Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 2258

Athena froze for a moment, then broke into a genuine smile.

"Oh, I see," she said, leaning back with a mix of confusion and a touch of genuine happiness on her face.

Marlon had been teasing her intentionally. After all, Athena had embarrassed him before, and he couldn't just let it slide. He wasn't Marlon if he didn't get back at her.

Back at the abandoned factory, her sticky-sweet voice calling him "brother" was like a spell, haunting his dreams. And those eyes, when she tried to wrap her legs around him, pretending to be seductive, were like a mischievous fox's gaze in the woods.

But now, she looked so innocent and clueless, like a rabbit that had wandered into a trap.

Initially, Marlon just wanted to mess around, but now he was getting a bit excited.

Murphy pulled the curtains shut and glanced at his wrist. "I gotta run. Next time we grab dinner, just give me a call."

They'd known each other for years, good friends through and through.

Marlon nodded and playfully pinched Athena's cheek. Her skin was smooth with a bit of softness, like a grumpy little hamster.

Once they were alone, Athena looked at him with wide, innocent eyes. "What are you doing?"

Marlon applied a bit more pressure, coaxing her, "Come on, say 'brother' for me like you did in Listina."

Just like that day, with that sweet, teasing tone.

Athena furrowed her brow, as if trying to remember. After a few minutes of failing to recall, she asked, "Do I usually call you that?"

Marlon patted her cheek, enjoying the feel of it. "Yep."

"That's so cheesy."

Despite saying that, she obediently called out, "Brother."

This time, though, her tone was different. It wasn't like the voice that melted his heart that day; now it made him want to protect her.

Marlon withdrew his hand, puzzled by the strange feeling inside him.

As he was about to say something else, Athena suddenly leaned over and kissed him on the lips.

Marlon's expression changed instantly. He let go and took a step back.

Teasing was one thing, but they were still family, and this was crossing a line.

His reaction was so obvious that Athena frowned and asked, "Did we break up or something? Why else would you react like that?"

Athena trailed behind him down the stairs, her head constantly turning to take in her surroundings.

She carefully grasped the edge of Marlon’s shirt. "Brother, this place seems familiar."

Marlon looked at the little white hand clutching his shirt, his throat tightening. "This is our home."

In the next moment, Athena wrapped her arms around him from behind, encircling his waist.

"Is that so? No wonder it feels familiar."

Marlon stood frozen, his mind a chaotic mess.

The arms around his waist felt like vines, holding him in place.

He looked down at the hands on his waist, seemingly so soft that a squeeze would leave a mark.

"Brother, what are you thinking?"

Athena's voice was soft and sweet, her head peeking around from behind him.