Dear Ex Wife Please take me back (Athena and Alex) novel Chapter 133

ALEX

We’re almost to the car park.

The echo of our footsteps fills the concrete silence, tension hanging thick in the air.

Athena is quiet beside me, her hands in the pockets of her coat.

Mum hasn't said a word since the session ended. We have more than enough to have Leah locked up for life. But I won't stop there. Her family will lose everything.

I'll make sure of it.

“Athena, go on ahead sweetie.”

Mum’s voice cuts through my thoughts as she halts her steps.

I freeze.

Athena glances between us, sensing the shift, but doesn’t argue. She nods and walks ahead toward the car, her coat swaying around her ankles.

The moment she’s out of earshot, Mum grabs my arm, not hard, but firm.

Her short nails digging slightly into my sleeve. I look down into her eyes.

And I know.

She's hurt.

And it breaks my heart.

But I had no choice, I had to keep it from her to protect her. I'll admit, at the beginning, I did it to punish them for how neglected I felt. I hoped I would drop dead one day, and they would come back home to my cold body, and when the doctors told them what killed me, it would haunt them.

That was my punishment to them, but over the years, my reason began to change. I guess I saw how she struggled with granny and didn't want her to feel like it was her fault. I also didn't want granny to blame herself into thinking she did this to me.

“How long,” she asks, her voice low and trembling, “How long have you kept from us the fact that you have a heart condition?”

I open my mouth, but nothing comes out.

She stares me down, every inch of her the formidable woman the world fears except now it’s hurt and her eyes are shining with tears.

Tears for me.

Her son.

My throat tightens. “Mum-”

“How long, Alexander?”

Silence.

I can’t lie.

Not to her.

Not anymore.

“Since I was seventeen,” I say quietly.

She takes a step back like I’ve struck her.

“Seventeen?” Her voice cracks. “You’ve been hiding it from us for fifteen years?”

I swallow hard. “I didn’t want to be treated like I was fragile. I didn’t want Dad pulling me from the business, you worrying yourself sick every time I took a flight-”

“And instead I’m standing here listening to a psychopath confess that she used your condition against you,” she snaps, cutting me off. “That she triggered it. And you’re lucky to be alive because you thought what? Protecting us from the truth was worth that?”

I drop my gaze.

Her voice softens, but it’s thick and full of emotion.

“I am your mother, Alex. And I had to hear about my son’s heart failure from his abuser. Do you have any idea what that did to me in there?”

Tears are now rolling down her cheeks.

“How dare you take away my chance to protect you?”

She sobs.

And it guts me.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper.

She breathes in deep, brushing her hand through her hair as if trying to stay composed.

“You don’t get to die on me,” she says finally, her voice barely steady. “You don’t get to keep secrets like this anymore. You are never alone, Alex.”

"I know. I love you mum. I'm so sorry." I whisper and she tugs on my shirt like it's her lifeline.

"Come home tomorrow." She says.

I nod slowly.

She looks past me where Athena is waiting by the car.

“You will tell her everything too. Or I will.”

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