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ATHENAThe weight of his words presses down on me like a crushing avalanche, suffocating me with each syllable. His words… his accusations… they pierce through my already fragile heart like daggers.The pain from labor suddenly feels numb as compared to how much he has injured me. “Not his face, and certainly not his grave.” The pain that erupts in me is unimaginable. I can’t breathe. It feels like the air is stolen from my lungs, the very oxygen I need to survive now out of reach.I look down at the divorce papers he’s just thrown at me, the words on the page blurring as my tears pool in my eyes. My vision goes foggy. Everything around me seems distant, unreal, like I’m watching this whole scene unfold from far away.Did he really just say that? Did he truly believe that I could kill our son? That I could willingly harm the child I carried for so long?I don't know how much time passes. It feels like a lifetime in this silence, this unbearable stillness.The tension between us, th
ALEX “Take everything away from him. I want his father's company ruined, and his career shattered.” I instruct Ryan.It's been a week since I processed the divorce papers, and instead of feeling better, I feel even more angry. She easily signed the damned papers for someone who denied what was right in front of her. As if it wasn't enough, Zayan drove her home. What a disgusting sight. “Alex, maybe you need to slow down.” Noah's annoying voice reaches my ears, and I turn to glare at him.“I'd shut the fuck up if I were you.” I grind out as I grab my glass of whiskey. I'm not a heavy drinker but fuck, I can use a few right now. I want to ruin Zayan, starting with his father's stupid political career to his damned one as a doctor. “Text Ian, I want Zayan fired and if he's still at the hospital tomorrow, we are going to have a problem.” I grind out before taking another sip. Luca is quietly watching. Wise choice. I don’t need anyone questioning me right now. Especially not m
ATHENA One week later….I'm going through the hardest time of my life. Nothing I do seems to close the hole in my chest. Giana and Ariana have been reaching out, but I haven't had the strength to face them. Not since that day when the guards threw me out at the orders of Alexander. I didn't call for them because I was ashamed and that was what Alex wanted. To humiliate me. The cruel bastard wouldn't even let me send my son off. I have no memory of what he looks like and now I don't know where he was buried. I've cried an ocean but none of it seems to be working well for me. I had received an offer to do internship In the outskirts of the city where there has been an outbreak of a virus. So here I am. Waiting for my flight when I hear angry steps walking towards me. I look up to find a face I've never seen before. She looks ready to bite my face off and before I can say anything, she tries to land a slap on my face but I block her. Not today. “You bitch! How dare you ruin m
ATHENA“You're only sitting before me because of the respect I have for you.” Alex says rudely to Ethan, who seems unbothered by his remark. “Perks of being rich, I believe. So I trust you know why I'm here?” He responds.Alex leans back in his chair, his eyes focused on me and dancing with so much hate it makes me shift uncomfortably, “No I don't. Please enlighten me.” I keep my face impassive, but the weight of Alex’s gaze burns through me. He knows exactly why Ethan Sinclair is sitting across from him, yet he’s playing coy, making me feel small, insignificant-like I’m not even worth acknowledging.Rose is sitting by my side, and her lips are pressed into a thin line, showing she has so much to say but will let her husband handle it. Ethan, however, is unfazed. He leans back casually in his chair, fingers tapping against the polished wood of Alex’s desk. The room is silent except for the faint ticking of a clock mounted on the wall behind us.“You’re going to reinstate Zayan,”
ALEXTALK ABOUT A SHITTY DAY!My mood was already sour from the fight I had with Mum on my way to work. She wants to give half of my wealth to Athena. Fucking half!To a fucking murderer and cheater!As if that wasn't crazy enough, Athena had to summon Ethan Sinclair. How the fuck does she even know him?Did they have a little reunion of meet and greet?Let's meet each other's relatives dinner?I don't even think I've ever had a conversation with the Sinclairs. I've known about them but not been interested enough to speak to any of them… well …until Zayan.Just the thought of those two scheming has my heart twisting in anger!Promising each other marriage?I almost laugh at the audacity!She dared.She actually dared to bring another man, Ethan Sinclair of all people! into my office to demand her reinstatement, to demand Zayan’s reinstatement. She didn’t come begging or pleading. No, she walked in here like she had some kind of right, like she wasn’t the one who ruined everything.
ALEXI'm many things, but stupid is not one of them. I also know what it takes to have a baby, and I've never touched Leah, nor have I ever kissed her.Is she another liar?I clench my hands into fists as I step back, feeling disgusted at women's desperation to have anything. “Get out of my office.” I growl. “Alex, the child is really yours.” She pushes, ignoring my cold glare. “I've never touched you Leah, it takes semen to knock someone up, and I'd know if I placed my dick where it shouldn't be.” My voice is cold even to my ears. Leah flinches but maintains her stance. Is she dense or what?“Remember that night?”“What night?”Leah sighs, looking hurt like I just slapped her. She moves behind and takes a seat on the couch. “Remember that night when you came home so angry, I tried to comfort you with my body. We were in the heat of the moment, and I ended up getting pregnant. I couldn't tell you because Athena had just gotten pregnant too. So I left to give birth abroad.”That's
ATHENATwo days later….“I don't know how it came to this, my dear. But always know that you're welcome and this is your home.” Giana pulls my hands into hers. Today marks four months since I got divorced from Alex, and this is the first time I'm facing his grandmother. I had no idea what to say to her, especially since it felt like it was my fault.I lost the baby, and I have no way of proving otherwise. “I'm sorry I robbed you of the chance to see Rayen grow.” I whisper as tears roll down my face.My wounds have never healed, and every day is harder. Giana's grip on my hands tightens, her warmth a stark contrast to the cold emptiness inside me. Her eyes, filled with a depth of understanding I don’t deserve, shimmer with unshed tears. “My sweet girl,” she murmurs, brushing a strand of hair from my face. “You didn’t rob me of anything. Life is cruel, and sometimes, it takes more than it gives. But you… you are still here.” I shake my head, the weight of grief pressing down on my
ATHENASLAP!I hit him so hard his face pauses on the side from the shock of my delivery!How dare this scumbag mock me after everything he’s put me through?The anger I feel right now can't be explained. He blames me. I get it, but this is the last stroll, and I've had enough!Especially when I look at the baby he's holding, he doesn't look more than five months old and if my math is correct, that means the asshole cheated on me and got us pregnant at the same time!“How dare you?” I spit, my voice trembling with rage, heartbreak, and months of bottled-up pain. “You cheated, lied, humiliated me, and now you use my son’s name to mock me?”The room is frozen. No one speaks. Even the baby in Leah’s arms starts to whimper at the sudden tension in the air.Alex slowly straightens, his jaw clenched, cheek reddened from the blow. He looks stunned, like he didn’t expect me to still have fire in me after all he’s done.“Don’t you ever speak to me like that again,” I snap, my chest heaving.
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
ATHENAFLASHBACK7 days ago….“It’s only been two hours. Don’t be so anxious,” Zayan says to me, but it does nothing to calm the storm raging inside me.Alex is unpredictable.He may think I fabricated the evidence, and that’s not even the worst that could happen. Leah could get her hands on the documents, twist the story like she always does, and paint me as a manipulator.I’m pacing the length of Zayan’s office, chewing on my nail, with nerves clawing up my throat when the door suddenly slams open, and I nearly jump out of my skin.Alex stands there like a force of nature. His shoulders are rigid, his chest is heaving, and those wild green eyes are locked onto me with pure fury.“Get the fuck out,” he growls, low and dangerous. Zayan straightens from where he’s leaning against the desk, glaring at Alex. “It’s my office,” he snaps.I flick my desperate gaze toward Zayan, silently begging him to give us a moment. Zayan hesitates for just a moment before he sighs and grabs his jacke
LEAHSix days later…“I hope you secure a good fortune after paying ten million for a ridiculous wedding dress!” Mum snaps as she adjusts the hem of my robe.“Can we see it?” she asks, her voice softer this time, almost curious.“No," I say, flipping my hair over my shoulder. "It’s not with me. I had to do makeup first.”Dad grumbles something under his breath, still pale from the heart attack he nearly had when the bank called him.Apparently, when someone drops ten million on a dress, the financial world panics.They thought I’d lost my card. That some thief was out there playing dress-up with my future.But no. I signed the authorization myself and left a copy with the boutique, just in case I change my mind and want a refund later.Not that it matters.Ten million is nothing compared to how much I’ll be entitled to once the vows are said, and my last name is King.“In a few minutes," I remind them with a sparkling smile, "Alexander King will be your son-in-law. Do you have any ide