Dear Ex Wife Please take me back by The Every Woman

Chapter 105 ~ | don't want to!

ATHENA

"Thank you for everything, Noah, | really mean it." | reach over and squeeze his hand.

He flasheshis handssmile, "You know I'd do anything for you. Now go in there before I'm forced to say

what I'm not supposed to."

| shake my head at that threat and lean over, | place a small kiss on his cheek, and then I rush into the hospital,

feeling better than | felt when I left Alex's office.

Months back, he and Zayan have been trying to getto go out on a date, but | think that will just ruin what we

already have, so it's better for us to only be friends. "There she is!" lan flasheshis eye shutting smile and my

cheeks warm.

"Dr. Quin." I nod, mirroring his smile.

"Cwith me." He says as he starts walking towards the office and | frown.

lan rarely callsto his office, and with how he's mostly smiling, you never know what bomb he's about to

drop.

We step into his office, and | close the door behind me, still trying to figure out if | should be nervous or not. lan

gestures forto sit, but he doesn't take his seat. He just stands there, hands in his pockets, rocking slightly on

his heels like he's trying to find the right words.

"lan?" | prompt, my brows furrowing. "You're kind of freakingout."

He laughs lightly, but there's something off in his eyes. "Sorry. | didn't mean to be tic, | just... needed a

moment to word this right."

My chest tightens. "Is it about a patient?"

"No," he says quickly. "Not exactly."

| stare at him, waiting.

"It's about your parents, Athena." he finally says. "They were the best in this field, and | know they were working

on a drug."

Everything ingoes still.

My hands go cold.

"What?" | recover quickly and add a laugh.

How does he know that?

“I didn't know that.” | respond to his questioning gaze. I'm not going to admit something | was warned was

dangerous.

lan sighs.

"The drug was once used on Alex when he had his first heart attack." He drops the bomb, making all my blood

freeze.

Seeing my face tells him all he needed to know.

"You didn't know he was born with a weak heart?"

| blink, my mind struggling to process the weight of his words.

Alex... had a heart attack? And that drug, my parents’ drug it was used on him?

"No," | whisper, shaking my head slowly. "I didn't know."

lan finally sits, folding his hands on the desk in front of him. "I figured as much. Not even his parents know. Only

him, Lucaand Leah know about it."

My eyes fall at the mention of Leah. Of course, she knew she was-

"Don't misunderstand me, Athena. Leah knows because she was the one who used the drug on him. That's why

Alex wanted to marry her. Thinking his weakness would be kept a secret forever."

"| thought he loves her." | blurt out.

"The past five years I've known him, you're the only woman he's ever looked at with longing eyes. Now | know

you guys have sshit going on, but | hope you can sort them out before it gets messy."

What?

My throat goes dry. "What does the drug have to do withnow?" | ask. Ignoring the statement, he just shoved

down my throat, which is chokingas | sit and pretend not to care.

lan watchesbut doesn't push further and answers my question instead.

"Because someone has been asking questions, Athena. About your parents. About the formula. And more

recently, about you."

The room tilts slightly as the adrenaline rushes through me. "Who?"

lan meets my gaze, deadly serious now.

"I don't know yet. But | do know this, news in the upper circle will spread, and everyones eyes will be on that

formula. | had to bring together the best doctors so we can try to make something similar.

Well... that changed when | learned that your parents were behind this. Alex askedto keep you out of it but |

moved you to work closely with me. SOI wanted you to have the

choice to decide whether or not you

want to be part of it.

| want you to know this will be dangerous, so I'll hold nothing against you if you

choose to not be a part of it."

I swallow hard, feeling my nails dig into my palms as | sit there trying to steady myself.

This is too much.

My parents. The drug. Alex. Leah. And now this?

My heart pounds in my chest as | slowly rise from my chair, walking toward the window just to get a breath of

something that doesn't feel like secrets and pressure.

| turn back around, every muscle in my body screaming in agony at how many blows I've taken in less than ten

minutes.

"No."

lan's brows pull together. "What?"

"I don't want to be a part of this." My voice is firmer now, steadier than | feel inside. "I'm now closer to my

dream. To beca rewoned surgeon. My parents chose what they wanted to be and I'll choose too. | also have

no knowledge whatsoever about the formula, I'm sorry."

lan's expression softens, concern lining his face.

"Athena-"

“No,” | say again, shaking my head. "I just want to be a good doctor. | want to save people the way | was trained

to not through slegacy that's probably cursed."

lan nods slowly. "Alright. | won't force you."

“But-" | pause, my throat tightening, “just... be careful. From what you've said, you might be in danger, too."

He doesn't argue. He just watchesfor a long beat before giving a solemn nod.

"I'll be just fine."

| rise from the chair, my mind still going in circles, and my heart is still pounding. "Thank you for telling me. But |

need to go now."

As | walk out of the office, the weight of the secret burning holes under my bed presses againstlike lead.

"I'm sorry lan. But | don't think | want to be a part of this."

Just as I'm about to turn, my gaze locks on green, and my heart skips a beat.

With Rayen in his arms, Alex walks towards me.

The moment Rayen notices me, he slides off his father's arms and rushes to me.