Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 102

ATHENA

Switched at birth?

That's one thing I've never considered or even thought about until tonight.

My mind kept replaying the moment, and my heart beat even faster at the possibility of Rayen being mine.

Tears swell my eyes as I pull the covers tighter. I could barely get myself together when Leah came fuming about me invading their privacy when I killed my own child.

Her words stinged, but I had no strength to answer her because of my shock. I kissed Rayen goodnight and came home.

Now I've been staring at the ceiling, unable to hold back the itching feeling of asking Alex when Rayen was born.

If he's mine….

Oh God!

Just the thought of someone having switched my child makes me see red, and knowing how ruthless Alex is makes me even more anxious with anticipation knowing he will rain hell on that culprits parade.

I sit up, unable to stay still. My fingers tremble as I reach for the glass of water on the nightstand, but I don’t drink it. I just hold it, needing something to ground me because my world feels like it’s about to tip over.

I’ve lived with the grief of losing my child for years. I missed the opportunity to bury him because of that selfish bastard.

I've never healed, and every day, I mourn my poor baby, who never got a chance to bloom.

But what if I didn’t lose him?

What if he was taken?

I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head.

Don’t jump to conclusions, Athena. Don’t let your heart fool you.

But my gut... my gut is screaming at me.

I reach for my phone and pause.

The blinking cursor in the contacts search box taunts me.

What am I even supposed to say?

When was Rayen born?

Do you know where he was delivered?

Can we talk? It’s important.

I sigh, knowing if I'm wrong, Alex will kill me, and Leah will have a party because I know she has been trying to make trouble for me since she joined the hospital.

I left st Margaret's at Ian's request, and guess what?

The bitch joined me at the Quinn's hospital.

I don't believe in such coincidences.

I continue to stare at the screen until my chest physically hurts. Finally giving in, I search for Alex's number but realize that I don't have it.

Shit.

I must have been so angry that I deleted it for fear of cursing him out.

I stare at the clock,

3AM

Who can I call at 3AM to ask for an engaged man's number.

Also someone who happens to be my ex husband?

This will be the longest night of my life.

I think of different scenarios and outcomes until I eventually fall asleep.

Feeling like calling will waste my time, I decide to visit his office first thing in the morning.

………

It's been two years since I came to the Kings building and it feels strange with a painful stab to my chest.

This building has zero good memories for me.

Pushing the thought aside, I stride to the reception where I find an impeccably dressed woman with hair tied in a neat bun.

She looks up and there is no friendliness in her eyes.

“Good morning,” I offer my best neutral tone.

The woman’s eyes narrow slightly, her lips pressed into a line. She doesn’t return the greeting.

“How may I help you?”

I sigh, holding back the words I have for her.

“I'm here to see Alexander King.” I purposely leave out his title.

She eyes me up and down. Seemingly not impressed I'm not wearing designer clothes and concludes I'm not worth his time.

“Do you have an appointment?”

“No,” I say. “But it’s important.”

She tilts her head ever so slightly. “Mr. King doesn’t see anyone without an appointment.”

Of course not.

I blink at him, struggling to find a place to start. Everything I’d rehearsed the night before slips away like sand through my fingers. I open my mouth, then close it again.

“Take a seat,” he says, nodding toward the chair in front of his desk. “You look like you're about to faint.”

I sit, mostly because my knees feel like they might give out.

He watches me. Silent. Patient. Which is unnerving because Alexander King is never patient.

Especially not with me.

I take a breath, clutching my fingers in my lap to keep them from shaking.

“I have a question,” I finally speak.

He gives a slight nod. “Ask.”

“Don’t get mad,” I blurt.

His brow arches slightly. “That depends.”

I look down, then back up.

“When was Rayen born?”

The air shifts.

Something flickers in his eyes, I expect him to throw me out and threaten to end my career but again,

He shocks me.

“Why?”

“I just need to know,” I whisper. “Please.”

The silence that follows is deafening.

Not a sound from the world outside.

Not a breath between us.

Alex straightens slowly, and for the first time since I walked in, I see real emotion crack through his carefully composed mask.

Shock.

Confusion.

A flicker of something dangerously close to rage.

“I know it's crazy for me to ask that but-”

“22nd October.”