All Chapters of TAKE ME BACK EX WIFE: Chapter 201 - Chapter 210

201JOANA’S POVThe nurse smiled and gave me the release papers while saying something but I did not actually hear her words. All was so far off, smothered in the crammage of a density pushing at my bosom. The hospital gown was exchanged for my dress, and my IV was disassembled; nevertheless, I still felt like I was in a hospital. I was not ready to go away.Not while Clinton was still in that bed.I walked down the hallway toward his room slowly, dragging my suitcase behind me. Each step felt heavier than the last. I didn’t want to go — not because I missed the sterile walls or the scent of antiseptic, but because it meant leaving him.He was sitting up when I entered, flipping lazily through a magazine that the nurses must have given him. He looked better today — more colour in his cheeks, more alertness in his eyes — but his right leg was still strapped in a therapy brace, and fatigue still lingered in the lines of his face.“You’re all packed up,” he said, glancing up at me.I nod

203 JOANA’S POVMorning sunbeams were creeping through the curtains, and the extended fingers of gold were across the floor. This ought to have been a serene start. For once, I wasn’t waking up in a hospital or someone else’s guest room or with the weight of a looming threat. The children were alright, still in their beds.My mind was restless, however.I looked up at the ceiling without moving my head or a finger until a buzz on my phone roused me. I picked it up from the nightstand and opened the screen.Message from Clinton’s Physiotherapist“Morning, Joana. Clinton had a good session today — we tried walking exercises with support. He’s determined to get back on his feet. He remembers everything, and he's asking when you'll visit.”A relieved sigh escaped my lips. I was going to respond to him by text when the second call came in.Police Station – Officer Jasmine.I did not want to answer, a part of me, but I knew it would be stupid to ignore that number.“Joana,” I greeted tens

205JOANA’S POVThe remainder of the visit was pleasant and good-humoured. Caleb sat in a chair and we were all the kind of chatterers as though it were years since the last time. Like we hadn’t spent so long at war with each other.Clinton once joked about how miserable Caleb looked in high school with his hair and Caleb joked back at Clinton on how shameful he is to flirt without falling all over his tongue. I was rolling on the floor in laughter.They were idiots.But they were my idiots.Eventually, Clinton started to doze off. I touched his arm.“Want me to go?”“No,” he murmured, eyes half-lidded. “Just stay. Talk. I missed the sound of home.”So I stayed.Caleb and I talked in low tones as Clinton rested with her calm breaths.No rivalry. No lingering grudge.Just forgiveness.Just healing.As the sun dipped below the window, painting the walls in gold and rose, I whispered to Caleb, “Thank you.”“For what?”“For trying.”He looked at me, smiling softly. “It’s about time I st

207JOANA’S POVThe room went dead silent.“No,” said Japheth, blinking rapidly. “You’re shaking. Are you okay? Your legs look like noodles.”Clinton laughed and lost his balance a little more this time, picked Mirabel up and placed her tenderly on the couch again. Sitting down beside her he breathed somewhat harshly, yet was radiant."It was all right," he said, raising a brow. "Just, I was not expecting to run a marathon tonight."Caleb got up and came over, shocked and not attempting to conceal his condition. "You are joking right?"Clinton grinned. "I guess I am working on my therapy.Peter slapped a hand to his lips and broke into laughter.Jake turned to Caleb, tilting his head. “What’s therapy?”“Oh boy,” Caleb said with a dramatic groan, collapsing into a chair. “You just opened a full science lecture, my friend.”Clinton, still laughing, looked at the kids. “Okay, okay. Therapy is like… practice. Like when you’re trying to get better at something hard, like walking, in my cas

209JOANA’S POVThe air was heavy with tension.The courthouse loomed ahead like a monument carved out of old stone and older secrets. Its walls had probably seen centuries of confessions, convictions, and confusions—yet nothing could have prepared me for walking through those doors with my children by my side.We hadn’t wanted to bring them. Caleb and I had gone back and forth over it for hours the night before. I even considered calling one of the nannies from the old estate, but the truth was simple: I didn’t trust anyone enough. Not anymore.Not with my children.Not after what Louisa had put us through.The idea of handing my babies over to strangers while I sat in court listening to the sins of the woman who had tried to ruin our lives felt... impossible. So we took the hard road. I got them dressed in quiet little outfits—navy blue for Jake and Japheth, soft rose pink for Mirabel and Jasper.They were curious, of course. They didn’t understand why the air felt different today,