Dear Ex Wife Please take me back

ATHENA

"You look beautiful." Zayan says to me, and I flash him a smile.

I still feel guilty for the trouble I caused him and hadn't spoken to him for over a year. So, I'm shocked to see him among the doctors joining the Quinns program.

"You don't look too bad yourself." I tease as I place my hands on his neck while we slow dance.

That's one thing I love about Zayan. It's never awkward with him. Conversations are easy, and he has a great sense of humor.

I shake my head, still smiling. "So you're actually a doctor? I didn't know."

"I'm pretty sure I mentioned it last time." He teases, and my cheeks heat in embarrassment.

My head has been a mess lately.

He smiles, giving me a playful wink,

"You're the first woman to have forgotten about me. I'm offended, and for that, you owe me dinner."

"Just say the day, and we can make it work." I agree, and his lips curve into a full smile.

"Didn't think you'd be here today, though." I study him.

Zayan Sinclair comes from a rich family. I don't know much about his relationship with the rest of them, but I'm pretty sure he doesn't need to join the program unless it's for other reasons other than a good pay.

Maybe wanting to be a part of something life changing?

My heart beats even faster as I remember the box I have hidden under my bed.

It feels like it's burning a hole there, and knowing everyone gathered here tonight is desperate for it makes me wonder how far they're willing to go just to get their hands on it.

"I can hear you thinking." Zayan's voice pulls me back as we slow our dancing.

I'm about to respond when I choke on my saliva.

"Careful," he says, guiding me out of the center of the dance floor. "Wouldn't want you choking in front of all these professionals. Let me grab you a drink."

He gestures to a nearby table. "Sit. I'll be back in a second."

As I lower myself onto the seat, smoothing my dress, my eyes instinctively scan the room when they land on Rayen.

He is perched on a chair, swinging his legs under the table, poking at a bread roll like it personally offended him.

I look next to him and they're empty chairs with two guards standing close by not to be too obvious, but if you look hard enough, you can tell they're protecting him.

If you don't count the other adults who are laughing as they chat their minds away, you'd see the boy is alone.

My brows pull together.

Where's Leah?

I'm certain she brought him because knowing Alex, he wouldn't let him out of his sight.

Against the loud warning in my head, I walk towards the table and sit next to him. His eyes brighten when they see me, and my heart swells.

I hate his parents, but ugh!

He's so adorable.

"Hey big guy." I flash him a smile

"Hello! You look really pretty," he says, and I blink, caught off guard for a second.

"Wow," I chuckle. "You speak so well. How old are you?"

"Thank you. I'm turning three soon."

"So you're two?"

He makes a face that tells me he doesn't want to be two, and I find it funny. I would do anything to be a two year old again.

"Oops, my bad. I guess almost three it is then." I grin, already feeling a tug at my heart for the question I ask next,

"Why are you sitting all alone?"

"Mommy told me to sit here and not move," he says matter-of-factly. "Then she

left. I don't think she likes me very much."

"No mummy hates their babies. I think she's just busy." I encourage him.

He looks like his thinking about it but doesn't respond.

I glance around. Still no sign of Leah.

And

the guards are watching r

the fact that i'm still here tells me they don't think of me as a threat.

Hating the dull atmosphere, I try to lighten up the mood.

butnoveldrama

"Why aren't you eating?" I ask gently, noticing his untouched plate and the lonely bread roll he'd been poking earlier.

"I don't eat in places I don't like," he replies, sitting up straighter.

I smile, pretty impressed by this little angel, "That's a pretty solid rule. Do you like

it here?"

He shrugs like it's obvious. "It's boring."

I lean closer and whisper. "Well, what if we made it not boring?"

His eyes light up with curiosity. "How?"

I tap my chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... what if we danced? You and me."

He gasps like I just offered him a treasure chest. "Really?"

"Really," I nod. "We can make this whole room jealous."

He slides off his chair immediately, reaching for my hand with zero hesitation.

"Let's go!"

Before I lift my head, I feel it.

That burning gaze on my back. That look that sees through my soul and leaves

me burnt.

Alex is here.

I don't know how, but I can feel him

in the room even before I see him

He has the ability to reduce a hall

into a small sized space with barely

into@

any air left to breathe.

"Daddy!"

Rayen's excited shout cuts through my thoughts in confirmation, and I freeze.

My head slowly lifts, and sure enough, there he is.

Alexander King.

He looks like he stepped out of a shadow, tall and commanding in a white button-up shirt and black

slacks, making his blonde bir look...

Oh, hell no.

We are not going there.

His jaw clenches the moment his eyes land on me, and I swear I feel the

temperature in the room drop.

His attention? All of it is on me.

Correction, on me holding his son's tiny hand.

Rayen tugs at me, unfazed. "Come on! We have to dance before he comes and

makes everything boring."

I blink down at him, trying to find my voice.

"Right," I manage, past the lump in my throat. "Let's go."

With his small hand in mine, we walk toward the center.

Half of me is expecting Alex to call out, to stop me, to say something that will tear

this moment apart.

But he doesn't.

He just watches.

And somehow, that's worse.

I don't know how long passes when someone announces that the program will be starting and we should take our seats.

Just as I lift Rayen to take him to his father's table, I feel a hand on my back, and when I turn, I find it's Zayan.

"There you are. I left you for a minute, and you disappeared on me."

I laugh, "That's because this cutie swept me off my feet." I say referring to Rayen, who has a scowl on his face.

"This cutie looks like he wants to bite my head off." Zayan comments making me

hit him playfully.

"Let me take him to his mother. I'll join you shortly."

He nods but shocks me by reaching over and placing a kiss on my cheek.