Second Chance Love: Begging My Ex

ALEX

There are only two things I truly regret this afternoon.

1. Letting Luca pick the restaurant.

2.agreeing to hang out with my so-called friends when they've had more than one drink in them.

"I'm just saying," Luca leans back in his chair, swirling his whiskey like he's in a bad mafia movie, "you've fallen

for your ex-wife."

"You're drunk." | reply, stabbing a piece of steak with more aggression than necessary. "And | haven't fallen for

anyone."

Luca snorts so hard that he nearly chokes on his drink. "Sure. You just follow her around like a bodyguard-slash-

lover, risk your life for her, and stare at your phone every five seconds. Totally normal co-parenting behavior."

"It is co-parenting," | say flatly. "We share a child. It's called being responsible adults. Not that you'd know

anything about it."

"I have three kids, and | can safely say you've totally fallen for her." Ethan says, and | turn my head in anger.

"Why are you even here? | don't even like you." | snarl.

Ethan is that bastard's cousin and the main reason Athena is working in the shospital as Zayan, and it

makes my heart boil. | mean, is he so pathetic that he has to rely on his cousin's best friend for a job?

"I'm here for lan. As soon as he gets here, I'll be gone. Trust me, the feeling between us is mutual." Ethan

responds. "But | can understand why you're insecure, Zayan is a ladies' man." Ethan laughs.

What a cocky bastard.

"You're going to start a fight, Sinclair. Is that your plan?" Luca says, grinning, enjoying the fact that Ethan and |

are about to burn each other to the ground with our glares.

"Alex is always calm, but today is different. He has been staring at his phone like something is about to jump out

of it. Is it Athena? Tto switch who is baby sitting next?"

With my frustration building up, I turn to face Luca,

"I'm not-"

Ugh.

Why am | even defending myself?

"I'll bet fifty thousand," Luca cuts in, lifting his glass like it's an official declaration,

"that you don't last a month before begging Athena to take you back."

"A month?" Ethan cackles. "You're too generous. | give him a week."

"You're both delusional. | care for her as the mother to my son, and I'm still begging her to forgivefor what |

did. Does that sound like love to you?"

"Yes!" They respond in unison, and | groan in frustration.

"Trust me. I've been there. That's why I'm down for this game. I'll win that 50k and give Caleb and Daisy to buy

stoys and shit."

"Don't be too certain." | warn.

But the fuckers both chuckle in mockery.

The door opens and lan steps in. He looks worn out and my heart aches for my brother.

"I need to talk to Dad. Sloane needs to be treated abroad. She won't make it here." He says as he takes a seat.

The room falls silent.

All the teasing dies out immediately

He's still in scrubs which tellshe was straight from surgery.

| was truly worried about my cousin and best friend being together because of how awkward it would be if they

broke up.

But seeing how broken lan has been has changed my perception over their relationship.

"| can arrange a private jet and anything she needs." support the decision.

"Letknow if there is anything | can help with." Luca adds on and gives him a small nod in appreciation.

"You know you can always count onfor anything. Zane too, even though he's away he toldto tell you

that."

See that little sis, you have people waiting for you. Just hold on a little longer Sloane. I'll make sure you're fine

even if it's the last thing | do.

"| really mean it," | say, turning to lan. "Thank you for taking care of Sloane."

He nods with tired but steady eyes. "You did well to listen to me."

| smirk. "Don't get cocky."

He doesn't smile back, just sighs and runs a hand over his face. "You were practically living at the hospital, Alex.

Sleeping in a chair by her bedside, refusing

to let anyone move you. | haven't seen you that stubborn since well, Athena was in hospital. "

"She's my baby sister. | won't let anything happen to her."

Athena already blames herself but it's all my fault. If | had seen through Leah none of this would have happened.

Just then, Ethan's phone rings.

He glances at the screen, frowns, then stands. "I've gotta go. I'll check in on you tomorrow, alright?"

"Did something happen?" lan asks.

Ethan nods. "Zayan was supposed to pick the kids but he's with Athena. So | need

to pick them up."

| freeze. "Wait. What?"

Ethan slips on his coat but ignores me.

Zayan and Athena are together?

lan glances at me, catching the shift in my face. "Where is he now?"

"He says he has to escort Athena. She's meeting the victims' families today,

right?"

Ethan says casually, looking at his watch.

"Textif you need anything. I'm sorry | had to cut this short."

He's out the door and | stare at his retreating back.

My jaw tightens.

So that's why she hasn't replied to my message.

She went with him.

After everything we just went through

together, the trial, tke (1ouse fakEbver,

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companies take over, the press storm.

After we stood side by side dragging the Woods into the ground...

She went with him instead of me?

| pull out my phone again, just to double-check.

No new messages.

Not even a "no thanks."

lan watcheslike he already

knows what I'm thirkitg " eAlbhSY

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good on you, brother."

"I'm not jealous," | snap.

He raises an eyebrow. "Uh-huh.”

| mutter something under my breath and lock my phone.

This isn't about jealousy. It's

about....ugh | donitynoy, einy'd

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novelenglish.net! Read the latest

chapter there!

We made a damn plan together.

So why did she choose to go with him?

"He has totally fallen for her." Luca mutters and | glare at him,

"Shut up."