Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 44

ATHENA

I'm in the worst mood today. I can't even get out of bed, and it's past 10 AM already.

My heart keeps bleeding and shattering into a thousand pieces over and over again.

I had flashes of my memory last night, and it wasn't pretty. Harsh words. Reminders of who I'll never be. But then, I also remembered Alex's soft side. How he took care of me. Stayed with me, and even though he never said it, he treated me like I was made of glass.

That must have been why I hoped and prayed he'd remember what we had and forget Leah. But now I know better. It won't happen, and knowing I'll never have the man that means everything to me shatters me.

I touch the left side of the bed. It's so cold which tells me he didn't come back last night.

He must have spent it with Leah.

But then again, whose house is this, and why am I here and not home?

Do I even have a home?

My phone vibrates continuously, making me wonder what it is.

My heart sinks further when I see myself on the front cover of the morning paper.

I'm laughing at something Zayan said as we sat on the horses.

[ZAYAN SINCLAIR SEEMS TO HAVE FOUND HIS PRINCESS]

I'm totally fucked.

I gulp.

standing from my bed, I rush downstairs where I find Luca, wearing an Army uniform.

He's in the Army?

“There she is. Good morning Mrs. King.” He teases as he grabs the remote and changes the channel.

“I didn’t take you for a man to be in the Army.” I comment, ignoring my pounding heart and his mockery.

He laughs.

“I'm sure you didn't.” He responds and I roll my eyes at that.

I walk to the kitchen and almost fall over when I'm met with a beautiful blonde woman in uniform. She must work here.

A pang of jealousy coils in my veins.

“Good morning. Mrs King.”

“Good morning.” I mumble under my breath, biting my bottom lip.

“What would you like to have for breakfast?” She asks, and I fidget my hands, not knowing what to say.

I'm not hungry, but I don't want to sound rude, so I smile and say,

“Some juice would be good.”

She nods and walks over to the juice maker.

Squeezes me some orange juice, and I'm on my way out. Debating whether I should call Alex again, I walk back to my room so I can take a long shower.

I haven't had one since every time I stand in the water, I feel like I'm drowning.

Funny enough, yesterday was the only time I bathed by myself since a month ago, and it felt so wrong.

I was afraid for my life, so it might as well be recorded as the fastest bath in history.

A tear slips down my cheek, and I wipe it out in frustration.

That bastard is draining me emotionally, and I keep letting him.

What the hell is wrong…. Wait… the news!

Oh shit.

Did he see it?

Is that why he hasn't called me?

The look he had on when he met me with Zayan flashes before me but I push it far away to the back of my mind because if he hadn't been busy with Leah I wouldn't have been bored.

Deciding to look over the windows, I freeze when I'm met with green.

My heart jumps to my throat when I see Alex standing near the bin with his hands in his pocket as he watches the fire burning.

It's like he feels me looking when he looks up and holds my gaze.

Still nothing.

That’s when I realize — he’s enjoying this.

This bastard!

He dropped me off like a sack of potatoes, drove off to God knows where, and only returned the next day to burn my thing?

I don't care if there is a whole article about me and Zayan. Hell, articles about him and Leah have been released every week, and I've had to swallow it like it didn't hurt.

"You think this is funny?" I push, my voice trembling as I stand right beside him now.

"You think this makes you a man? Setting fire to my stuff like some psycho?"

He turns then.

Slowly.

His green eyes are cold, empty, like a stranger’s.

"Funny?" he says, voice hard like ice.

"No, Athena. This is me teaching you a lesson."

"A lesson?" I breathe, my hands clenching into fists. "About what? About how to be treated like trash?"

He tilts his head, watching me like I’m a puzzle he doesn’t have time to solve.

"About loyalty, I read that stupid article and decided to pass time while I think of what to do, to that blonde fuck." he says finally.

My heart drops.

"I was loyal!" I snap. "If you hadn’t been too busy with Leah, maybe you would've seen that!"

His jaw tightens, and for a second, I see something flicker in his eyes but it's gone as quickly as it came.

“Doesn't seem like it to me. Next time a random guy offers you a ride, say no. It's actually very simple.” He says and turns to pock the fire making my blood boil.

I reduce my eyes to slits and give him a smile.

“You're right. A message does work more effectively.” I turn around and walk back inside.