The CEO's Amazing Ex-Wife Is Back (Thalassa and Kris)

After what felt like an eternity in the washroom, Thalassa finally emerged. Her eyes were red, and though the tears had long dried, a deep ache still sat in her chest.

Walking on, she came to a stop as she saw Kris and Alex sitting and playing together on the floor. Kris was in front of their son, gently rolling a toy car back and forth between them.

Alex, who had been so wary of him earlier, was now giggling with unrestrained joy, his tiny hands clutching the car as they played.

The sight brought tears to her eyes again, but Thalassa swallowed them back. Her heart clenched painfully as she realized how much she had kept from him.

She had robbed him of this joy, of these little moments. It had been for a reason, but that reason felt so small in comparison to the reality of what was happening now.

Suddenly, Kris looked up, his eyes meeting hers. For a moment, neither of them moved. His smile faltered, the warmth in his eyes flickering as something unreadable crossed his face.

Then he turned his attention back to their son. Thalassa quickly looked away, feeling the weight of his gaze lingering on her even after he had looked away.

She made her way upstairs, her heart pounding, trying to shake off the emotions that were threatening to choke her; the confusion, the bitterness, the guilt.

Once in her room, she closed the door, leaning her back against it and letting out a shaky breath. Then she went to sit on her bed.

A few minutes later, there was a soft knock on the door.

"Come in," Thalassa called, her voice quieter than she intended.

Betty entered, her face lined with concern. She approached Thalassa carefully, as though she were fragile, ready to break at any moment.

"How are you feeling?" Betty asked, her voice soft and full of empathy.

Thalassa didn't respond immediately. She stared at Betty for a moment, her eyes blank, her mind whirling with too many thoughts to process. How was she feeling? She couldn't tell. Everything inside her was chaos.

Betty placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, dear. Kris is hurting right now, but he'll come around. It's a lot for him to process, but I'm sure he'll get there."

Thalassa nodded, but the tightness in her chest didn't ease. Before she could respond, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen. It was Zeke.

"I'll be downstairs making dinner," Betty said, excusing herself quietly before leaving the room. Thalassa answered the call. "Hello?"

Zeke's voice was immediately filled with concern. "Thalassa, are you okay?"

"I'm fine," she replied, though she wasn't sure how true that was.

"Luisa told me what happened. Kris knows about Alex?"

"Yes,"

Zeke's voice tightened with worry. "Why didn't you tell me? I would've gone with you to New York. Hell, the guards could've called the police on Kris."

"Zeke," Thalassa sighed, "it wasn't necessary. I was going to tell Kris the truth. He just found out before I could do it myself."

Zeke was quiet for a moment before speaking again. "But you told me you never planned to tell him. You said once you got your justice, you'd return to New York."

Thalassa's chest tightened. "I was wrong, Zeke. I should've told him. After everything, I should have planned to tell him the truth."

"How did Kris react? Did he... did he hurt you?"

Thalassa shook her head, even though Zeke couldn't see her. "No. Kris would never hurt me."

"I don't trust him, Thalassa." Zeke said. "I want to come to New York and make sure you're okay."

"You can come if you want," she replied, "but I'm fine. Really, I'm safe."

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, then Zeke's voice lowered. "I love you, Lassa."

Thalassa stiffened, her hand tightening around her phone. This was what Luisa had been talking about regarding Zeke getting his hopes up, but she felt too tired to try and dissuade him right.

"I know. Thank you." She whispered.

Then she ended the call, lying back on the bed with a sigh.

Back in Baltimore, Zeke paced the living room, his mind racing. He wanted to go to New York. He

needed to. But a part of him was et

hesitating and he didn't know why. Millie appeared, watching him with curiosity.

"Zeke?" she asked gently. "What's wrong?"

He stopped pacing and faced her, running a hand through his hair. "Kris found out about Alex. He knows the truth."

Millie's eyes widened. "What? How? Thalassa told him?"

She'd known for a long time but kept it as a well guarded secret since Thalassa never wanted it to be known.

Zeke shook his head. "No. Luisa told me Thalassa doesn't even know how he found out. But he went to my house to see the boy and Thalassa had to go too. I worry Kris will hurt her."

Millie rose a eyebrow. "Oh please, you know Kris will never hurt. Are you really worried about her? Or are you worried Kris will 'take her away' from you now that he knows the truth?"

Zeke frowned but didn't respond. Millie's words cut deep because he knew it was the truth.

Millie forced a small smile. "Do you love her that much?"

Zeke stuttered for a moment, then nodded. "Of course I do. I've loved her for years. Being with her is all I've ever wanted."

Millie's smile faltered, and shenoveldrama

looked away hiding the pain in her

1.n

eyes. Why did she keep getting her hopes up? Besides, even Zeke wasn't in love with Thalassa, why would he want to be with a broken woman like her?

"Then maybe you should go to New York." She whispered.

Zeke's brow furrowed as he stared at her. "No," he said firmly, surprising himself. "I'm not going anywhere. You need me here. I'm not going to give Francis the chance of hurting you again."

Before Millie could respond, Zeke

pulled her into a hug, catching her off guard. She froze, her heart racing as she felt his warmth, but she

closed her eyes and let herselfel.ne

into the embrace, wishing it could mean more than it did.