Dear Ex Wife, Please take me back novel Chapter 194

ATHENA

“Where are you taking me?” I giggle as Alex holds me carefully, guiding me through the steps because of the blindfold over my eyes.

“Patience baby.” His deep voice reaches my ears.

I hear the soft crunch of grass beneath my heels, the chirping of crickets around us, and the faint sound of water nearby.

My heart pounds not from nerves, but from the way his presence always seems to steal my breath.

“I swear if you’re taking me into the woods to murder me-”

“I wouldn’t make you wear your favorite dress if that were the plan,” he murmurs close to my ear, sending a shiver down my spine.

We take a few more careful steps before he stops.

“Alright,” he says softly. “You ready?”

“I’ve been ready since you said get dressed.'” I grin under the blindfold.

His fingers graze my cheeks, lifting the fabric with a slow tenderness that makes me hold my breath.

And when the blindfold slips away-

My heart stops.

We’re standing by the edge of a calm, silver lake, stars above twinkling like a private show from the heavens.

The water glistens under the soft glow of dozens no, hundreds of floating lanterns spread across the surface, each one glowing like a captured piece of the moon.

Behind us, on the shore, there’s a thick, soft blanket spread out under a canopy of lights strung between two trees. A bottle of wine waits in a bucket of ice beside a basket, the whole scene glowing like something out of a dream.

Fireflies dance all around us, their little lights flickering in the air like they’re celebrating something.

“Alex…” My voice catches as I turn to look at him.

I'm speechless. Usually, I'd faint or get a panic attack at the sight of a water body, but this time, my heart is calm, and my eyes are in love with everything they see.

It's almost as if my PTSD was never there to begin with. And it's all because of this man right here. I've always blamed him for abandoning me that night to drown. I know he didn't know I had fallen inside the pool, but it felt good having to blame someone.

But now that I'm standing here, in the middle of all this beauty. I can't help but feel like he's healing every broken piece of mine.

His green eyes watch me, unreadable and intense. “Do you like it?”

“This is… it’s beautiful.” I step forward slowly and completely overwhelmed. “But why so many lanterns?”

These must have cost a fortune.

He doesn't answer immediately. He just walks toward one of the trees, pulling a string gently to send another lantern drifting out onto the water. Then he turns back to me, his deep voice a low whisper .

“Because you’re afraid of the dark, baby. This was the only way I could get you to see the fireflies.”

Thud

Thud

Thud Thud

My heart beats faster and faster.

“And I never want you to feel that way ever again,” he adds, stepping close, cupping my cheek. “I want you to feel safe for the rest of your life.”

Tears prick at the corners of my eyes as I stare up at him.

“Alex…”

“You’ve had too many shadows in your life, baby,” he murmurs. “So I wanted to give you light. You see how bright and beautiful the scene is. That's how beautiful and bright you make my life.”

I can’t speak. My lips suddenly feel so dry that I can't move my tongue to respond. My heart swells so much that I'm sure it will burst anytime.

God, I love this man so much.

I step closer, placing my hands on his face as I tilt my head back to meet his eyes.

He runs a hand through his blond hair as his eyes meet mine.

“Will you do me the honor of dancing with me, beautiful?” he asks, extending his hand.

My cheeks flush, my heart still fluttering like wings trapped in my ribcage.

“Yes,” I breathe, slipping my hand into his.

He pulls me gently into the center of the glowing setup, right by the water’s edge where the lanterns flicker like stars, their warm glow reflecting off the lake.

The fireflies rise higher into the night sky, little sparks of gold lighting the world around us.

We sway slowly to the music, his arms wrapped tightly around me, my head resting on his chest where his heartbeat thunders as hard as mine.

He spins me slowly, just once, the skirt of my dress fluttering around my legs.

But when I spin back around, I gasp.

He’s not standing where I left him.

He’s kneeling.

One knee down on the soft grass, the lanterns casting golden light across his face, his green eyes locked on mine with so much love it hurts to breathe.

My heart stops.

Literally stops.

“Alex…” I whisper, barely able to speak, my voice caught between shock and emotion.

His hand reaches for mine.

And then he says my name in that deep sexy voice that makes my legs weak.

“Athena.”