Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 170

ALEX

The moment Athena steps into the hospital, every cell in my body snaps to life. Like gravity shifts and pulls me toward her.

I don’t wait. I don’t even think. I just move.

I cross the room in seconds, breaking from the others without a word.

My hand finds her waist, automatically as she grounds me. She’s tense beneath my touch, her shoulders drawn tight, but the second I speak, her body eases.

Just a little.

And that's enough for me.

“Hi, baby,” I murmur against her temple, letting the warmth of her skin soothe the storm in my chest.

Her voice is a soft whisper and soothes my aching soul,

“Hi. How is she?”

“She's stable. Still unconscious, but stable.”

Relief floods her eyes, and I can see the weight she’s been carrying fall off her shoulders just a little.

Giana has been a kind woman all her life. I'm not surprised that everyone has come to check how she is doing. But for security reasons, we couldn't allow everyone.

“So this is the famous Athena,” Katya's annoying voice reaches my ears, making me turn and shield Athena from her.

I'm fucking tall at six foot two with a consistent gym schedule, so my body is more than enough to keep her from holding eye contact.

I know Athena is strong. But I want to protect her and that desire grows even more every day.

“Uncle John.” I look past her shoulders and hold her husband's gaze.

“I suggest you watch your wife. She spent all her life abroad so she has no idea what I do to those who insult my wife. Unless of course, she wants to experience it first hand.”

Katya’s eyes dance in furry, “I just wanted to say hi. How is that offensive?” She looks offended making me tick my jaw.

“Just go bother someone else I've run out of patience to tolerate people like you.”

“I think you're being extremely rude to your Aunt, Alex. You may have grown and become a reputable CEO but we are still adults who deserve respect.”

Respect?

He has the audacity to even utter those words?

I'm truly baffled idiots still exist in my family.

“What the fuck are you doing here anyway, Uncle John? Suddenly missed us?” I arch a brow while making sure Athena stays behind me.

“Mum collapsed, obviously we had to come!” He responds like it's obvious but I know better.

“Cut the bullshit, the flight takes 9 hours and Giana had a heart attack two hours ago. Did you foresee the future and move ahead of time?”

Asian genes need to be studied.

His eyes sweep the room before he speaks.

“She’s now awake. And even though it’s against my advice, she insists on going back home.”

Dad steps forward instantly.

“Going home? How is she?”

“She’s stable,” Elias replies, his tone neutral, but there’s a heaviness behind his words. “But I recommend that you don’t stress her out. And I must warn you, she’s running out of time. So spend as much of it with her as you can.”

Those words… they settle like ice down my spine.

Running out of time.

Athena squeezes my hand tighter, like she feels it too.

Elias nods once, then adds,

“I’ll have the nurse prepare her discharge forms. She wants to leave within the hour but has asked to see your son.”

John steps forward, “I want to see her too.”

Elias gives him a once over, “She asked for Alex, alone. You can see her once she's discharged. Which shouldn't be long from now.”