Wooing My Ex-wife Again Novel by Natalie Winter
Chapter 40

Anastasia

Sean’s words caught me off guard and I looked down at the gym floor sheepishly as heat flamed my cheeks.

I pushed the stray hair escaping my ponytail behind my ear and tried to not look embarrassed.

Sean observed my reaction, and I saw him smile at that.

“Come here. Do you think you can challenge me on the treadmill?”

He pointed at the treadmills placed next to each other.

I shook my head. I had already lost against him in the race. I did not want to embarrass myself again.

“Oh, come on. I will go easy on you”

Sean teased, and I stuck my tongue out at him. That earned me a chuckle as he hopped on to one of the treadmills while motioning for me to hop on the other.

“So, let us do an easy one. 5 minutes, okay?”

I nodded, and we stared at the huge mirror in front of us. Sean was physically fit and lean, but I could see a little amount of baby fat on my cheek.

That was not good. I had to stay in shape if I wanted to protect Lea, whether it was the human world or the werewolf.

He punched in the speed and other settings so that it was the same for both of us and began the countdown.

“Ready, get set, go”

After he started the stopwatch, we both began to run. Sean was not even putting in any effort. He made it look like a walk in the park while I struggled, though only a bit.

And it was even harder having the full view mirror in front of us and seeing our reflections. Sean appeared calm and confident, while I could see myself getting tired and flustered.

Plus, he had still not put on a shirt, so the sight was distracting, to say the least.

Not wanting to look to the front or the left, I kept my gaze either down on my feet or to the right. Five minutes seemed awfully long but finally, I managed to not give up before the time ended.

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Chapter 40

Hmm, not bad” Sean muttered, turning the machine off for me.

I pushed my hair out of my face again. “I have been too occupied with office work and bringing up lea. I kind of neglected training and most of the stuff we used to do here.”

Sean nodded in understanding.

“Obviously, I understand Anastasia. Raising a child all alone must be hard. And Lea is a phenomenal kid. It only shows how much effort you put into raising her right.”

I smiled at that.

“Actually, I came to talk to you about her.”

He reached for a towel and wiped his hair while asking. “Oh yeah? What is it?”

I stepped down the treadmill and answered, “You remember how she had blurted out that she wanted you to attend her PTA?”

Sean nodded while throwing the towel back on the chair and pushing a button on his treadmill. I realized he had never stopped running and, in fact, he had increased the incline twice already. “Yes, but I also saw your angry reaction, which meant you did not want her to do that.”

I looked at him guiltily.

“I still don’t like asking the favor from you but I made Lea understand that she just cannot ask you or anybody to act as her father. That is just wrong.”

He sighed.

“She is a kid. She wants what every other kid wants. You can’t blame her for that.”

I fidgeted with my fingers and replied, “Yes, I know but I also made her understand that it will all depend on if you wish to agree. She has to respect other people’s choices as well.”

Sean punched another button and I think he increased the incline again.

“That alphahole is her biological father, right?” Sean asked suddenly, surprising me.

I only blinked and stared at him. In our previous interactions, he had always been respectful of me, even if we had barely met once or twice.

But now, I could see his hatred of Julian quite clearly.

“I…yes, Julian is her father.”

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Chapter 40

He let out a sarcastic snort. “And I bet that dimwit hasn’t even asked you yet and just assumed Lea was fathered by someone else.”

I shifted my weight from one leg to another uncomfortably.

How did he know? Lea looked entirely like me and had no resemblance to Julian.

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My obvious doubt must be plastered on my face because he answered it without me having to ask

it.

“You would never cheat on him. You are not that type of a person. You might be stubborn, but you were loyal to our pack and I am damn sure you offered that same loyalty to your ex–husband, too.” I noticed the way he pronounced the word ex–husband, as if saying it caused him great physical pain.

“I….”

I struggled for a response while he added, “Plus, Lea is four. You left him five years ago. I don’t think you would magically replace someone the moment you stepped out of his life. No, you would take your

time to know a person, to trust him, and even then you would not be completely sure if you are willing to give him a part of you, a part of your soul.”

Sean explained, and I could only stare at him.

Was I that easy to read for him? I thought I was doing a pretty good job of holding up and not showing my true emotions.

But I guess his fight with Julian had given him some insights about my life. I could only curse Julian for that.

“I… don’t want to talk about her father.”

Sean nodded, “Fair enough. But someday, you have to talk to her about him.”

“Did you have a word with mom?” I mumbled to myself, but he heard it.

“No, I did not” He chuckled, but Lea is a curious little girl and the alpha blood gives her an edge over other kids. She is more aware of her surroundings than the others.”

I sighed.

“Well, I will figure out a way to tell her everything when she is old enough. But for now, can you think about her request? I promise it will be just once.”

“No,” He said flatly and my smile disappeared.

I tried not to look upset.

“Of course, you have the right to deny it. I will just tell her you are busy or something. Thanks for your time, Sean.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I said no to the last line, Anastasia.”

I blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“If me posing as her father brings a smile to her face, I would happily do that. And it would not be just once.”

Sean grinned, and relief flooded my heart. I was already beginning to imagine how to deliver the news of Sean’s refusal to her and how she would react.

“Thank you, Sean. Thanks a lot.”

He shook his head. “Don’t thank me.”

He stepped near me and was now standing directly in front of me. I could see his ripped physique up close, along with the sweat coating his chiseled body.

“I am willing to be her father in every capacity she or her mother would want me.”

I looked up at him with wide eyes, but he winked and walked back to exercising, leaving me staring at his naked back.

Then he turned around and muttered, “You still owe me that ice cream, by the way.”