Dear Ex Wife Please take me back

ATHENA

I thought the black box Marcus gave me would unsettle the pit in my stomach.

Well, guess what... I was wrong.

Because my heart has been on that text since I left Rayen recovering in the hospital a week ago.

"UNKNOWN:I know what happened to your child."

I tried to call the number.

It was off.

Still is.

And now, instead of fear, it's anger burning beneath my skin like wildfire..

How dare they try to play with me?

Do they have any idea what it means to lose a child?

Do they understand that kind of pain? The kind that never heals never softens, never lets go?

That's not something you dangle over someone's head like a cruel joke, then switch off your damn phone and vanish into silence.noveldrama

I looked like I had seen a damn ghost as I came up with an excuse to avoid Ariana's questioning gaze.

I should've deleted that message.

But I didn't.

Because a tiny, maddening part of me, the same part that still dreams of tiny

fingers and lullabies in the middle of the night, hopes it's real.

Guilt has been eating me away for the past three years, so if whoever this is has

proof someone did something, and it wasn't as Alex claimed....

Tears spring to my eyes as I push the lump in my throat.

A child dying is one kind of pain, but being told it was because of you?

I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy.

As I step out of the hospital after my shift, the cold air slaps me awake, snapping me out of my thoughts. The sky is gray, like it's mourning something too. The clouds hang low and heavy, the same way my heart feels.

My fingers tighten around the strap of my bag as I walk toward the parking lot.

And then I see a figure making my heart jump.

What is he doing here?

Leaning against my car with his arms crossed like he owns it is Zayan.

A dark coat is pulled up against the wind.

His expression is unreadable, but I'm shocked to see him when we clearly agreed

to only see each other once we agree. No surprise visits.

"You look like hell," he says casually, pushing off the car.

"Nice to see you too," I mutter, brushing past him to unlock the door.

"I thought we'd said to only meet when we agree." I point out, making him chuckle.

"That was the plan, but you kept me worried I had to check on you. You've been ignoring my calls and texts, Athena."

“I didn't ignore them. I've been-” I stop myself.

What have I been doing? Spiraling? Hoping? Slowly losing my mind?

"I've been extremely busy and exhausted." I give in.

Zayan's beautiful eyes study me. But he doesn't question me. He takes the keys from me and holds the door open when a brown envelope drops to the floor.

"Oops." He reaches down to pick it, and my heart rate skyrockets.

How did they get into my car.

"Here- Athena? Are you okay?" Zayan pulls me back.

I force a smile as I look up at him.

"Oh there it is. Haha. Thanks!” I grab the envelope and turn when Zayan pulls me

back against his chest, knocking the air out of my lungs.

Were standing so close I can smell him.

But my body lacks that spark, the one Alex zaps me with just by being present, making all the hairs on my body rise.

That bastard has ruined me for anyone else!

"What is in that envelope? You look like it was a fucking grenande."

"it's not." I argue, unable to back that up. It could be a grenade for all I know.

Zayan runs a frustrated hand in his brunette hair before holding the door open. But it's the passenger's side.

"I can-"

"Get in the car, Athena."

I sigh, what's with men and being controlling?

I sit in the car while the envelope burns in my hands. By the time Zayan starts the

ignition, I've already opened it.

[MEET ME HERE]

Is all it says and below is a scan code.

Who is this?

Could it be?

"What's that?" Zayan pulls me back and I fold the paper hoping my sweaty forehead doesn't give me away.

The last time he got involved in my business, his career was toast. Zayan has been a great friend. I won't ruin his life.

"Nothing."

"How's work?" He visibly gets tired and diverts to our normal conversations.

"Same old," I lie, forcing a small smile.

"People don't stop getting sick just because you're falling apart.”

Zayan hums, eyes on the road. "You need a break."

"Yes I do."

A silence settles between us, but it's not comfortable. It's tight, thick with things unsaid. I can feel his eyes flicking toward me every fewo

seconds, but I pretend not to notice.

"I know you," he finally says. "That look in your eyes, it's not just exhaustion.

You're spiraling again, aren't you?"

"Zayan-"

"You don't have to tell me, but please... don't do this alone."

The car rolls to a gentle stop at a red light, and let my gaze drift out the window. A mother is crossing the street, tugging her child gently by the hand. Something in my chest twists violently.

Three years.

Three years and I still can't look at a child without breaking.

The light turns green.

"Someone sent me a text." I finally cave in.

"What text?"

I unload everything to Zayan and before I know it, we are changing direction.

"You don't have to do this." I give him a side glance.

"But I want to." He responds and I give him a small grateful smile.

Honestly, it was going to be so scary meeting someone I don't know. What if it's a

false alarm?

As we turn to the address, my adrenaline pumps even faster, every nerve in my

body tightens like it's bracing for impact.

Zayan parks the car a few feet away from the location.

It's an abandoned diner at the edge

of town, The neon sign still

weakly, buzzing like a dying heartbeat, casting eerie glows on the cracked windows.

"Are you sure this is it?" he asks, his eyes scanning the area.

I glance down at the paper again. The scan code had loaded a map and a time:

7 PM. Here.

No name.

No context.

"Yeah," I whisper. "This is it."