Chapter 136: D-Day II

Words : 1179 Updated : Oct 9th, 2025

Chapter 136: D-Day II Athena and Gianna couldn’t help but scoff simultaneously at Aiden’s playful use of an endearment, which prompted a hearty laugh from him. "Oh, God, I’ve missed you two..." He muttered, pulling both women into a warm embrace. "So, what are you doing here? You didn’t tell me you were coming..." Athena began, after they disengaged from the hug, casting another glance at the convoy of cars parked behind them. They were about eight! The massive security detail stirred a gnawing sense of unease in the pit of her stomach. "And why are there so many cars? So much security detail?" Aiden chuckled in a way that suggested he found her concern amusing. "Well, to answer your first question, if I had informed you I was coming, that would ruin the surprise, wouldn’t it?" Athena rolled her eyes, pressing her lips together in mock annoyance. "Surprise or not, you know I don’t like surprises." "Secondly," Aiden continued, undeterred, "they are here for your protection. Our surveillance system detected some unusual activities from the gang. We don’t know what exactly is going on, but it’s best to be prepared." Athena frowned, pondering this new information. "Do you think they’ll try to stop the case from happening?" She asked, anxiety threading through her voice. Aiden furrowed his eyebrows, assessing the worry in her expression. "I don’t see why they would do that, but if they decide to, we’ll take care of them." Just then, Old Mr. Thorne joined them, and Athena felt a wave of relief wash over her upon seeing the liveliness etched on his face. She wouldn’t have admitted it aloud, but his presence always provided a sense of security. Without thinking, she planted a kiss on his cheeks after greeting him. The action made Old Mr. Thorne blush, his hands twitching slightly at the unexpected affection, as if her love had awakened a youthful joy in him. "Thank you for all this, Mr. Thorne. I’m still in disbelief about this friendship that can only be termed family..." Athena expressed, her gratitude genuine. Old Mr. Thorne shook his head, resting a hand on her shoulder with a warm smile. "Of course you’re family! If not, why would you send the kids to me for holidays?" Athena smiled at her children, their eyes bright with the joy and love that came from their shared experiences with Old Mr. Thorne. "It added a few more years to my age, and I’m grateful to you for that. Seriously, if you ever need anything, just ask. Also..." He lowered his voice conspiratorially, "my wife wants to meet you." A hint of a blush crept on Old Mr. Thorne’s cheeks as he spoke this, and Athena couldn’t help but smile more broadly, knowing that the couple had a beautiful bond. "Sure, I’d love to meet her. Just let me know when the date is," She replied, feeling fulfilled by the twinkle in Old Mr. Thorne’s eyes as he firmly grasped her shoulder the more, and nodded eagerly. "I brought someone along to see you. We met in quite a funny way, but he proved that he knew you, so I decided to drop him off," Old Mr. Thorne announced suddenly, glancing behind him. Athena furrowed her brows, curiosity bubbling within her. Who could that be? She watched as the older man signaled one of his guards. The guard walked to the third car in the convoy, and opened the back door with a practiced ease. Out stepped a man in his late twenties, and Athena felt her breath catch as she took him in. He was strikingly handsome, with long black hair tied back neatly with a headband, framing a sharp, aristocratic nose that accentuated his lean and athletic build. Standing taller than six feet, his long legs added to his elegant posture. He wore a fitted black suit that hugged his form perfectly, accompanied by a long, brown coat that draped gracefully from his shoulders. His piercing hazel eyes sparkled with intrigue, and there was an undeniable confidence in the way he carried himself that made Athena’s lips widen in a soft smile. "Father!" The excited shouts of the twins yanked her from her momentary reverie. Their eyes wide with excitement, they gently pried their hands away from Old Mr. Thorne, who looked pleasantly surprised at the sudden display of affection. The twins rushed up to the male, laughing boisterously as he effortlessly lifted them into his arms, as if they weighed nothing at all. Aiden observed the scene with a knowing smile. "How have my two lovelies been?" The male asked the twins, his voice smooth and rich, causing even Gianna to chuckle softly, as she noted how unrestrained Nathaniel’s smile had become. "Better now!" They chorused in reply, their faces lighting up with joy. "Good to see you, my favorite troublemaker." Gianna stepped forward first, her eyes shining with familiarity and friendship as she wrapped her arms around him in a bear hug after he set the kids back on the ground. "It’s been a while, friend," She said as they disengaged. "Yeah, yeah." He patted her head fondly, but Gianna was having none of that. With a playful smirk, she expertly pushed his hand away and nudged him gently in Athena’s direction, as if resuming her long-held role as a matchmaker. "Hello, love..." He said, finally facing Athena with a charming smile. "It seems the children haven’t tired of calling me Father." Athena felt a warmth bloom within her at the nickname, her smile widening further. "Hello, Antonio," She replied, her heart free as she met his deep hazel eyes, which were unmistakably filled with love and warmth. "Maybe when you get married and stop acting like a priest, they can stop," She added, a light-hearted jab meant to lighten the mood. "I would have, but my woman is yet to give me the go-ahead," Antonio remarked, his voice rich with humor. He saved her the trouble of replying by pulling her into an embrace, holding her tightly as if trying to merge their two beings into one. "I’ve missed you, Athena," He whispered, fingers threading through her hair softly. The touch sent a shiver of warmth cascading through her body, every tension that had built up over the past few days fading away in his presence. "I’ve missed you too, Antonio. How long are you staying?" She asked, her voice softer now, hoping that he might be around longer than a fleeting visit. "Depends," He responded calmly. "Are you ready for me, Athena?" Athena wished she was. Antonio was the perfect man six years ago, and he was the perfect man now, but her heart won’t comply with her mind, no matter how much she wished for it to, no matter how much she tried fantasizing about him in many ways, in different positions. It just didn’t work, and she hated it. But Athena’s silence gave Antonio the answer he didn’t want. Sighing weakly, he disengaged from the hug. "I’ll wait, until you are ready."

Chapter 136: D-Day II

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