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ATHENA“We can't treat you. Our hospital is full, and if I get you the bill, I bet you won't be able to afford it.” Annie says, and I have to stop everything I'm doing to ensure I heard her right.Annie is PGY-4, so she is a pain in the ass but she is good at what she does and is my senior, so you can only imagine what I have to deal with. “Dr. Please! My father is dying and we won't have enough time to make it to another hospital!” A young girl who doesn't look to be over twenty cries as she begs her to admit her father. “All this begging is time you’re wasting!” Annie snaps, her arms crossed, annoyance etched into every line of her face.I slam the patient chart shut and whirl around.“Excuse me?” My voice slices through the halls of the ER like a scalpel.Annie turns to me with that smug little smile she always wears when she thinks she’s untouchable.“This isn’t charity, Dawson. We have protocols and capacity limits—”“No.” I step forward, fire burning in my chest. “What we have
ATHENAMy heart stutters. That voice.Even if the years had dulled it, even if time had blurred every echo of that night, I’d still recognize it anywhere.Leah.The last time I saw her, she was standing in the doorway of my apartment with Alex’s child in her arms.Rubbing it in my face that she had what I could never give him even if I tried. I looked at the child for the first time, and my heart shattered. He was the spitting image of Alex with his eyes. I shut the door in her face and applied to work in the furthest hospital I could find. And now, she’s here.Why is she here?Dressed in a tailored navy-blue suit with a white coat, her hair pulled back in a bun that does nothing to soften the features on her face. She’s flanked by six doctors, clearly a surgical team, all in identical white coats, all standing like soldiers in formation behind their commander.The same smug expression I remember curls on her lips as she stops just a few steps from me.“Well, well,” Leah muses, her
ATHENAI manage a nod, ice creeping into my veins. “Such wonderful news!”“I’m glad you think so too,” she says brightly, before stepping past me. “I look forward to working with you. I'll teach you so much!”Is it illegal to smack someone's head?It would be great if it wasn't!Her entourage follows her like moths to a flame, leaving behind a cold draft of resentment.“I don't get how people like her end up in delicate places like these!” A voice sounding extremely annoyed reaches my ears, and I turn to find a beautiful redhead. With her arms crossed. Her coat isn’t white like the others, but navy trimmed with gold…Wait!That's a senior attending coat!The badge on her chest reads: Dr. Isabelle Whitmore, Trauma Surgery Lead, Quinns Institute Exchange Program.And beneath it, stitched into the fabric in silver thread: Chief Surgical Consultant, Level V Trauma.I blink. Not knowing what to say. “What's your name?” she asks.“Athena. Athena Dawson.”She looks at me before nodding,
ATHENA My breath halts. My spine locks.Because the hand holding my waist in a firm, grounding grip belongs to him.My sworn enemy!His touch scorches right through the fabric of my coat despite the glacial look on his face.Up close, he’s even more infuriatingly gorgeous. His blonde hair is slicked back like a halo of arrogance, sharp cheekbones set in stone, and those green eyes, God, those eyes narrow with a cold disapproval. He looks older and harder. But even more good-looking! It's more like the devil with an angel's face.I jerk away from his grip like it burns. “I’m fine,” I say through clenched teeth, already bracing myself for the venom.“Clearly,” he mutters, brushing invisible dust off his sleeve like I’ve contaminated him.Iann turns, and he frowns upon seeing Alex. I guess I'm not the only shocked one. “Quinn.” Alex acknowledges.“Am I supposed to get offended that my best friend showed up without giving me a heads up?” Ian pouts, and Alex rolls his eyes.I step away
ATHENAI don't know how long has passed, but it feels like it's been hours. The air in the elevator feels like it’s closing in around me, suffocating. My breath quickens, and every beat of my heart feels like it's being crushed beneath the weight of the darkness, the pressure growing in my chest with every passing second. I can feel my pulse in my ears, the pounding relentless. It’s like I can’t breathe. The tightness in my throat is almost unbearable, and I instinctively grip the rail in front of me, digging my nails into the cold metal, hoping it will anchor me. But nothing helps. The panic is building inside me, a tidal wave crashing in my chest.Get it together, Athena. You’re not that girl anymore. You're alive and kicking!But no matter how many times I try to tell myself that, the memories keep flooding back. The panic. The water. The helplessness. It feels like I’m being dragged down, pulled into the depths.I swallow hard, my hands shaking, my fingers cold against the s
ALEXOne year six months.That's how long has passed since I last saw her. I must say I was taken aback when I bumped into her. I must also confess that I've struggled with myself since that night. When I'm not thinking about my son, it's her occupying my head like a damn virus that won't let me go. She's in my head, my skin and in my fucking heart and it's damn annoying. When Iann gave me the paternity results that showed I was Rayen's father, I had so much anger I didn't even stop to think I had cheated. The worst part is I don't even fucking remember doing so. But then I remembered what she did. How she cheated on me. Killed my son just to be with bastard and my anger returned ten folds. But she ruined my fucking plans when I saw her panick attack return. Seeing her struggle to breathe and lose her balance when the elevator stopped did something to me. I thought she was better. Despite what she fucking did, I've been watching her. I'll need to kick Lucas's ass for not having fo
ALEX“You don't want this anymore? Am I too much?” Tears well in her eyes and I sigh. You see the difference, when she cries it does nothing to me. But when Athena…Fuck!“Get In I drop you home. I have to rush back to the office.” “Okay.” She gives me a smile and steps closer, placing a kiss on my cheek. Opening the car door, I seat in my driver's seat before glancing back at Rayen. He’s quiet in the car seat, clutching the little bunny plushie he refuses to sleep without. His eyes are wide and uncertain as he watches me. I run a hand down my face and exhale slowly.I’m supposed to protect him.But how the hell do I protect him from ghosts that won’t stay buried?Leah is buckling up when the question slips out of my mouth.“Rayen, buddy?” My voice is soft.His wide eyes look up, “Yes, Daddy?”“Why did you call Ath- that woman that?”Leah flinches slightly, her voice suddenly softer as she responds instead. “Haha, Alex, you can't tell me you're thinking so deeply about that! Maybe
ALEX“Pour me a drink,” I demand the moment I walk into the room and throw myself on Ian's office couch. Iann looks at me like I’ve grown a second head.“Hello to you too,” he mutters, rolling his eyes halfway.Iann and I have been best friends for five years now. Met at some dull conference and clicked, rare for me. But I guess Luca will just have to suck it up.He’s a petty bastard that's for sure. When Ethan threatened to expose my illness over his damn cousin, I was furious at Iann. Thought he’d sold me out. But then I realized... he hadn’t taken sides. He stayed neutral because, as he put it, “I take my career very seriously.”He didn’t betray me. Which left one question:Who the hell did?It couldn’t have been Leah. If anything, that secret is the only thing keeping me tethered to her. Why burn her leverage?“You're a shitty host.” I mutter.“I'm not hosting anything. Besides, this is a hospital office and not a pub. Also, you're supposed to stay away from alcohol!”“It’s not
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