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Athena inhaled deeply, as she watched herself in the mirror, prepping herself for the journey ahead. Ewan had recognized her. Her father too.
She sighed, and washed her hands in the sink.
To be honest, she had expected it. She hadn’t changed much after all; and she hadn’t taken Glanna’s advice to undergo plastic surgery before returning to the city.
To enjoy a peaceful existence. Her friend had remarked.
No. She had chosen rather to come back as she was, because somewhere within her, a darkness lurked, seeking revenge.
She wanted them to pay for the evil they had committed against her.
Athena would have loved to start her revenge plan now, but she remembered the deal she made with Gianna.
Seeing her foes though, she wished she hadn’t done so.
Watching her hands try to steady themselves, she wished she hadn’t agreed to the deal.
But she wasn’t one to break a promise, so she would wait.
Just then, the hairs on her neck stood erect, as a cold feeling assailed her entire body, starting from that sensitive neck, down to her feet covered in silver stilettos.
But Athena already knew who was approaching her. Ewan.
Of course, her ex–husband’s prideful self wasn’t able to swallow her swift denial of their relationship, without making a fuss.
Maybe, she didn’t have to worry about upsetting Gianna after all; maybe she wouldn’t have to break the promise.
Steeling herself, especially her heart–which tended to betray her in the face of this particular male specimen–she wore a plastic smile and swerved, giddy with satisfaction when she caught Ewan staring at her hips.
Didn’t he mention that he was engaged to Fiona? This would be fun.
She rested her waist at the sink’s edge, and waited for Ewan’s questions.
But Ewan said nothing. He didn’t make a move either.
He only stood and stared at Athena, as if he couldn’t get enough of her face, as if he had the whole time in the world to stare at a fine piece of art.
Athena piqued her right eyebrow in impatience, however, when two minutes of silence stretched between them, when no one interrupted them either.
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Had the egotistical brat shunned everyone away from the restroom reserved for females? She thought. Interesting.
Shrugging mentally, not up for silly games, she picked her purse from the sink, and strode toward the exit.
If Ewan wasn’t going to speak, she wasn’t going to stay and watch him.
But as she tried to walk past him, Ewan held her by the arm, and drew her close to him. “Where are you going, wife?” a
Athena hissed and swiftly shook her arm out of his grip. “Last I checked Ewan, we are divorced. I think we should stick to that reality. I have no intention of becoming that miserable anymore.” a
“Why did you come back then? How are you the famous doctor that had brought cure to the disease that had plagued Zane’s father?”
Ewan’s face and voice mirrored aggressive irritation while his eyes perused the face that had haunted his dreams for the past six years.
It annoyed him greatly that Athena was looking ravishing, as one with no care in the world, while he had been ridden with guilt every day, despite her being the guilty one.
She had cheated on him, and now she was back like nothing happened!
Annoyance and frustration burned within him when Athena gave no answer to his question.
Instead she stared at him with those beautiful eyes of hers, as if he had gone crazy.
When she finally opened her mouth to speak, he concentrated on the fullness of her lips and how tempting they were.
Without meaning to, he remembered what those lips had done on him in time past; pleasurable
ministrations which he had missed.
Ewan held back a groan of exasperation when his little man stood at attention. So it has been in good condition all these years?
Quickly, he turned aside, embarrassed, more so when Athena cocked her head to the side with a sly smile on her lips.
But she didn’t say a word, as he had assumed.
No. She just looked at him like he was trash, shook her head in derision, and strode out of the
restroom.
For a full minute, Ewan was immobile with shock, his quest to push his little man down, forgotten.
Athena had never walked out on him before. Neither had she looked at him like he was nothing.
She has become more feisty,
He had first seen the
leving that clues six years ago, when she had stood straight in the court, whilst
elent with Luca
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Without Sandro knowing, he had done investigations about that incident, but the CCTV footage of the hotel had been erased. There had been no way to confirm the truth.
But he hadn’t sought for her because he was sure that she and her father had trapped him in a marriage to control his town, to control his wealth, to use him as a breeder.
Thinking of that now made Ewan so angry, that he strode out of the restroom briskly to search out Athena, and query her for returning–something he couldn’t do carlier because of her deceptive beauty that had dried the words in his mind and tongue.
He won’t fall for her spell again! He promised to himself, stopping in his tracks when he saw her talking with Zane again.
They looked so intimate, with Zane’s hand around her waist.
Ewan gritted his teeth, not caring when Fiona came to stand beside him and spoke:
“Did she say anything?”
He ignored her, and walked up to Zane, determined to expose Athena’s true character to his old
friend.
“Zane, do you know anything about the woman standing beside you…apart from the fact that she
is a doctor?”
Zane looked at Ewan, and then at Athena who was sporting an aloof countenance.
Behind them, Fiona watched with an open mouth and fisted hands.
This had been her worst nightmare; Ewan being besotted with Athena again.
Even six years ago, he had been, without knowing it.
“Yes. I believe I know all I should. Zane finally replied, holding Athena’s waist tighter, managing to conceal his annoyance at his friend’s shameless display.
“Then you know that Zack Moore is her father?” Ewan continued, folding his arms across his chest, a smirk dancing on his lips.
Zane’s hand tightened further on Athena’s waist, causing her to bite her lips.
Athena knew she had offended her good friend. She would apologize when they were free from the parasites.
“Yes, I knew he was the one. Is there a problem?” Zane answered, gritting his teeth.
Ewan’s smirk metamorphosed to a wicked smile. “Yes, there’s a problem. Do you remember the story I told you sometime ago, about a father and daughter that tried to ensnare me with a marriage contract?”
Zane nodded slowly, aware of the discomfort rising in his belly. He also didn’t like the satisfied
look on his friend’s face.
“Well, the father is Zack, and the daughter is Athena. The duo had brought up the contract that
would
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Athena’s sharp intake of breath coincided with the exact moment that Zane’s hand fell from her
waist.
“What are you talking about, Ewan?” Zane battled with unbelief, but fisted his hands in anger.
He refused to look at Athena either, not sure he wanted to see the look on her face. She had lied.
to him.
“Doctor Athena here is the girl who turned me into a breeder, who cheated on me, who caused my company’s stocks to plunge, and who caused our investments to go underwater…”
Athena opened her mouth to defend herself, but shut it after a second thought. There was not need for that.
If Zane chose to believe Ewan, she wouldn’t try to change his mind; neither would she speak, until she was spoken to.
So, she maintained the aloof countenance and continued to watch Ewan speak, only breaking her resolve when he shot the last bullet:
“So Zane, to make a more appropriate introduction; meet the woman who you vowed to kill, should the both of you see…”
A pause.
“Zane, meet my scheming wife, Athena.”
