Dear Ex Wife Please take me back (Athena and Alex) novel Chapter 175

ATHENA

I rush out as the wind slaps me on my face. Everything comes crashing down, and I feel my heart pump even faster.

“How'd it go? Does he have it?” Zayan asks when I enter the car.

“Even if he does, he wouldn't admit it.” I grind out as I hold back my tears.

He betrayed me.

My hands shake as I look at the photos on my phone. They're from the security footage, and in it is Ryan. Walking into my apartment empty-handed and walking out with a damn box.

Anger surges through me in ways I didn't know was possible. How dare he do this to me?

What did you expect, Athena? That the man had fallen head over heels for you?

A little voice taunts me in the worst way possible.

The car suddenly feels too small, and I feel like I can't breathe.

“You don't have to be strong with me, Athena. You can cry if you want to. You know I'm here for you.” Zayan says, but it does nothing to soothe my aching heart.

“Thank you for being here. Without your connection, I wouldn't have gotten that footage.” I whisper with a small smile.

Zayan doesn’t smile back. He just watches me, his eyes filled with concern. One hand is gripping the steering wheel while the other is clenched like he’s holding himself back from doing something reckless.

“I’d do worse than get footage if you ask me to,” he mutters. “He shouldn’t have touched that box. That was your parents. That was your peace.”

“Maybe he needed it. He is sick after all.” I mumble.

Zayan turns to face me, “Alex is sick?”

I nod. “Heart failure. Though he's been fine all these years, I guess he wants to prevent it before it gets too late. But for him to steal from me? That was so wrong.” I shake my head as a bitter laugh escapes my lips, “You know the funny thing is, all he had to tell me was he needed it, and I would have given it to him.”

I swipe at my tears as they fall, helpless against the flood I’ve been holding in since I saw the video. Since I walked into that office. Since he smiled at me like nothing was wrong.

I squeeze my eyes shut.

Zayan glances at me again, then quietly pulls the car into a side street and parks.

“You need to breathe,” he says softly.

I don’t argue. I'm running low on strength.

All my life, I've had to live on the edge. When I was young, I had to work hard at school, so I didn't end up disappointing my family. They were geniuses making a difference.

I felt pressured to be the best so they'd be proud.

Then they died, and I found myself in the Kings family. The pressure became even worse because I not only had to strive, I had to be perfect and hidden at the same time.

But all that can't compare to how painful a shredded heart truly is. I should have listened the first time.

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