Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours!

Have the fools found out what they were up to? Athena wondered, reading through Aiden's message for the second time on the bright Monday morning.

The sunlight spilled in through the windows of the moving car, sharp and almost too cheerful for the heaviness that had nested inside her chest.

Inside the car with her were her children, whom she would drop off at school before checking in at the hospital.

Even though Herbert had told her to take more time off, she simply couldn't; not with the restlessness that kept assaulting her every waking minute.

She was getting things done in the medical field—real, tangible progress—even to the extent of inching closer to figuring out the mystery behind the Grey disease; but she couldn't keep a tight lid on her emotions, no matter how hard she tried.

She wasn't sure what that said about her—about her control, about her balance.

It didn't help that things had been strained between herself and Antonio since last night, worsened by the fact that she couldn't explain to him why she had just… turned off during their lovemaking.

He had looked resigned, almost like a man adding another strange entry to a growing list, when she had insisted on going home at 4 a.m. She hoped he had filed it under "bizarre actions due to the kids" and not under Ewan.

Ewan.

She sighed quietly, her thumb grazing the phone screen with an absent tenderness.

When she had walked into the children's room earlier, she had met a sight that rooted her to the spot: Ewan, lying in the middle of the bed, the children pressed to him on both sides, all asleep in a tangle of limbs as if waiting for a mummy to come home.

It was a sight she could get used to—and one she couldn't afford to.

Before she could force that imagery out of her mind, Ewan had woken up, as if sensing her presence. And before she could say a word, he had whispered a profuse apology, dropped light kisses on the tops of the children's heads, and slipped away into the dim hallway without stopping for even an idle chat.

Her emotionally fragile self had plunged into an abyss she hadn't yet recovered from, even now, hours later.

"Mom, Rodney is calling you." Kathleen's voice snapped her from the mire of thoughts.

"Rodney, what is the matter?" she asked, meeting her driver's gaze in the mirror, one eyebrow raised.

Rodney, who was beginning to realise he had fewer and fewer chances of ever asking his boss out—especially with the children strangely aloof toward him, unlike before, as if they were convinced he was somehow… bad—swallowed hard. He still wasn't immune to the quiet, devastating beauty that was Athena.

"I want to know where I should head out to first. The children's school?"

Athena frowned before realising that the instructions she had given earlier had been purely in her head. She sighed and nodded. "Yes, to my children's school first."

Her eyes dropped again to Aiden's message.

There was still no movement on the mole front. The only tangible thread they had were the twin doctors, but without evidence, it was nothing but air.

Before their fallout, Ewan had assured her that he had assigned a few men to tail the doctors at all times. But he hadn't given her any updates, and she couldn't help but wonder—was he keeping information from her to avoid involving her, or was there truly nothing to report?

If it was the latter, it might mean the enemies were lying low for the moment.

Morgan's capture must have rattled them more than they'd anticipated. That, at least, was good. She believed it was. Maybe she could breathe a little.

Kathleen tapped her arm gently. "Are you angry with Daddy for sleeping over?"

Athena's face tensed again as she noted Nathaniel's expectant gaze in the rearview mirror. Why would they think she'd be angry?

She almost laughed at the thought—of course they would suspect something, given how protective she had been of them. Rightly so.

"I am not angry. He left because he had work."

She knew they had drawn their conclusion because Ewan hadn't been around for breakfast. She had seen their glances sweeping the dining area, scanning for him. And again, that quiet, icy fear pressed at her chest. What if Ewan messed up again?

She hoped not—truly, she did. She couldn't imagine what part of her would emerge from that betrayal a second time.

Minutes later, they arrived at the school. Athena stepped out of the car and led the children in, needing to hear their progress report and, perhaps, if they had caused any trouble since her last visit.

"Not at all," the class teacher said warmly. "They are excellent kids. Role models, if I dare say. I see the other children taking lessons in behaviour and academics from them. You have trained them well, Doctor Athena."

Athena smiled politely, though inwardly she wasn't so sure of such glowing praise. She knew her children.

As intelligent and model-like as they could be, they were also capable of mischief. She wouldn't put it past them to exert a little dominance over classmates when provoked.

So… there had been no trigger all these months?

"Thank you," she replied perfunctorily, watching her children walk to their seats amid gazes thick with admiration. Not a single mean look toward them, not even from the bully Kathleen had once complained about.

She exhaled softly, thanked the teacher for her efforts, and moved toward the principal's office.

"They are brilliant…" The principal's praise rolled on, familiar as an old song.

Athena listened, already aware of every word. Tell me something I don't know, she almost wanted to say aloud.

She kept her composure, barely, as she realised the true root of her dissatisfaction: the mess of her relationships—with Ewan and with Antonio.

"But…"

Finally. Athena almost sighed with relief.

"The class teacher told me they can be quite controlling—not in a bully way," the principal hurried to add, hands lifted in a defensive flutter.

"Just… passive. I don't know if you understand. However, the teacher thinks it's fine, since it has helped stop bullying in the class. You know how children can be… going after another's toy. Miss Prisy says it has completely stopped. Just one look from your Nathaniel or Kathleen, and the commotion ends. They are also favourites with their classmates—heroes to most. You should be proud."

And proud she was. But…

"Did you ever find out how they manage to keep the other kids in check?"

The principal frowned slightly, then shook her head. "Since the teacher was pleased, I didn't see the need to investigate further. It's probably just them not sharing their goodies… I think that usually gets to children."

Goodies? Athena kept her face neutral. She didn't give her children boxes of treats as a bribe for friendship. She made a mental note to ask them some pointed questions after school.

"Thank you, Mrs. Goodness. You do a good job here. I'll see you around."

"Of course, Doctor Athena. Have a good day."

Back in the car, Athena leaned her head back against the seat, closing her eyes for a brief, weightless moment.

"Drive to the hospital," she said after a pause, noticing the odd stillness in the vehicle.

"Yes, ma," Rodney replied, starting the engine.

Moments later, he stopped again. "We are at the hospital." His hand shook slightly as he turned off the ignition.

"Thank you, Rodney." Athena reached for her tote bag and was about to step out when he spoke her name.

"Is there anything the matter?" she asked, brows drawing together. He looked… nervous. Was this about his salary? What had he done with the advance she had given him?

"Rodney… I'm late for work," she said, when he didn't speak right away. "Do you need something?"

He shook his head, wiping sweaty palms on his jeans.

"What is it, then?" she asked more softly, in case it was something serious.

"Rodney…"

"You are beautiful, ma'am."

Athena's eyebrows shot up to her hairline. The words seemed to fill the car, seeping into every corner, every seam.

"Thank you," she managed finally, recovering from her brief speechlessness.

Watching him swallow hard, she answered the question she already knew he wanted to ask next—and silently cursed herself for not recognising it earlier.

She had assumed his lingering glances were just admiration for working for a public figure.

"No, Rodney. The only reason I hired you was because you seemed like a good, trustworthy person. That's all. Nothing beyond a working relationship can develop between us, and I would appreciate it if you respected that. Okay?"

She watched the shift in his expression—the deflation in his eyes, the slow slump of his shoulders.

"I'm sorry," he murmured, head bowed.

"That's okay. You can take a break. I won't be out for a couple of hours."

If Herbert let her have her way.