Chapter 128: Christmas Dinner II

Words : 1183 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 128: Christmas Dinner II Ewan inhaled softly, attempting to calm the rising palpitations of his heart as Athena stepped closer to him, after shutting the door behind her. What is she doing? He wondered, taking in the cold glint in her eyes that only intensified his growing unease. His gaze darted to the door for a second, and he could almost hear the hushed whispers of his friends inside, their curiosity spilling into the hallway like an uninvited guest. For an hour, he had stood outside, torn between wanting to be part of the merriment and feeling like an outsider. With every burst of laughter that floated through the door, his heart constricted tighter and his head pounded harder. Each chuckle from inside felt like a stab to his gut, a reminder of what he was missing. It was only when the ache threatened to overwhelm him that he had decided to knock, seeking answers—answers he feared might only lead to more questions. *How could his friends trust this woman despite all the proof he had shown them? Earlier that day, he had even contacted a hacker to dig up more information on Athena’s shady dealings. The hacker had delivered more incriminating evidence than he had anticipated, articles detailing her suspected ties to the Russian mafia. How could he let such a woman train his children? Yet, beneath the swirling anger was a nagging desire to understand her—to reason with her about the missteps she had taken on her dark path to fame. "You will never let me in, will you?" He muttered finally, his voice low as Athena closed the distance, standing only a couple of feet away. Up close, he noticed her flushed complexion, a telltale sign of her wine indulgence from the evening’s festivities. Her rosy lips, stained deeper with red, looked enticing and made him yearn for a moment he had long since buried. No, Ewan. Focus! He banished the thought, shaking his head internally. He was here for the kids, for his friends—not for memories that should remain in the past. "Are you going to keep staring at me, or will you speak?" He pressed, feeling uncomfortable under the weight of her gaze. "You’re uncomfortable, right?" Athena finally broke her silence, stepping back just slightly. "That’s how you’ll make all of us feel if I let you in," She continued, her voice steady. "You’ll make the atmosphere uncomfortable, and I don’t want that. Do you want that?" Ewan sighed, the weariness of the situation settling heavily on his shoulders. He turned away, leaning against the wall as exhaustion draped over him. "Why are you involved with the Russian mafia?" He asked weakly, changing the topic, refusing to meet her eyes. Athena let out a sharp, sarcastic laugh. "First, it was me being at the center of a sinister research that has led to the deaths of many, and now it’s the Russian mafia? Where do you get this outlandish information? Because I’m certain it’s not from Sandro." "That’s because Sandro is too sentimental," Ewan retorted, his tone laced with bitterness. "Somehow, he trusts you now—more than he trusts me..." Athena shook her head. "That’s not true." Her voice was firm, commanding even. "Sandro just stands for the truth, just like Zane. They’re not on your side in this case because they know you’re believing a lie." Ewan turned to face her, fire igniting in his eyes. "You’re the one living a lie, Athena. And I’m going to prove it next week." A curious smile curved her lips, amusement glinting in her eyes. "We’ll see about that next week. I can’t wait." "I can’t wait either," He shot back, determination lining his words. "I can’t wait to have the children by my side." Athena’s expression shifted, a hint of skepticism creeping in. "Don’t you feel weird demanding full rights, considering you weren’t even there for their mother six years ago?" Her words hit him like a punch, and he paused, pondering the sting of her accusation. "I would have talked this over with you if not for the truth I discovered about you. If I let you have the children, I would live to regret it then." Athena bobbled her head slightly, contemplating. "That’s okay then. See you on Wednesday next week." Ewan nodded, a chill settling in as the temporary truce of their conversation came to an end. He stood tall, but it was too sudden—a wave of dizziness crashed over him, and he staggered. Blood trickled from his nostrils, splattering onto the floor, jolting Athena into action. "What’s going on? Did you take any medication apart from the one I gave you?" Ewan shook his head, his legs weakening as he sank onto the cold floor. "Wait here!" Athena commanded, but before she could rush away, Ewan called after her, panic threading through his voice. "Don’t let Sandro and Zane see me like this. I don’t want to dampen their day." Athena nodded quickly, darting back into the apartment and locking the door behind her. "What’s going on?" Gianna asked, stepping around Athena with the twins, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Nothing much," Athena replied, her voice steady. She quickly went to the room, retrieving a container of pills. Her heart skipped as she noticed Zane and Sandro watching her with inquisitive gazes. "I’ll tell you about it when I return." Without waiting for a response, she zoomed out of the apartment. In the hallway, Ewan grimaced, clutching his head in agony. "Chew it quickly," She urged, extending a pill toward him. But Ewan hesitated, his pride holding him back. "Ewan, if you don’t want to lose control of your senses completely, take the medication now..." She watched as he risked a glance at her, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but he ultimately took the pill and put it in his mouth. "Chew now!" She urged firmly, and after a moment of hesitation, he obeyed. She settled across from him, waiting patiently for the drug to take effect. Ten minutes ticked by like an eternity, but gradually he began to feel better. "What is that you gave me?" He asked tiredly as he rose to his feet, the world around him stabilizing. "Drugs. I told you to come for treatment, but you wouldn’t listen!" "I apologize for that, Doctor. I had some work to do." He straightened himself, trying to regain some semblance of control over his life. "Well, if you have brain damage, work will be the last thing on your mind." She handed him the entire container. "Take this once a day, preferably in the morning. You should add it to your other prescriptions... Oh right, you don’t take them..." She muttered sarcastically. "Why are you helping me? Shouldn’t my dying be part of your plan?" Ewan asked, genuine confusion evident in his voice. Athena shook her head, knowing that talking about her innocence would lead to nothing but futility. "I just need you to be alert on Wednesday, Ewan. That’s all. Because there’s going to be a lot to process that day."

Chapter 128: Christmas Dinner II

Comments (0)