36 Crushed Pride
Fiona, who had lifted her head after Athena’s sarcastic laugh, opened her mouth to contradict Athena’s words, but Sandro shut her up with a glare.
She turned to Ewan, seeking for solidarity.
It was then she saw the sorry state of her fiancé.
How hadn’t she noticed?
She had heard him implore Athena to tell her truth, yet she had been so concentrated on maintaining her own ‘truth‘ that she hadn’t looked at him.
She hurried up to him now, but Ewan raised his hand, stopping her from getting closer to him.
“Is she telling the truth?”
Fiona hesitated, wondering how fast things had deteriorated.
“No, she is lying…” She vehemently denied.
She glared at Athena for a second, before returning her attention to Ewan.
“There is CCTV to check…” Sandro piped in then, causing Fiona’s mouth to quiver, causing her eyes to water with frustration.
She has really done it this time. She thought, noting the cold glint in Ewan’s eyes.
She should have returned home, and licked her wounds there.
She should have humbly accepted her humiliation, consoling herself with Athena’s future death. Now, her father will kill her! Now, Ewan might punish her!
What should she do? How could she save herself from Ewan’s wrath?
“She gave me chocolate…I…you…” She stuttered, halting when she saw Athena’s notable smirk.
She had consented to the chocolate drink. So, she couldn’t blame Athena for that.
Yet what choice did she have when Athena had placed the chocolate drink as a bait? Fiona hated Athena at that moment, a hundred folds.
She had thought herself a game player, but it was obvious that Athena was a better one. She needed to up her game!
fin
Fiona pinched herself in trepidation as the air in the room got colder with tension. Her was up!
game
With no other option, she bowed her head in false remorse. “I’m sorry”
Ewan, seeing this, shook his head.
Had Athena been innocent six years ago?
Had Fiona really been behind the set–up with her father?
36 Crushed Pride
Could Sandro be right?
His heart trembled with pain, thinking about it.
Had he been a fool all these years?
Had he played the fool, been stringed along by Fiona and his father?
Ewan’s pride suffered a blow at the thought of being used as a puppet.
But when had the innocent girl that had grown by his side changed?
Ewan felt his senses become clouded with pain again, and knew he would be unconscious soon.
Yet he held on; he had to solve the matter now.
He faced Athena, his pride absolutely crushed.
His shoulders drooped, and his eyes kept fluttering. Sorrow lurked within the twin blue orbs.
“Athena, I’m sorry.” He inhaled quietly.
“I apologize for my foolishness, and I apologize on behalf of my fiancée too. This situation will never happen again. I promise you. You will never be accused without concrete evidence again…”
However, Athena didn’t care for all these shenanigans.
She just wanted Ewan to be treated.
She couldn’t afford to have a dead man in her office!
“Sandro, lift him…..
Ewan shook his head, disrupting Athena’s sentence. He was not done.
“The twenty percent shares you demanded earlier, you can have it. But please, don’t cancel your treatment plans for my town. Please, don’t take into account my foolishness and my ugly pride. I’m sorry.”
A lone tear slipped from Ewan’s right eye then, numbing Athena.
She has never seen Ewan cry, or this emotional. He was rarely emotional.
Was it the apology or the pain she knew he was feeling?
Beside Ewan, Sandro stood stiff–knowing that his friend would refuse to be moved until this matter was concluded.
“Please, am I forgiven? Will you treat my people?”
Athena nodded immediately. “I will treat them, Ewan. Now, allow Sandro to pick you up!”
Sandro moved ahead to do so, but Ewan raised his hand and stopped him. “I’m not done yet.” He coughed harshly, and looked at Fiona.
Fiona didn’t know what to do with her hands.
She couldn’t believe her actions had resulted in this.
36 Crushed Pride
She knew of Ewan’s health problems, but she hadn’t considered it happening now, since the illness appeared once in a blue moon!
Her heart was pricked with guilt.
She tried reaching out to him again, but Ewan hissed in annoyance.
“From today, Fiona, the engagement is off. Get your belongings out of my house and return to your father’s house, with immediate effect…”
Fiona collapsed to the floor, shaking her head intermittently in unbelief.
With her bruised knees, she knelt before Ewan, when he ignored her again.
“Ewan, I’m sorry, I didn’t know this would happen.”
Ewan gestured to Sandro to take Fiona away.
“Ewan, I’m sorry.” Fiona recited, holding Athena’s desk, refusing to go anywhere.
This irritated an already tired Ewan.
“Leave her be. I want to ask her one more question.
Fiona paused in fearful anticipation.
“Six years ago, did Athena really cheat on me? Did you and your father conspire to wreck my marriage?”
Athena would have laughed, remembering the contract marriage, but for the somber atmosphere.
“No, we didn’t conspire. She really did sleep with Luca!”
This would have been a perfect time to bring Kendra. Athena thought. A perfect time to acquit her reputation in Ewan’s eyes.
She still believed that Kendra was Fiona’s daughter.
“Okay then. You can leave.” Ewan was tired of talking.
He looked at Athena, needing to take in her presence one time before he lost consciousness.
“I’ll investigate the matter of six years ago, Athena, even if…
He coughed at the same moment that Zane opened the office door, and walked in hastily.
Zane perused the atmosphere, his eyes perching on Athena first.
Happy that she looked fine, his gaze landed on Fiona.
His mouth turned up in disgust, when he beheld her state..
Why was she begging Ewan?
Or rather, why was Ewan angry at her?
This was a first.
He, however, blanched when he finally saw the state of Ewan.
36 Crusted Pode
Immediately, he forgot about his grievances against his friend.
Without wasting time, he rushed to his friend, and knelt at his feet.
“Ewan…what’s happening…”
But Ewan’s eyes were closed now, only his breathing showed he was still alive.
He looked at Sandro. “What are you doing? Take him to the ward for treatment!”
Sandro didn’t hesitate this time around.
He hoisted Ewan up, cursing himself inwardly.
Earlier, he had been so fixated on Zane’s appearance that he hadn’t been aware of Ewan finally slipping out of his consciousness.
He was about carrying Ewan away, when Athena spoke.
“Please take him to my ward. I’ll treat him myself.
