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ATHENAMy chest aches. I can’t breathe. Everything feels wrong. Too loud. Too bright. I blink, and the world feels… foreign. Unfamiliar. My head spins, like I’m coming back from somewhere far away, somewhere cold, and the weight of the air is too thick. I try to move, but my body doesn’t respond. It’s like I’m trapped under something, unable to get out. The feeling of drowning is still in my throat, in my lungs, like I never really came up for air. Am I dead?I try to focus, to make sense of what’s around me. The loud beeping sound of the machine and a deep voice that keeps calling me pulls me back. But the weight in my chest, it's not just the air. It's the memory. The bubbles, lack of oxygen, and the pain I felt from my nose go all the way to my chest. I don’t know where I am. I don’t know how I got here. My heart races, and I try to breathe, but the air feels like it’s suffocating me. I gasp, my body jerking with panic, desperate for a full breath. I feel lik
ATHENAThe man,no, the stranger doesn’t answer me right away. His jaw tightens, the flicker of something dark passing through his green eyes before he masks his expression into something unreadable. Just how much have I forgotten?I watch him as I wait for him to say something, but he just watches me, and I move back even further, pulling the blanket to my chest as we remain in silence. I shift uncomfortably, my body still aching, my mind swimming through thick fog. The beeping of the machines around me fills the air, but my ears focus on the sound of my own breathing—shaky, uneven. Afraid.He knows me. But I don’t know him. And that terrifies me more than the memory of drowning. His grip on my arm is firm but careful, like he’s afraid I’ll shatter. I don’t understand why. “You were in an accident,” he finally says, his voice deep and low. “You nearly drowned.” From how my body feels, it doesn't feel anywhere near what he's saying, but I don't tell him that. I just pr
ATHENA“How long have we been married?” I ask as Alex opens the door. “Three years.” He responds.His voice is distant but his touch is gentle and it makes me wonder what type of marriage we've had. It's been a week since I've been in the hospital and I got sick of it. I wanted to come home, but I didn't know where my home was when Ariana, who happens to be my mother-in-law, told me she's my family. If it was up to her, I would have moved into their house before moving back with Alex and it made me realize immediately that his family is warm and they seem to like me. Although, from how awkward it's been, I couldn't help but wonder if there is love between us. “Oh my God!” The gasp leaves my mouth as I drink in the view. I knew it was a beautiful house just from the view on our way here, but I wasn't so sure, but now I am.“You like it?” His deep voice reaches my ear and I jump about to turn when I lose my balance but he holds me before my ass can kiss the floor.“Careful.”ThumpT
ATHENAMy heart pounds too fast, too loud. The room feels smaller, the air thick. The sound of rushing fills my ears, deafening, drowning out every other noise. I squeeze my eyes shut, but the feeling doesn’t go away. I can’t move. I can’t think. I can’t…. Stand. “Breathe.” The deep voice cuts through the panic, anchoring me for a fleeting second. Then, warm hands grip my arms, steady but firm. I flinch, my entire body trembling. “Athena, please breathe.” The command is laced with a plea. I shake my head, gasping, clawing at my chest like I can force air back into my lungs. Tears prick my eyes as I try to focus my vision. “I..t….it's hard, Alex.” I croak out. His hands tighten around me, pulling me against him. “Look at me.” I can’t. The air is too thick, too heavy. The water is still there. Watching. Waiting. Wanting to swallow me whole once again. “Damn it, Athena.” His grip shifts, his palm pressing against the side of my face, forcing me to turn toward
ATHENA “I really don’t want to be here.” I protest. Alex doesn’t even glance at me as he adjusts his cufflinks, his green eyes scanning the racetrack. “It’s just for two hours. We’ll go home soon. I couldn’t reschedule this.” I cross my arms, shifting uncomfortably in the wooden seat. The air is thick with the scent of freshly cut grass, leather, and expensive cologne. The cheers of the crowd rise and fall as another race begins, hooves pounding against the dirt track like a drumbeat. I couldn’t care less. The only thing I want is to go home. Alex, however, sits perfectly composed beside me, looking every bit the powerful billionaire he is. I must say I did wonder how an orphan girl like me landed auch a man, but I've been too scared to ask. We have a dinner coming up where I'm supposed to meet his grandmother, and I'm a nerve wreck. It's been a week since that incident, and even though I've been wanting to get some sun, this wasn't how I envisioned it. “You could’ve l
ATHENA"I'll be on the other side as I wait for the final parade. It was a pleasure to meet you miss....." "Dawson." I respond. Unsure if it's a good idea from how Alex is staring daggers at Arnold who looks unbothered."Thank you for inviting me over, Alex." The woman speaks right after the creep walks away."You're welcome. " He responds in a tone ive never heard him use on me. My fingers curl into fists in my lap, nails pressing into my palms as the scent of vanilla wraps around me like an unwelcome embrace. She stops beside Alex, a soft, knowing smile playing on her lips, and I watch their silent exchange. “Athena.” She finally acknowledges with a smile so plastic, a Barbie doll has nothing on her. “Hello.” I respond, keeping my voice neutral in case I'm wrong about her. She knows my name while I don't, and it unsettles me. “I heard what happened to you,” she says, her voice full of concern, and I almost raise my brow. “I’m sorry about that.” I force a polite smile, even
ALEX The sound of Leah’s voice grates against my ears like nails on glass. She laughs at something I didn’t say — or maybe she just likes the sound of her own voice. Either way, I don’t bother to correct her. My eyes remain fixed on the racetrack, but my mind is elsewhere. My head is a spinning mess. I've had the toughest weeks of my life and it has fucked me up. Athena has started clawing her way inside my head and I hate it. I almost lost my mind when I saw her have that panic attack two weeks ago. Then I had to bathe her completely naked. Fuck. That woman is gorgeous. Those curves. That long black hair.I've never had to fight for control the way I've had to these past days. The urge to crash my lips on hers, touch her every chance I get, has been building day by day and it's annoying as hell. I agreed to come to the race because if I didn't get some air I was going to lose my shit. But then that fucker Arnold pissed me off with his stupid remarks, and I had to hold
ATHENA “This is crazy. But fun.” I giggle as the handsome stranger whose name I've learned is Zayan pulls on the reins, and the horse moves forward. The sun is warm against my skin as the horse moves, my heart slows down and starts to beat normally, although I'm still very excited. I feel... free. For the first time in weeks, I feel something other than fear and awareness. Alex sets my soul on fire, but I'm afraid of messing up around him. It feels like I constantly have to be perfect for him, and it's not who I am. I'm messy, and I love being free. Even with a missing memory, I can tell my marriage is not one that was based on love. “Not so bad, right?” Zayan whispers in my ear, pulling me back to reality. “If we didn't have so many eyes on us. It would have been perfect.” I taunt.“I'll organize a private ride with you on our next date then.” He teases, and I hold back a laugh knowing cameras are flashing. That next date will only happen in his dreams, but I don't tell him
ALEX“Report,” I say to Ryan as I step into the Detention center where Leah is being held as she waits for trial which is the day after tomorrow.Ryan falls into step with me as we walk, and he responds. “She hasn’t said a word. She keeps pleading the Fifth. Detectives can’t get anything out of her. She’s been stonewalling since the moment she was brought in.”I stop walking and turn to face him slowly, my eyes narrowing.“What?”Ryan stiffens, swallowing hard. He looks like he’s seen a damn ghost.I stare at him, my jaw clenched so hard I’m shocked my teeth are not falling off.“Ryan,” I say with deadly calm, “you have ten seconds to explain what the hell you’re talking about.”He flinches slightly, but then his eyes meet mine, “It seems she has someone backing her. Otherwise, why would she be so confident and arrogant with all this evidence against her?”I breathe in through my nose, slowly, carefully. Hoping it will calm me down.It doesn’t. It fucking makes me see red.“She asked
ATHENA“Dr. Athena!” A sweet, small voice calls as the door swings open.Rayen rushes in, a whirlwind of tiny footsteps and excitement, and jumps into my arms before I can even react.I catch him with a soft oof, my arms instinctively wrapping around his tiny frame.His warmth, his smell, his messy curls pressed against my cheek, and it all hits me like a punch to the chest.God, I missed him.It’s only been a week since our last play date, but it felt like eternity. Like some sort of cruel punishment. I had to stay in the shadows to set the trap for Leah, but every second away from him, knowing he was my son, tortured me.I can’t believe this little angel who giggles in his sleep and asks me if clouds cry when it rains is actually mine.The one who slowly took my heart for himself with no plans of returning it back to me.My little prince.“I made you a card,” he announces proudly, leaning back to pull out a folded sheet of paper from his jacket pocket. The crayon strokes are bold a
ALEX“What the hell happened to you?” Luca asks as I walk through the hospital car park. I'm really not in the mood to talk. So I glare at him and grab my car keys. Athena looked stressed so I'm hoping bringing Rayen will calm her mind as we wait for Sloane to wake up. He will be heartbroken once he finds out his favorite aunt is in hospital. I don't even know how to break the news to him. Hell, I don't know how to tell him Athena is his mother. I'm still trying to find a way to explain that.“I just saw Zayan and the whole clan walk into Athena’s room. Aren't you missing out on the party?” Luca asks, and I halt my steps, turning to face him.“What?” He laughs, “She must have told you shit that bled your heart for you not to notice.” I lock my jaw. “Pick up Rayen from his daycare and bring him here. Also-” I pause, stepping closer. “I want you to keep an eye on Athena. I don’t trust anyone else to protect her.”Luca raises a brow, the playfulness fading, “Do you have someone y
ATHENA “I am safe,” I say, forcing a weak smile, trying to play it off. I don't like worrying people. Zayan has become someone special to me over the years. He is one of the few people who actually cares about me, and it hurts me seeing him like this. His mother is not my biggest fan but Rose, his sister inlaw always tells me it's not just me she's like that with everyone. So I guess I no longer felt bad whenever we hang out. But truly, I am grateful to Zayan, without him, I don’t know if I would have found the strength to meet Anna and uncover the truth about my son. “I mean, technically I’m breathing, so that counts, right?” I try to lighten the mood, but fail miserably because his glare only increases.His jaw is clenched, his brows drawn so tightly they almost touch. He stares at me like he can’t decide if he wants to hug me tighter or scream until the walls shake.“You almost died,” he says. “Again.”Speaking of which, I need to investigate who was powerful enough to back Le
ATHENAI wrap my arms around myself, trying to take a proper breath and decide what comes next. Isabelle came to check on me, and I was about to rush out when she relieved me with an update.Sloane is stable now.Still unconscious, but stable.And I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure she walks again, even if I have to give her my own damn legs.The door creaks open.I glance up.Alex steps in and pauses mid-step when he sees me awake. I guess he wasn’t expecting that.“Why do you look shocked? Where were you hoping I’d die?” I mock, not bothering to hide my annoyance. “You’re awake?” he says softly, ignoring the insult I just hit him with.Alexander King? Having a soft voice?It’s strange. All my life, Alex’s voice has been clipped and cold. Not this.I nod once, my throat dry, feeling like I’ve swallowed sandpaper.He walks toward the side of the bed, carefully lowering himself into the chair like he's afraid he'll break me just by existing. In his hands is a paper bag and a tak
ALEXShit! I curse under my breath.I catch her before she hits the floor, her weight folding into my arms like a puppet with its strings cut.“Athena!” I shout, lowering her gently, cradling her head as panic claws up my throat. “I need a doctor right now!”Isabelle is instantly beside me, checking Athena’s pulse, her expression calm, but I can see her resolve cracking.It's her best friend, after all. “We need a stretcher!”A nurse rushes in with one, and I lift Athena onto it carefully, my hand refusing to let go of hers even as Isabelle moves to wheel her away.“Let us take it from here, Alex,” Isabelle says gently.But I hesitate.For a second, I think if I just hold on tighter, maybe I can keep her from slipping further away and from shutting me out completely. But I nod and step back.She disappears down the hall, and I’m left standing in the silence that follows.Noah drops into a chair, his hands buried in his hair while his shoulders shake with quiet despair. Ian stands
ALEXThe walls of the hospital feel like they’re closing in.The lights overhead are buzzing too damn loud, the sterile air stings my nose, and the rhythmic ticking of the clock on the wall claws at what’s left of my sanity.I don’t speak.I haven’t said a word since we got here.I sit, with my elbows on my knees, my fingers locked tight, and my jaw clenched so hard it aches. Every part of me is burning, vibrating with a fury I’m barely keeping caged.Not at the universe. Not at fate.At me.I let this happen.I let Leah get that close.I fell for her lies.Over and over again.I believed her sob story. Let her manipulate me. And in doing so, I said the unthinkable to Athena. For the past five years, I've felt indebted to her. Not knowing I was a jackpot in her game. Pictures of me plastered on the wall in her secret room are drilled in my fucking mind. What a fool I've been.Me!Alexander King. Fooled from the word go and played like fucking ping-pong. I thought she saved me. Ima
ATHENA The shot rings out.I brace for the pain, for the heat of the bullet tearing through my flesh.But it never comes.I’m still standing.I'm still breathing.Frozen.My heart slams against my ribs as the world slows around me.And then-“No!”A body crashes into mine, shoving me hard to the side.I stumble, catching myself against the edge of a table.That’s when I hear it, a guttural gasp, the sound of someone choking on breath. The thud of a body hitting marble.Blood splatters.I look down my body and realize it's not mine.My eyes widen as I turn.Someone took the bullet.For me.From the corner of my eye, I can see Leah screaming, thrashing, wild-eyed like a mad woman.. But the officers are on her now, four of them tackling her to the ground, ripping the gun from her hands.My ears ring.The voices fade.Someone’s shouting my name, but it sounds like it’s coming from underwater.Everything begins to blur, hitting me all at once.A gun.Shoot.Not me.I look to the side and
ATHENALeah stares at the dress like it's made of poison.I could poison it, but that would have been too merciful.Her hands tremble as she clutches the dresser behind her for balance. “You’re bluffing,” she whispers, her voice cracking beneath the weight of panic. “You can’t- none of this-this isn’t legal!”I take another step closer and smile. It’s not kind. It’s not warm. It’s the smile of a woman who’s been pushed too far, who’s crawled her way through hell and came back with fire in her veins.“Oh, sweetheart,” I say, leaning in until our noses almost touch, “do I look like I care about what’s legal? I think you and I already crossed that line. ”She flinches.“ You know the first thing that hit me when I found out what you had done? I wanted to drown you the way you did to me. But then I realized there was a better way. Whatever you love, I’ll take it. Every fucking thing attached to your name, I will rip it from you and burn it to ashes. Everything you've been craving, will