugh. "Perfect summary."

Her phone buzzes. She glances at the screen. "Speaking of collateral... Sloane's back from Bora Bora next week. We need to go out! Bill will be on you two. You left me out last time."

Trust Isabelle to be extremely petty.

"But seriously," she leans in, lowering her voice, "if you ever do want to figure out what's between you and Alex, I'm your girl."

I give her a pointed look. "You're crazy."

"I bet hundred Gs on this against Sloane. I know what I saw."

"You what?" My eyes widen in horror.

Before she can respond,

My pager beeps on the table. I glance down: "Dr. Dawson to PICU, stat." "This conversation isn't over!" I eye Isabelle while sprinting to the elevator.

I did try to help Rayen plan his party if picking colors and cake flavors count. It happens that I didn't need to, Ariana was going wild with it that you'd think he's turning eighteen and not three.

Wiping my sweat covered palms, I walk further inside when Ariana sees me and rushes towards me,

"There she is! I'm so glad you could make it." She squeezes me into a tight hug.

"Rayen, look who is here!" Ariana calls for her beloved grandson.

Rayen, who was showing something to his mother, sees me and drops it immediately.

I freeze under Leah's glare as Rayen comes barreling toward me, his little hands outstretched.

A punch of guilt fills my chest. I didn't mean for that to happen.

"Dr. Dawson!" he exclaims, nearly knocking me backward.

I place the gift down and crouch just in time to catch him, forcing a calm smile. "Hey, buddy," I murmur, brushing a hand through his curls. "Happy birthday!"

"Thank you." He beams as he pulls back.

I grab the gift I placed on the side and give it to him. I know how much he loves games. So I got him the best Legos game I could think of. I did consider buying a toy car, but knowing Alex already bought him four actual cars made me stay in my lane.

"This is for you?"

"Really? That's so kind of you! You're so awesome." He places a kiss on my

cheek before running off to show Giana his gift.

I glance around. Finally standing to my full height.

"Wow, Ariana really went all out," I say, sharing a quick look with Noah.

"Trust Aunt to go above and beyond for those she deems worthy." He says with a roll of his eyes.

Leah steps forward, her arms crossed so tightly her knuckles whiten. "Athena,"

she says, her voice cold. "Can I have a word?"

Noah holds my hand and blocks her from seeing me.

I sigh, shaking my head at Noah, "I'll handle it."

"You really don't have to." Noah insists, but I give him a small smile.

"I'll scream very loud if she dares pull a trigger." I joke, but Noah isn't laughing.

"I'll be fine." I lean over and kiss his cheek.

I follow Leah into the kitchen. The

moment step in, Leah's eyes flash with fury as she grips the edge of the counter. Before I can speak, she backhands me hard across the cheek.

The pain blooms instantly, red-hot and stinging. My hand flies to my face, fingers trembling as I turn to look at her.

"How dare you show up at my son's birthday like some charity case!" Leah hisses, her voice low and venomous.

She steps closer until I can smell her perfume. "You witch, always slithering into

his life, you just can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?"

I swallow past the lump in my throat, every nerve singing.

"Leah-"

"Oh shut up!" She grabs my wrist and twists it. I wince.

"You think you're so special, Dr. Perfect, but you're nothing but a desperate whore.

Always throwing yourself at my fiancé even after he divorced you and now you've gone even lower by being my son's little friend who he plays with when he's bored. You think I'm not aware of the visits?"

Her words cut deeper than the slap. My vision swims, but I force myself to stand

tall.

"If you hadn't killed your own child,"

she spits, "Rayen would be at home, having his own parties with you. Instead you took some shit, what? It didn't work out with Zayan so you

come here, prancing around like a leech?"

I bite back the retort that rises in my throat. There's no ground for defense, not

when she's right.

"I'm sorry," I whisper, because I am, but not for what she thinks. "I'm sorry for being around your son."

She scoffs, turning on her heel before she pauses without turning around,

"If you have any dignity left in you, you'll get the hell out."

I lean against the counter, fingertips grazing the cool marble, as tears finally slip

free. My cheek thumps with pain, my chest tight as I realize I can't stay here.

And what was I doing here to begin with?

I press a hand to my mouth, steadying myself, then turn and slip out of the kitchen.

Everything is a blur I don't even know how I reached home or how long I've been sitting on my bed.

I'm about to finally take a shower when my phone vibrates and it flashes "Alex"

I ignore the call and grab my toothbrush when it vibrates again.

This time it's

"Mrs. King"

I ignore it. Knowing she just wants to know if I left but I have no strength left to

pretend so I decide to call them back tomorrow.

My phone vibrates again and this time is

"Nana."

A frown crosses my face as my swipe right.

"Athena! Thank God. My dear where are you two?"

"Me and who, Nana?"

She chuckles, "You and Rayen of course. He sneaked out to come and look fornoveldrama

you, now everyone needs him here. Can you bring him so we can cut the cake?" “Nana, there must be a misunderstanding because i'm not with Rayen."