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

Spider can't be this stupid! This foolish! This dense! This…

A thud from behind disrupted Ewan's cursing of his friend as he marched toward the location of the gang they had just escaped from. He had also been tapping furiously on the torchlight he had taken from the table before his jump from the plane.

He paused, frowning, wondering if he had misheard.

Surely not. He surmised. The sound had been unmistakable.

Turning aside, his eyes widened when he saw a figure trying to get up in the dark.

That shape, that gait, could only belong to one person. And when her scent drifted into his nostrils as she approached, he thought he was dreaming, that his need for companionship had conjured the ghost of his ex-wife.

"Athena?" he whispered, as though trying to confirm her presence, even though she now stood a few feet away, staring up at him.

"Are you stupid?" was the response he got in return—a consequence of the worry mixed with annoyance brewing in Athena.

How could he jump off the plane without letting her know? Did he think he was the master of the operations, allowed to do whatever he pleased without informing his partners?

"I should be asking you that," Ewan retorted, recovering his voice, discovering that he was suddenly angry. What if she had broken a leg during the jump?

His question left Athena gobsmacked for a second, before she let out a sarcastic laugh. "You must be kidding me."

But Ewan wasn't done. His jaw tightened as he took a step forward. "Joking? Woman, I am not! What if you had sustained an injury during the fall? What if you had broken—"

"I didn't break any, did I?" Athena interrupted sharply, hands folding across her chest, her chin tilting up in defiance.

"You are reckless, and this action of yours is flagrant!" Ewan flung his arms wide in frustration, not believing that this woman had jumped from a plane quite high in the sky, without a parachute!

Did she think she was Superwoman, or Ironwoman?

"Why did you even jump off? You should be taking care of Lucas."

"Because I was worried!!" Athena screamed, her face hot with emotion.

She took a few steps back when she realized what she had just admitted—but she didn't take it back. Instead…

"I saw you read something on your phone, saw the worry and fear that cloaked your face, and then you jumped… I…" She paused, wetted her lips, looked away as though trying to steady herself.

"I didn't think… I didn't stop to think… didn't even think to think… I just wanted to make sure that you were safe, that you wouldn't do anything reckless while being worried about Spider. I wanted to make sure that we didn't lose you in the mission."

The fight left Ewan. His fingers brushed the power button of the slim torchlight, wishing to turn it on so he could see her face properly. She had jumped because she was scared for him, because she didn't want to lose him.

An overwhelming need to go back on his words—on his promise of not kissing her again—enveloped him, so much so that he clutched his fist tight until the torchlight quivered underneath his grasp, the casing creaking under the pressure.

"Are… you not going to say anything?" Athena's voice trembled faintly.

What to say? he wondered, watching her shift her torchlight from one hand to the other. She was nervous.

Of course she was. Tension was beginning to grow thick between them.

Finally, he said, his voice low, "Don't go around making statements like that, Athena. I might not be able to stop myself from kissing you the next time."

And with that, he walked off. He stopped only when he realized she wasn't following him.

"Aren't you coming?"

"I am, you ungrateful bullock," she cussed, her voice steadier after a brief silence.

Ewan managed a laugh. "Ungrateful? I don't want you here, Athena. You might get hurt, and that's another guilt I would have to carry. I already have much weighing me down."

"Then don't worry about me."

His hands itched to cup her chin as she stopped before him, a defiant tilt in her head.

"That, my dear Athena, is impossible. I will worry about you until the day I leave this world. You better get used to it."

Athena swallowed hard. This man was bent on upsetting her at every turn. Maybe she should have stayed back on the plane. Maybe she should have just told Sandro—or Zane, since the latter had been in the same space with her—to jump after her ex-husband.

Now she was paying the price, with these unsettling feelings stirring up within her.

"So, you won't thank me for being a good partner?" she pressed, pushing away the insane thoughts.

They were here for Spider's safety. She was, for one, apologetic to him for doubting his loyalty to Ewan.

"Thank you," Ewan said simply. "Is that okay?"

"That can suffice." Athena muttered, moving forward.

"So, who will take care of Lucas in your absence?"

Athena shrugged. "Aiden has basic knowledge of first-aid treatment. He can handle it until they get to the hangar. I already told Zane to tell my grandfather to keep a medic at hand."

A pause. "I'm sure that would be handled perfectly."

"So, how does it feel like being a Thorne?" Ewan decided to make do with her presence, to enjoy it while it lasted, instead of worrying every second. The woman with him wasn't an ordinary fellow. She could hold her ground in combat.

"Different, I will say. It's been a ride. But I am getting used to it. The kids had no problem adjusting either. They have always liked the old man, even before our real identity came to light."

"I'm pleased to hear that. You all deserve the happy ending."

Happy ending? Athena mused. What was this—a romantic play?

"What about you? Since the truth came out…" She left it hanging, knowing he would understand her point.

They were nearing the gates again. From here, they could see it was still open, with no guards wandering around, no alarms blaring, nothing to indicate their enemies' knowledge of the extraction that had taken place right beneath their noses.

"I feel better, knowing the truth, to some extent… but to be honest, there is more pressure… worsened by the fact that I had played a major role in Fiona's bad character and the destruction of our marriage, our relationship…"

Athena shook her head. "You should stop that, otherwise you won't heal completely. You should let it go. Maybe go for therapy?"

Ewan looked incredulous in the dark. "Therapy?"

"Yes, that. Surely, you must be aware that Susan and I are undergoing the same… Surely you know that not only women go for therapy, or people with no money…"

Ewan shook his head. "Of course not. I just didn't think it was something for me. I don't have time for that either."

Athena stopped walking, and turned to him. "Are you implying that I am a lazy person, with a lot of time on my hands?"

Ewan was shocked, to say the least. When had he made such an implication? He had just said that…

"You know what, don't worry. You can do whatever you want with your life." And then she continued moving toward the gates.

Ewan ruffled his hair, sighing wearily, before walking after her. "Athena, I am sorry. I didn't mean to."

Athena said nothing.

Ewan sighed again. What to do to bring back the train of conversation?

"I'll go to therapy…"

Athena looked at him then. Considering the well-lighted area of the gang's location, he could see that she was trying—and failing—to hold back a smile from stretching across her lips.

"But that would be after this whole thing with the Grey Disease. I promise." He added the last part for emphasis, pleased when she smiled at him. His heart literally lighted up.

"Good for you," she enthused. "Will you be making use of the services of your friend?"

Ewan frowned. "I don't think so. We have too much history between us. Maybe someone else will be better."

Athena shrugged, then crouched. They were a few feet from the gate.

Ewan followed her stance.

"What are we doing here exactly?" Athena's eyes perched and searched all over the outer edges of the location, brow furrowing when she saw nothing still. "Why is here still empty?"

"That's what I am here to figure out."

Athena's frown deepened. "You couldn't wait to ask Spider that later?"

Ewan handed Athena his phone. "This is the message I saw while in the plane… Turns out my friend had done more than turning off the surveillance cameras for our smooth operation…"

Athena accepted the phone, her eyes reading the message slowly.

Ewan, I think I have seen a chance to utilize so that you lot would have a smoother operation. In case I don't make it, or I fall into the black hands of Kael, know that I'll leave the world happy— knowing that I have managed to keep you safe, you and your loved one. My regards to the twins. I would have loved to meet them. Athena too.