Ewan stared at the glow of his phone screen, his heart racing as he read the ssage from Athena. Was it real? Did she really want to et him?
A smile broke across his face, a wave of warmth flowing through him. It had been so long since he felt such excitent. Athena had been on his mind almost constantly, and the thought of her reaching out made his heart leap.
He jumped out of bed, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "This is happening!" He exclaid to the empty room, his voice echoing off the walls.
The day had started slowly, but now it transford with just a few words from her.
He dashed into the bathroom, quickly fussing with his hair and throwing on a crisp shirt. He checked his reflection in the mirror, ensuring he looked his best. After applying a touch of cologne, he glanced at the clock. Ti was ticking, and he felt a rush of urgency.
With one last look, he stepped out the door and hurried to his car. The drive to the restaurant felt surreal. He was consud by a mix of anticipation and anxiety.
mories of Athena swirled in his mind—the way her laughter lit up his world, the spark in her eyes when she was passionate about sothing. She had the ability to make him feel alive. And now, they were going to et again, a notion both thrilling and terrifying.
As he parked the car outside the restaurant, he took a deep breath to stave off the tension building in his chest. He ran a hand through his hair, steeling himself for what was to co. The entrance lood ahead of him, and as he stepped inside, he scanned the room, almost instinctively looking for her.
His pulse quickened when he spotted her across the room.
Athena sat on a table quite close to the entrance, sipping a drink, and ti seed to halt as he took in the sight of her.
She wore the gown he had gifted her, a deep red that hugged her curves in all the right ways. The open-toe heels elongated her legs, giving her an air of confidence that made his breath catch.
She looked stunning, and he felt both drawn to her and utterly captivated by her beauty. A rush of attraction surged through him, leaving him painfully aware of how much he had missed her.
How in the world had he let this go in the first place?
Even though Sandro hadn’t found anything on Athena’s supposed husband, Ewan believed there must be a man around Athena.
How would a beautiful woman like this be single?
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, he approached her slowly, forcing himself to act nonchalant despite the whirlwind of emotions inside.
"Wow, you look incredible," He managed to say, as he reached the reserved table, struggling to keep his voice steady.
"Ewan," Athena replied, a confident smile playing on her lips, her eyes sparkling as they locked onto him. "You clean up well, too."
Her complint made Ewan’s heart skip a beat, and he couldn’t help but smile back.
A mont of silence hung between them, heavy with the weight of their complicated past. The air was thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions, stirring up mories best left behind.
Ewan felt a wave of regret wash over him as he continued to stare at Athena, as he rembered the dutiful ways she had worked for his love, as he recalled the way he had soiled her efforts at every turn.
The mories still had the power to wound him, and he knew he had a long way to go to make ands.
Yet, he couldn’t help but wonder what could have been if only he had done things differently.
At that mont, Athena shifted her position, breaking the spell. "So, let’s get down to business, Ewan. You ntioned you wanted to talk about your company, right?" Her tone shifted to a more professional deanor, but Ewan could still sense the nerves lurking beneath it.
He sat, and leaned forward, warmth spreading through him as he spoke, excitent bubbling to the surface. "Yes. Your shares are doing incredibly well. Our stocks have surged—better than we anticipated. You might want to consider selling at the peak; it’s showing great potential."
He relayed the figures Sandro had gathered, hoping to impress her with his diligence.
Athena nodded, her brow furrowing in thought. "That’s great. But I have no intention of selling."
Of course. Ewan thought, a smirk on his lips. His wife never disappointed him.
"And what about you?" Athena suddenly asked. "I hope your treatnts are set to begin soon?" Her voice softened, and there was a genuine spark of concern etched across her features.
Ewan felt a flicker of hope; maybe this eting could open a door to reconnecting.
"Oh, yes. I’ll be in the hospital next week." he replied, forcing a smile. The reality of his illness hung in the balance, but this mont felt too special to dwell on such heavy topics.
But as he was about to continue, a thick silence settled between them again. Ewan hesitated, unsure whether to break the silence or let it linger.
Should he apologize again for everything that had happened? Or was it smarter to leave the past in the past? Guilt clawed at him, and he took a deep breath, sorting through the chaos of emotions.
"Is there sothing you want to say to ?" He finally asked, breaking the tension.
Athena opened her mouth, ready to speak, ready to seize the opportunity to talk about the twins, but before she could say anything, Ewan’s phone buzzed violently on the table, interrupting them.
She watched curiously, as Ewan hurriedly answered the call.
"Hello? What!! No... No. I’ll be right there."
Athena watched as Ewan’s expression shifted to shock, his skin paling beneath the restaurant’s lighting.
A knot of worry twisted in her stomach. "What’s wrong?" She asked, concern tinging her voice.
"It’s Fiona... She’s attempted suicide again."
Athena’s worry instantly dissipated and her lips twitched as she held back a laugh.
Ewan’s words were almost comical - Fiona had attempted suicide again, and he was rushing to leave their date. A date he had begged her for. She couldn’t help but think that Fiona was manipulating Ewan once more.
"Did you tell Fiona about this eting?" Athena asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.
Ewan shook his head, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What’s the problem?" he asked, though Athena suspected he knew exactly why she was asking. He just didn’t want to acknowledge it, not wanting to disrupt the fragile truce between them.
Athena shook her head, deciding not to pursue the matter further. If Ewan wanted to be a fool, let him be that.
Ewan apologized hastily and dropped a wad of cash on the table before making a quick exit.
For what? Athena thought, glimpsing at the wad of cash. He hadn’t even ordered anything
She watched Ewan go, a mix of annoyance and relief swirling inside her. She was glad she hadn’t told him about the twins. She didn’t think they were ready to deal with their father’s unstable loyalties.
Ewan’s behavior was a stark reminder of the past, of the pain and heartache he had caused her. She was determined to protect herself and her children from getting hurt again.
As she sat there, sipping her drink, she noticed two of Fiona’s friends sitting at a nearby table. They were the informants then.
They caught her eye, and Athena knew she was in for trouble. A second later, her theory was confird.
The won’s faces twisted into scowls as they approached her.
"Look who’s here, trying to swoop back in," One of them sneered.
Athena raised an eyebrow, unimpressed.
"Did you really think he would co back to you?" The other woman chid in.
Athena’s eyes narrowed, her patience wearing thin. She didn’t have ti for their petty gas.
She stood up, amidst their continued taunts, their voices growing louder and more aggressive.
"I’ll take my leave first. Tell Fiona that I know her gas. Inform her that I’m not pursuing Ewan either."
The won laughed, blocking Athena’s path. "Did we give you permission to leave?"
One of the won, emboldened by her friend’s presence, reached out to slap Athena.
But Athena was faster. She caught the woman’s wrist and twisted it, before delivering a swift slap to her face. The woman’s eyes widened in shock as she stumbled backward.
The other woman, fueled by anger and humiliation, lunged at Athena with her drink. But Athena was ready. She grabbed the woman’s arm and poured the drink down her front. The woman shrieked in outrage attracting the attention of the other diners.
Two n, presumably the won’s boyfriends, stepped forward, their faces twisted into aggressive scowls. Athena stood her ground, her eyes flashing with defiance. She was not going to back down. Her gown had a long slit at least
The n charged at her, but Athena was a force to be reckoned with.
She dodged their blows with ease, her reflexes honed from years of self-defense training. She landed a series of swift kicks and punches, sending the n stumbling backward.
The restaurant patrons cheered her on, impressed by her bravery and skill. Athena smiled wryly, feeling a sense of satisfaction, especially when she saw she was being fild.
Did they think she spent her ti in exile only studying dicine? They should think again!
As she walked out of the restaurant, she was t by Aiden, whose face was thunderous with anger.
"What happened? I just saw the news!" He demanded, his eyes scanning her face for any signs of injury.
Already?
Athena shrugged, feeling a sense of exhaustion wash over her.
"Just a little run-in with Fiona’s friends," She replied, her voice dry. "Ewan left to attend to Fiona again."
Aiden’s expression darkened. "You’re never eting Ewan again."
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