Second one for today. Happy reading. :-)
ALEX“You don't need to worry about it. I have my people working on it.” I say to Leah as she watches me. “But-”“Let's talk later.” I cut her off. Unable to hold a longer conversation. My mind is going wild, and honestly, anything that has to do with Athena seems to drive me insane .Pregnant. The word echoes in my head on a fucking loop. I wouldn't ask how because I know what we've been doing the Past weeks. I however didn't think of the outcome. “Medical Director” is written on the door as I push it open. Many may expect an old man sitting behind that desk but it isn't. He's a genius and even though he was born in old money, he still deserves the position. “Look who decided to stop by.” Ian teases and I ignore him, placing myself in the seat opposite him. The bastard is the best in the medical field and genuinely one of the few I actually respect. “You know why I'm here.” I get straight to the point, having no time for pleasantries. Ian Quinn watches me before pulling
ATHENAI’m eleven weeks pregnant, and I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that Alex accepted the baby so easily.Well… accepted is an understatement. The man is thrilled.In the four-plus years I’ve known him, Alex has always been a wall of steel, cold, distant, and unreadable. But the moment he found out about the baby, something changed.He never misses a single appointment, insists on carrying my vitamins everywhere, and watches me like I might break at any moment. It’s almost funny. Almost.But beneath my quiet amusement, there’s guilt.Because no matter how much I want to enjoy this, no matter how much I am enjoying it, one thought keeps gnawing at me.Is this really happiness? Or is it just another illusion?I can’t shake the feeling that he’s only here because of the baby. Without this child, he would have already left.Left to be with her.I know better than to fool myself. Time doesn’t change everything.I’ve been married to Alex for three years, and in all that time, I
ATHENAAlex: [ What are you doing?]I stare at the message while I stuff another spoon of ice cream in the mouth. I've been staying home while I think of what to do about my white coat ceremony when I receive a text from a man who has never sent me a message before. He's been there but physically speaking to me, never on the phone. Me: [Eating Ice cream]Alex: [Okay, we need to go somewhere?]I frown as I type in a response. Me: [Where? I'm eating ice cream.]I know that might sound ridiculous to him, but I feel like I'll die if I don't quench this thirst.No response. Ten minutes later, I still get no reply, which makes me shrug as I continue watching my anime series. The door opens, and Alex steps in. He looks incredibly hot.I mean, when does he ever look average. That blonde hair tussled from running his hands through it so much. His perfect suit with no line out of place. He walks over to me, and I freeze. Is he angry because of what I said? Now he's going to snap. Tears w
ATHENA I stare at the mansion in front of me, my jaw practically on the floor. Mansion? No. This is practically a castle. The grand structure looms before me, its towering presence, and intricate stonework, giving it the appearance of something straight out of a royal fairytale. Elegant balconies are curved, massive arched windows facing me as my eyes widen into shock. The sheer size of the place makes my stomach flip. "Alex…" I whisper, “What is this place?” I ask. “I got you a little gift.” He shrugs, and I laugh. His idea of a small gift is a wonder. I turn to him, and he’s watching me closely, his hands shoved into his pockets like he’s waiting for my verdict. His usual cool, unreadable expression is replaced with something new. It almost looks like… uncertainty. “You don't like it?” He asks, his expression worried, and I almost tease him, but I hold back. Without hesitation, I rush toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck and peppering his face with wet, overe
ATHENA Without warning, she rushes forward and wraps her arms around Alex in a tight hug. I stiffen. My arms cross over my chest, a strange, unwelcome heat crawling up my spine. Who the hell is she? If she was family I'd probably know because I've been around this family for over three years. Alex doesn’t hug her back. In fact, he just stands there, his body rigid, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His expression is unreadable, his usual glare gracing her presence making a smile almost slip out from my lips. I'm still mad she's touching him though.The woman pulls back slightly, tilting her head at him. "Five years, Alex. Five damn years, and you're still too stiff to hug me back? Unbelievable." She shakes her head, letting out an amused scoff before stepping back. Alex exhales before pulling her off him but shockingly he doesn't look irritated. He finally turns to me, "Athena, this is my annoying cousin, Sloane." Cousin? Oh. His tone is dry, edged with somethi
ATHENA A small baby bump. My mind repeats over and over again. “Athena!” Leah walks towards me and hugs me. I stiffen not knowing what to do with this affection. I'm wearing a lose Tshirt and jeans so I'm pretty sure I'm not showing unless you touch me, Leah however, is in a tight-fitting dress with her bump right on display for everyone to see. My heart stops, feeling like the world is suddenly spinning. “Congratulations. Didn't know you were married.” Sloane points out not missing the sarcasm in her tone. Leah laughs, as she turns to Sloane and tries to hug her but the eye she gives her makes her think otherwise. “I didn't know you were back, Sloane. It's good to see you.” My mouth is dry and I'm speechless. Who is the father of the child she's carrying? She didn't deny not being married either. Am I missing something? Suddenly I feel anger Start to brew inside me. Did Alex play me? I wouldn't even call it playing since I've known he's always loved her. Bile rises in my
ATHENAA thick, suffocating darkness surrounds me. Cold. Wet. Heavy. I can’t breathe. Water clings to my skin, soaking through my clothes, and weighing me down. My legs kick, my arms thrash, but there’s no solid ground beneath me. Only the endless, inky abyss swallowing me whole. I try to scream, but the moment I open my mouth, water rushes in. It burns. It fills my lungs, dragging me deeper, deeper until all I can hear is the muffled roar of my heartbeat and the distant echoes of my own cries. Then suddenly, A hand. It grips my shoulder, fingers digging in painfully. Not to save me. Not to pull me up. To push me further down. “No,” I choke, bubbles escaping my lips. I claw at the hand, at the unseen force keeping me trapped in this nightmare, but it’s too strong. The water is cold, but my chest burns, and my body convulses, desperate for air. I see shadows above me. A towering figure watching. Laughing. And then I’m falling…Not through water, but through dark
ALEXThree months later…..Frustrating doesn’t even come close to describing Athena these past three months.She’s six months long now, and every day it feels like there’s a new side of her I’m seeing. I get it, it’s not easy carrying life inside you. But damn, some days, it feels like the world is going to swallow her whole. I’ve never felt so powerless. No matter what she’s going through, there’s nothing I can do to fix it. She’s pregnant and diagnosed with PTSD, and it makes everything feel like it’s on a knife’s edge. I’m walking around on eggshells, trying not to make it worse. I want to help, but it seems like the harder I try, the more I fail.I dive into the pool, the cool water enveloping me like a second skin, hoping it’ll clear my mind, even just for a moment.I'm not sure how long I swim when my muscles feel like they're burning. Sitting by the pool's edge, I grab my phone to check for any email I might have when I stumble upon a photo. Someone sent it to me but it's a p
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