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
ATHENA“He doesn’t mean it” Ariana says, and I almost laugh at that. She had come to pick me up so we could go shopping, but I thought it would be nice for the men to tag along. What a stupid idea this was. We had just reached the door when I heard Alex talk about how I was shoved down his throat. The pain that I feel is not new, but it doesn't hurt any less. “I know he loves her. It's not news to me.” I look at my mother inlaw before knocking on the door. Ariana sighs as she opens Alex's door and walks in. “Mum.” Alex sits upright. “Hi Sweetheart, I was about to come to you.” Eli says, and Ariana smiles, placing a kiss on his lips. “We haven't done much, we thought we could join you, but I'm not sure today is a good day.” Ariana says as Alex stands to give her a kiss. This is the only time you'll ever get to see his soft eyes. When he’s looking at his mother and grandmother, “Hi.” I say slowly. Not knowing what else to say to him. “Hi.” He responds, “You can sit on the couc
ATHENA“We failed him at one point. And honestly, I'd do anything to turn back time and reverse it. It's my biggest regret.” Ariana begins, but I don't interrupt her. “Eli and I were trying so hard to keep the legacy of the King family was going. So you know this life, meetings after meetings and trip after trip. He was the decision maker and the enforcer. I was the strategist. We went everywhere together because we worked best together. But after I had Alexander, I didn't slow down. I gave birth to him and let Giana and Raymond raise him with the help of the nannies.Time flew so fast, I didn't even realize my son was growing up without his mother's presence. In a blink of an eye, he turned eighteen, and I missed his birthday. But you know what breaks my heart?”Tears are now falling as she looks at me, and I don't know what to say. Ariana has always been so strong, she has never been the type to show weakness and I admire that about her but I'm also moved that she trusts me en
One month later….. “You look beautiful.” Zayan says, and I laugh as I stuff another piece of apple pie in my mouth. “I'll take that as a compliment.” I was bored out of my mind, and I'd have done anything to pass time so I wouldn't think about labor just for one more second. Sadly, I had missed my white coat ceremony. It broke my heart, but Ariana said we would fix It once I gave birth. Anyway, so I tried reaching out to Sloane, but she had left the country, Mira was busy, and Noah was doing the meeting things the Kings do. My husband, however, was nowhere to be seen. At this point, I don't even know if he still lives In our home. So, left with only one choice, I called Zayan, who was more than happy to hang out with a pregnant woman. We've been hanging out for some time, and it's been fun. I also learned that he's actually a doctor but rides horses to lay off some steam. Which is pretty cool. I was unable to share much about me, and I just told him the basics. You kno
ATHENAMy fingers tighten around the doorknob as I stare at Alex. His green eyes burn into me with an intensity that makes my chest feel tight. There’s no mistaking the anger simmering that look, but his voice remains dangerously calm when he speaks.“There she is. The mother of my unborn child.”The way he says it sends a chill down my spine. My heart hammers, but I refuse to let him see the effect he has on me. I push the door shut behind me and drop my bag onto the small table by the entrance. I grab my takeaway pack and sit on the couch, trying to seem unbothered even though my heart is in my throat.“I didn’t realize you still lived here,” I say, my tone laced with mockery.His lips twitch in something that is far from a smile, and he slowly rises to his feet. The air in the room shifts. Alex never raises his voice, but his presence alone is suffocating.When he speaks, you hear him, no matter how low his tone is.“I’ve been busy,” he replies, rolling up his sleeves even further
ATHENA I don't know how we get to the hospital or how I find myself in the VIP room. But all I know is I'm suddenly on the bed with an IV on my hand. Those G****e searches I did about how labor occurs didn't prepare me enough for this. I groan as the world spins while the contractions come in waves, slow at first, like an approaching storm. I grip the bedsheets, my breathing uneven as the dull ache in my lower back sharpens. The nurse moves around the room, checking the monitors, speaking in a calm voice, but her words blur into the background. "You're only three centimeters dilated," she says, offering me an encouraging smile. "We still have a long way to go." How encouraging. I grimace. Three. I exhale sharply, frustration mixing with the discomfort. Every second feels like an eternity. Alex stands by the bed, watching me, his arms crossed. The usual arrogance in his expression is gone, replaced by something unreadable. Concern? Guilt? I don't care. I don't want him her
ALEX “Alex… I…can't ..mmmffffff ”I tighten my grip.I'm so fucking angry, I can feel the blood boiling in my veins like acid. My pulse is pounding in my ears, drowning out everything and painting everything red.Her nails dig into my wrist, but it’s useless. I don’t loosen my grip.She kicks harder now, making strangled sounds like a dying animal. Her eyes are wild, mascara running down her face as the panic sets in. I lean in close, my lips by her ear."Did you think you were going to walk away clean? Surely you can't be that delusional or are you?"She shakes her head, or tries to.Her hands slap weakly at my chest."If I have to ask you one more fucking time to confess what you did, I'll shred you to pieces.”I drop her.She crumples like a ragdoll, coughing and gasping, her hand flying to her neck.She looks up at me through smeared makeup and horror-stricken eyes.“You…” she wheezes, her voice broken. “You could’ve loved me…”“You should’ve chosen me!” she screams suddenly, po
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