"What are you doing here, Ewan?" Athena asked, her voice calm yet laced with an unmistakable hint of irritation.
What was this foolish man doing, appearing in her life at every turn like so unwelco specter? Hadn’t she made it perfectly clear that she wanted him nowhere near her or the children?
She bit her lip in frustration, trying to stifle the swirling anger within her. Was this why the guards had rolled out the red carpet for them today?
Glancing around at the other parents in the special section, a few familiar faces caught her eye. They were the shareholders of the school—she had done her research before enrolling the kids. She wasn’t a part of their elite circle, but Ewan was. The realization sank deep; it was safe to assu Ewan had orchestrated this whole thing, pulling strings to ensure they were here.
Athena shook her head in disbelief, deciding not to waste another mont waiting for Ewan’s reply, which seed to be taking an eternity.
He was too busy reveling in the sight of her children, who, thankfully, pretended to be completely oblivious to his presence.
"I’m out of here," She muttered, turning to Gianna. "Let’s find so space in the other sections. I refuse to be uncomfortable today."
"Athena..." Ewan called out, but she was already striding away, the twins eager to follow her lead, their youthful energy propelling them forward.
Ewan’s expression shifted, lips pressed thin, a mixture of frustration and inscrutability passing over his features.
As Athena and her family descended the stairs, they were intercepted by the head teacher, whose tightly controlled smile sent a pang of unease through her. This was the kind of smile that signaled trouble.
"You can’t join the other sections," The woman stated, retaining her professional façade.
"Why not?" Gianna chid in, frowning in confusion.
"Every seat has been accounted for for a couple of days now. We make arrangents ahead of ti to avoid complications. So, every seat here..." The teacher gestured toward the crowded section filled with beaming parents and excited children, "has been taken. I suggest you return to your previous seats please."
Athena’s jaw clenched as she caught the earnestness in the woman’s gaze.
"Please, Doctor Athena, make this easier on us. The efforts put into this event have been monuntal, and I assure you, we’d hate for it to go to waste. Also, your kids are due on stage shortly; they need to be where they can settle."
Athena’s nod was curt. "I understand; thank you for the explanation. We’ll head back."
With a decisive turn, she marched back toward the special section, the weight of frustration building with every step. It was evident to her that Ewan had ticulously crafted this scenario to suit his own purposes.
"Mom, don’t worry. We don’t have to sit with him," Nathaniel tried to reassure her, but that sentint was swept away almost instantly as they approached their designated area.
To her surprise, more seats had filled up since their earlier arrival, leaving only one row open—the one Ewan occupied.
"I think so seats were removed. Check out the rows again," Gianna whispered, shaking her head in disbelief. "He’s playing his cards close to his chest." She looked at Athena, a question lingering in her eyes. "What do we do? The children need to settle down and recite their lines soon..."
Anger simred within Athena, but she knew this wasn’t her territory. There was no use in raising a fuss when ti wasn’t on her side; she had to prioritize the children. "Let’s just sit down. Everything will be fine."
Hopefully. She added silently, leading the way toward the row.
As they arrived, Ewan offered her a bland glance, a nonchalant expression that set her teeth on edge.
Well played, she thought bitterly, preparing herself for a night of sacrifice. With only four empty seats, she couldn’t afford for her children or Gianna to feel any tension between them, so she pressed forward, taking the seat next to Ewan. Her children settled in beside her, followed closely by Gianna.
"Good evening, Athena," Ewan said without turning to her, his cool tone igniting her resolve to remain composed.
"Good evening, Ewan," She replied evenly, taking a deep breath to quell the storm brewing within. She refused to let him win this battle.
"I saw that you sent my Christmas present to a charity organization..." He continued, still looking ahead.
"Do you have a problem with that?"
"Not at all." He replied calmly. "It’s Christmas after all."
Athena didn’t bother with a reply.
Suddenly, the lights dimd, and the gentle strum of guitars filled the air as the choir took the stage.
A group of children, decked out in festive red and green outfits, stood together, chins raised with excitent. Their faces illuminated by soft spotlights, they began to sing "Silent Night," their voices harmonizing sweetly, weaving a tapestry of sound that resonated through the hall.
The audience clapped along to the next beat, laughter and cheers erupting as the older kids kicked off a lively rendition of "Jingle Bells," complete with dance moves and cheerful jingling bells.
It was infectious; the room was alive with a sense of joy, and despite her earlier irritation, Athena found herself smiling, her heart softening as she absorbed the spirit of the holiday, as she caught the happiness on her children’s faces.
After the choir performance, the focus shifted to a festive ga, "Holiday Charades." Children were called up one by one to act out various holiday-thed prompts while their parents cheered them on.
The air was electric with laughter as the kids mid building snown, decorating trees, and even Santa’s reindeer.
Throughout the following events, which included a Christmas race, Athena steadfastly focused on the joy around her. She chuckled at the kids’ antics, clapped enthusiastically, and exchanged knowing glances with Gianna. They had co to enjoy this special occasion, and she would not allow Ewan to dim that light.
So minutes later, as the spoken-word artists wrapped up their segnt, one of the teachers approached their row. "Good evening, Doctor Athena. It’s ti for the play. The kids need to go backstage now."
Athena turned to her twins, a bright smile lighting up her face. "It’s ti! Have fun!" She encouraged, handing them their backpacks. They bead at her, planting quick kisses on her cheeks before darting off to join their fellow perforrs.
"You didn’t tell they were participating in a play..." Ewan’s voice cut through the mont, but Athena feigned ignorance, counting seconds until Gianna returned from the restroom.
"Athena..." His persistent tone tugged at her patience.
"Ewan, stop it. Let watch my children shine, in peace. After the court case next week, you’ll know whether you have a say in their lives or not. So, for everyone’s happiness, just shut your mouth!"
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