"A New Year's Reckoning"

As I pushed open the door to the dimly lit bar, the bell above it rang out, and I scanned the room for a familiar face. The bartender, a gruff but kind man named Joe, nodded at me from behind the counter, his eyes flicking to the corner of the room where Bethany sat, sipping a glass of wine. I made my way over, my heart pounding in my chest. We hadn't spoken in months, not since the day I'd signed over my rights to Alex and Bethany. Bethany looked up as I approached, her eyes locking onto mine with an unnerving intensity. She was even more striking than I remembered, her new look drawing attention to her curves and features. Her skin had a radiant glow, and her hair was styled in loose waves that cascaded down her back. She smiled, and I felt a pang of discomfort. This was a new Bethany, one who seemed to embody a seductive confidence that made me feel like a relic of the past. I slid into the booth across from her, trying to read her expression. "You said you wanted to talk," I said, my voice neutral. Bethany set her glass down, her eyes never leaving mine. "I did. I wanted to see you, to talk to you about... everything." Her voice was husky, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. I raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite myself. "Everything?" Bethany nodded, her smile growing wider. "Yes. The kids, Alex, me... our new life." She leaned forward, her eyes sparkling with a mischievous glint. "I wanted to see how you're doing, to see if you're adjusting to your new reality." I snorted, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "Adjusting? You mean, am I still alive?" Bethany's expression faltered for a moment, and I saw a glimmer of the woman I used to know, the one I'd fallen in love with. But it was quickly replaced by a mask of confidence and seductress-like charm. "I'm glad you're coping," she said, her voice dripping with sincerity. "But that's not what I wanted to talk to you about." I raised an eyebrow, curious despite myself. "What did you want to talk to you about, then?" Bethany leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I wanted to talk to you about the future. About the kids." My heart skipped a beat as I realized where this conversation was headed. "What about the kids?" Bethany's eyes locked onto mine, her expression intense. "I wanted to ask you... are you sure you don't want to be a part of their lives?" I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my breath catching in my throat. Was this a test? A way for Bethany to gauge my reaction? Or was she genuinely asking me to re-enter their lives? I didn't know, but I knew one thing – I had to tread carefully.