A knock broke through the quiet.
Athena jerked slightly, her fingers still wet from washing her face. She had been staring into the bathroom mirror for what felt like an eternity, lost in the haunting quiet of her own thoughts.
Who could be knocking at this hour?
Her mind immediately flew to her grandparents. Had Aiden called them? Told them something was wrong? She prayed he hadn’t. The last thing she wanted was to see the worry etched on their aged faces, to have to explain why yet another relationship had crumbled before it could even bloom into something set on concrete.
The knock came again, soft but insistent.
She dried her hands, smoothed her face, and stepped out of the bathroom, forcing a calm breath. But the rhythm of her heart didn’t match the steadiness she tried to project.
When she opened the door, dressed only in a bathrobe, the sight on the other side stole her words.
He stood there, shoulders broad as ever, his expression uncertain. In his hands was a boxed gift wrapped neatly, a ribbon tied with care that suddenly felt like too much.
His eyes flicked over her face, and for a moment he just stared—like he was trying to remember how to breathe.
"Athena..." His voice was low, controlled, but beneath that restraint, she heard the crack of emotion. "I came to..." He looked down at the gift in his hand, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "To give you this. It was for your engagement... I didn’t get to hand it over that night. I, uh... I left abruptly, I know."
He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable.
Athena blinked, trying to find her footing in the sudden flood of memories that came with his presence, with the quiet intensity of his gaze.
"You didn’t have to—"
"I wanted to," he said, cutting her gently. "It would have been rude not to."
The small smile he offered her faltered when his gaze sharpened, locking on her eyes, retrieving information she had struggled to keep hidden. He had always been able to read her too easily. Too deeply.
"What’s wrong?" he asked quietly. "You look... off."
She shook her head, too quickly. "Nothing."
Ewan frowned. "Athena."
The tone did it. It broke the dam again.
Her lips trembled before she could stop them, and the next second, she felt the sting of tears. They spilled fast, hot, and humiliating. She turned her face away, trying to hide them, but he was already stepping forward.
And before she could think, he was pulling her into his chest. The gift box tumbled from his hand, forgotten, hitting the floor with a dull thud. His arms were firm, anchoring her, his scent familiar and grounding.
"Talk to me," he murmured against her hair. "What happened?"
She shook her head, but her tears kept coming. She had been holding it well, except for the first cry—since Antonio’s confession, since the betrayal that had left her breathless with disbelief—and now it all poured out again. The anger. The fear. The ache.
"It’s Antonio," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Ewan’s arms stiffened around her. "What about him?"
Athena inhaled shakily, then stepped back just enough to look up at him. Her lashes were wet, her lips trembling. "He... he tried to get me pregnant. On purpose."
Ewan’s brows drew together sharply. "What?"
She nodded, tears dripping down her chin. "He said he thought it would make things easier. That I wouldn’t be able to walk away if—if I was carrying his child." Her voice broke again. "He tampered with the protection, Ewan. Without telling me. He took away my choice."
Ewan’s jaw flexed, a vein ticking in his temple. Then, through gritted teeth, he hissed, "I’ll kill him."
It didn’t matter that more than seven years ago, he had married the woman before him for that exact purpose. No. He thought it was different. Then, she had been aware of his need for a son.
This was different. This was sick!
Athena’s breath caught.
She could feel the heat of his rage even before he moved—the tension radiating from his body, the storm behind his dark eyes. His fists were clenched, his breathing heavy, as if he was trying to cage something feral inside him.
"Ewan, no..." She placed a trembling hand on his chest, trying to ground him.
He looked down at her, face tight with fury. "He violated your trust, Athena. He took your choice. Do you understand what that means? I’m not letting him walk away from that."
Her throat closed. She knew his anger came from a place of protection but it still troubled her how easily the shadows flickered behind his gaze. Thɪs chapter is updatᴇd by NoveIꜰire.net
"Please," she whispered, her hand still against his chest. "Don’t. I just... I just want peace. I can’t go through any more chaos."
His gaze softened slightly, though his jaw remained hard. "Are you... still going to marry him?"
She looked down at her bare finger. "No," she said quietly. "I don’t think so."
Ewan followed her gaze. Relief flickered through his eyes, unguarded and raw. It was brief but unmistakable. He exhaled a breath he didn’t seem to realize he’d been holding.
Without thinking, he pulled her close again. This time it wasn’t just comfort—it was something deeper. Something that hummed beneath the silence.
Athena didn’t resist.
She felt the warmth of his chest, the thud of his heartbeat against her cheek, and for a fleeting moment, she allowed herself to breathe in the safety of him.
Her fingers curled against his shirt. His hand moved to her back, rubbing slow circles, trying to calm her trembling.
And then she lifted her face at that time. And then their eyes met.
The air changed immediately.
Ewan’s gaze dropped to her lips. Slowly, deliberately. He didn’t hide it. Didn’t pretend.
His breathing hitched slightly, and she felt it—the same tug she had always felt around him. The pull that made everything else blur into nothing.
"Ewan..." she breathed, unsure if it was a warning or a plea.
He cupped her face gently, his thumb brushing away the dampness on her cheek. "I shouldn’t," he whispered. "But I can’t help it."
Her heart thudded once— hard — before she lifted her chin. Her eyes were half-lidded, searching his.
That was all it took.
He bent his head and kissed her.