Chapter 116: A Troubling Report II

Words : 1074 Updated : Oct 7th, 2025

Chapter 116: A Troubling Report II After going through the reports, Sandro’s heart raced as confusion and disbelief flooded his mind. A few moments later, he dropped Ewan’s phone on the table, the thud echoing like the final hammer of a judge’s gavel. It can’t be! He thought desperately, trying to reconcile the Athena he knew with the Athena painted in the report—one tangled in tyranny and horror. The two didn’t mesh, and he shook his head in disbelief, unaware of how his action further aggravated Ewan’s simmering rage. "So, even after seeing proof, you’re still choosing to believe that Athena is innocent?" Ewan’s voice was sharp, a knife cutting through the air between them. Sandro found himself speechless, helplessly pushing the phone back toward Ewan while meeting his friend’s turmoil-laden gaze. "There’s not a flicker of doubt in you concerning this report?" Sandro finally asked, folding his hands, still feeling the heat mark that the so-called evidence had burnt into his hands. Ewan ignored the tightening sensation in his chest, dismissing it as anger. "No flicker at all! Haven’t I always told you she’s evil, cunning, and scheming? Didn’t I tell both you and Zane, but none of you believed me? Only Fiona sees the serpent that Athena truly is!" Sandro felt the weight of those words crash against his defenses. "Don’t compare Fiona and Athena. Athena is way better than her." The moment he finished speaking, Ewan slammed his fist into the desk, startling Sandro as he struggled to understand the source of his friend’s fury. "You shouldn’t be comparing them at all! At least Fiona isn’t a murderer!" Ewan shot back, his voice reverberating off the walls. Sandro looked away, staring out the window. "I think this report is false." Ewan paused, allowing disbelief to seep into his laughter. "The proof is right in front of you, and you still claim it’s false?" "Anything can be doctored. The hacker could be some bitter soul with a vendetta against Athena." Sandro’s voice held a touch of desperation, but Ewan scoffed derisively. "You’re just ignorant. She’s wrapped her tentacles around you, just like six years ago. God knows, she probably slept with Luca and destroyed all the evidence." Sandro’s mouth dropped open in shock. Six years ago, Athena hadn’t even possessed the skills to operate a CCTV camera, much less delete data. But his throat tightened, and he remained silent, unwilling to allow Ewan’s toxic thoughts to infect him. Just then, Zane burst into the office, his eyes wide and frantic. "What’s happening, Ewan? Did something happen to Athena and the kids again?" He asked, concern etched across his features. He had witnessed the last two calls dropped in the same manner, and each time had resulted in trouble for them. Ewan ignored Zane completely, unwilling to offer any explanation about his darkening mood. However, Sandro extended a hand, seizing Ewan’s phone and passing it to Zane. Zane raised an eyebrow, skeptical and cautious. "Read the report on Athena. It’s from a dark web hacker and researcher. Ewan paid him for it," Sandro explained, heaviness in his voice. Zane scowled at Ewan, fury bubbling just under the surface. "And why would you do that? What’s your problem?" He looked between his two friends, seeking clarity in the chaos that had ensued. Ewan continued to ignore him. "Just read the report, Zane," Sandro urged, exhaling deeply. Zane hesitated, chewing over the tension that hung thick in the air. Finally, he began reading the document aloud. Laughter erupted moments later, causing Ewan’s anger to flare dangerously. "What about that document is funny, Zane?" "The lies," Zane replied dismissively. "Don’t tell me you believe this nonsense—this gibberish. You paid someone to research Athena? What has she ever done to you?" Ewan waved the question away, adamant. "I believe it. It makes a lot of sense!" Zane laughed again, but this time his humor drained as he caught Ewan’s fierce gaze. "You must be dumb then." Ewan exploded from his chair, charging toward Zane. Sandro quickly stepped between them, trying to buffer Ewan’s rage. "Ewan, calm down! Zane is your good friend!" But Zane’s shock morphed into frustration. "I can’t believe this!" he muttered, slumping onto the sofa, his energy completely evaporated. "I can’t believe you believe this nonsense! How can you think Athena would murder people in cold blood for money?" "Then how does she own the building she’s living in?" Ewan shot back, delighted for a split second to see Sandro gasp in astonishment. "Oh, you didn’t know?" He offered to a surprised Sandro. Zane shook his head in disbelief. "Athena is a rich doctor. She has investments, too." "Like sponsoring the Grey disease?" Ewan’s brow furrowed as fatigue started to creep in around the edges of his anger. Looking directly at Sandro, he stated firmly, "Get the DNA results." Sandro pressed his lips together, knowing exactly where this was headed. "Ewan, calm down. This report might be fake." "It is fake!" Zane shouted, throwing his hands up in sheer frustration. "What’s wrong with you, man?" Ignoring both of them entirely, Ewan reached toward Sandro, demanding, "Get the results!" With a resigned sigh, Sandro pulled out a brown envelope he had meant to show Ewan upon entering the office. Ewan snatched it, tearing it open with fervor. As he read the results, his heartbeat quickened, adrenaline coursing through his veins. "They are mine," He said simply, clutching the results as though they were an ironclad shield. "All this time she was keeping those children from me, turning them against me, using them to create havoc in the society. I’m taking them back." Turning to Sandro, he said urgently, "Give me my phone. I need to call the elders’ council. Settling this through the city’s court will do more harm than good for my company and Zane’s hospital." "I won’t do that if I were you," Zane said, crossing his arms defiantly. "You made a stupid mistake six years ago; don’t make the same one now." Ewan halted, an icy glare trapped between Zane and anger. "You knew, didn’t you? You knew they were mine." Zane’s silence felt like an admission of guilt. Ewan seized this chance, stepping forward and throwing a punch that connected with Zane’s jaw, shocking both men. Sandro cursed and lunged between them—as Zane shot up from his seat—shouting, "Stop it! I’ll call the council if that’s what you want, Ewan!"

Chapter 116: A Troubling Report II

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