Semua Bab TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE: Bab 141 - Bab 150

141JOANA'S POVMy heart skipped, then stuttered.It was not a question of having the wrong choice in Clinton. It was about Caleb presenting me with what it feels like to be loved without the burden of the past.I looked up into his eyes, and in them, I saw something that terrified me because it felt real.Felt like home.He got up, walked around the table, and leaned next to me. Gently, carefully, he leaned down.My breath was caught in my throat as his face approached me.I could stop this.I could retreat, turn my back, and be within the comfort of the undetermined.But I didn’t.Not this time.As his lips came close to mine, a thought rolled at the back of my mind like a distant thunder;I’ve made my choice.I withdrew myself from the kiss, and my cheeks were burning with a heat that I hadn’t felt in years. Not like this. Not this kind of warmth.It wasn’t the type of flushed warmth I was used to from being caught doing something I wasn’t supposed to be in the act of doing– it was

143JOANA'S POVWhen he finally turned and looked back at me, there was something I did not expect to see on his face – not anger, not bitterness. Sadness, yes. But beneath it, acceptance. And something even stranger.A smile.If that is the best thing for you, Jo, he said in a hoarse voice, “you should then go for it”.My heart twisted. “Clinton…”“I’m not kidding,” he said and stretched back. “You’ve always deserved to choose. Not out of guilt. Not out of obligation. But out of your own heart.His words floated like a lullaby that I never knew I needed.“You’re not mad?” I asked quietly.He laughed softly. “Of course I’m mad. I’m fuming…but not at you. I’m mad at times. Under circumstances. In the thousand things that went wrong before we ever had a chance to make it right”.His voice got somewhat choked at the end, and he cleared his throat and stood up straight.“I had my shot, Joana. And I blew it. I left you with the burden. I dissolved when I should have remained. I let my fami

145JOANA'S POVThe following day, Clinton met me at the city’s financial district. The sky was mirrored by the glass, giving it a beauty that seemed cold. An eagerness radiated from the crowd as they waited inside. We went over the numbers, talked about forecasts, and readied ourselves for the presentation that could decide our future.Despite his charm, Clinton came across as calm and too professional. He had a way of being professional, as he liked to say, whenever it was needed for business. His voice was clear, and his words were lacking any resentment.He spoke to me as a fellow professional, valuing and believing in me. There was a part of me that hated how quickly we slipped back into our usual ways together. Even so, another, less noticeable side of me quietly endured an aching sense of mystery.The last meeting was decided to be held at a prestigious hotel in the city centre. Fancy walls covered in mirrors, velvet drapes, and a silence that not everyone can afford. We were e

147JOANA'S POVAs he got nearer, his tone shook with strong emotions, whether it was just anger or even more. “Is there a chance I won’t let go of my fears? Whenever I see you, I fear you wish you were with him and not me."I placed my hand over my heart. "That’s not fair. I have always acted in a way that kept your trust in me. Never. I always remained by your side, even when you seemed to move away from me. Even when your jealousy leaves everything between us in ashes.”“Jealousy is the only emotion I experience whenever I think about the man who had you before me!” He shouted.Neither of us spoke, and the silence was like a powerful thunderclap.I took a step back. "So that’s it then. This is all about connecting with our true selves. Clinton had me first."He found it hard to speak but simply remained silent.I shook my head. “Caleb, you are not helping us by doing this. You’re fighting to beat him. No one is allowed to claim me as a prize to fight for."He looked away, jaw tight

149JOANA'S POVThe restaurant was so beautiful it seemed like a dream.Beautiful, sparkling in gentle gold and enfolded by elegance. At the city’s border, it gazed up at the skyline, featuring tall and broad glass walls. As soon as I entered, pleasant music, a hint of vanilla, and a familiar concierge welcomed me.With a smooth smile, he said to her, “Miss Joana. Mr. Caleb wants to meet you. Please follow me this way.”He walked me through the dark passage to a cosy area near the large windows. Recognizing me, Caleb stood with a suit open at the collar and finished in black.I could definitely appreciate how good he looked that night.I could tell his grin was genuine, as it touched his eyes and made me think I was the only person there for him.When I got closer, the boy said, “Wow!” “You’re stunning.”I smiled and twitched the hair behind my ear. “I must say, you look rather good yourself.”He moved over and kissed me on the cheek, and after that, he pulled out my chair as I would