Dear Ex-Wife Please Be Mine Again (Christina and Alex) novel Chapter 74

Christiana's POV.

It was past 11 when I finally dragged myself back to the hotel suite. The weight of the day pressed on my shoulders like an anchor, pulling me down with every step. My heels clicked against the polished floor, the sound echoing in the empty hallway as I fumbled with the keycard. The door creaked open, and I exhaled a long breath, letting the quietness of the suite wash over me.

The first thing I did was head straight to the kids' room. I couldn't rest until I knew they were safe, sleeping peacefully. Pushing the door open just a crack, I peered inside. Ethan was sprawled across the bed, his arm draped over Emma, who was curled up with her stuffed rabbit, both of them lost in dreamland.

I stepped in quietly, careful not to wake them. Leaning down, I kissed Ethan’s forehead, smoothing his hair. He murmured something in his sleep but didn’t wake. Then I turned to Emma, her small face so serene, so innocent. My heart clenched as I kissed her too, the familiar scent of baby powder lingering in the air. I loved these moments. Even though I was exhausted, being their mother made everything else disappear.

“Goodnight, my angels,” I whispered softly before slipping out of the room.

I headed to my own bedroom, expecting nothing more than to collapse onto the bed and sleep for the next twenty-four hours. But when I opened the door, I stopped in my tracks.

There, sitting at the small dining table with a calm, almost smug expression on his face, was Alex. The table was set for one, a meal I hadn't even noticed when I walked in.

I blinked, completely stunned. “What... what are you doing here?”

He looked up at me, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. “Waiting for you,” he said simply, standing up. “You told me to drop off the kids, so I did.”

I narrowed my eyes, still in shock. “I meant drop them off and leave, Alex. The nanny was supposed to take over. You didn’t have to stay.”

His lips quirked into a small smile as he walked over, the scent of the food drifting toward me, making my stomach rumble. Loudly. It sounded like a toilet bowl being flushed, and I cringed inwardly.

“I didn’t want to leave until I saw you come home,” he said, his voice soft but firm. “The kids told me you were overworking. So, I stayed.”

I folded my arms, more to protect myself from his presence than anything else. “I can handle myself. You didn’t need to do this.”

His eyes softened as he gestured toward the table. “Christiana, relax. You need to eat. I made this for you.”

I glanced at the food, and my stomach gave another growl, this time even louder. The smell of roasted chicken, sautéed vegetables, and some kind of pasta filled the room. It looked so good, and I was starving, but I didn’t want to give him the satisfaction. I opened my mouth to argue, to tell him I didn’t need his help, but the exhaustion and hunger hit me all at once.

Before I could say anything else, Alex stepped closer, his hand brushing against my arm as he guided me toward the chair. “Sit. Eat. You’ve been running around all day.”

I sighed, fighting the urge to resist, but my legs were weak, my body giving up the fight. I sat down at the table, feeling the weight of my exhaustion sink into the chair. The food was right in front of me, and I couldn’t help it, I grabbed the fork and started eating.

The first bite was heaven. The flavors burst in my mouth, and before I knew it, I was devouring the meal like I hadn’t eaten in days. I could feel Alex’s eyes on me, but I didn’t care. I was too hungry to feel self-conscious.

“I didn’t know you could cook,” I muttered between bites, trying to ignore the way my stomach was doing backflips from both the food and his proximity.

“I had some time on my hands,” he said, chuckling softly. “Figured I’d put it to good use.”

I glanced up at him, my eyes narrowing slightly. “You made this?”

He nodded, that familiar, confident smirk playing on his lips. “Every bit of it.”