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

"Doctor Athena…maybe we should go back?" The little girl's voice trembled slightly, small fingers clutching at Athena's sleeve as she watched the doctor move from one side of the smooth whitewashed wall to the other, eyes scanning every inch for a clue, a button–anything that would grant access to the hidden room hoped to exist behind it.

Athena froze, her hands pressed against the wall as though it might whisper its secret if she waited long enough. She turned to the girl, exhaling slowly, letting the tension roll off her shoulders in a faint sigh.

"What's your name?" She asked, her voice calm but carrying that familiar undertone of command that never failed to make even adults comply.

"Cairo," the girl answered.

Athena blinked. Cairo. Like the capital of Egypt. Only someone as eccentric as those twins, as Mary, would name her child Cairo.

Did that mean the father was from Egypt? Or was it a whimsical choice? Athena's mind churned briefly with the possibilities. She ruffled her hair, a habit she didn't even notice, and tried to shake off the distraction.

"Okay, Cairo. Can you wait in the reception room? I'll meet you outside soon enough," she instructed, her tone softer now, almost maternal. The girl's nod was swift and obedient, padding away toward the reception.

Athena released the breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. Mary had a family. Does Matthew have one too? Does he have a family?

Ruffling her hair again, Athena's gaze returned to the wall. Smooth, white, nondescript, it seemed to mock her. Was this a wild goose chase?

Her eyes scanned each corner, each shadow where a panel might be pressed or a lever hidden. She would have called Ewan, of course, but she'd already warned herself that involving him here could trigger alarms among a traitorous staff who would be suspicious of his presence. So it was just her.

She muttered under her breath, almost to herself, "Think…think…" and leaned her forehead against the wall, closing her eyes briefly to focus.

Her gaze flicked downward almost by accident. Something caught the edge of her peripheral vision near a damaged printer, half-covered in dust and grime. A thin metal rod lay next to it, embedded slightly in the floor, unnoticed by any casual observer.

Athena crouched instinctively, her fingers brushing along its surface. It was stuck fast, but with a grunt and careful leverage, she managed to pull it backward.

A low rumble followed. The wall trembled beneath her palms, shifting in a way that made her heart leap. Slowly, a segment of the wall retracted, revealing a descending shaft—a vertical elevator, dimly lit but unmistakably real.

Athena's pulse quickened. She adjusted her coat, fingers brushing the handle of her gun beneath it, and inhaled deeply.

One step forward, then another, and she entered the elevator. Her eyes scanned the space; it was a single, utilitarian shaft, no nonsense in its construction, but clearly designed for frequent use.

Even though it was staggered in floors, she could see only one floor designation lit at the bottom: the hidden lab.

Was Herbert aware of this space in his hospital? Was it a construction error?

The descent was quiet but tense, the metal groaning softly as the elevator moved downward. Athena's hand stayed close to her gun, eyes flicking constantly, cataloguing her surroundings, every nerve alert. When the doors parted, she stepped into a lab that seemed frozen in chaos.

The lights above flickered weakly, the fluorescent tubes buzzing faintly, throwing harsh shadows across overturned tables, broken glass, and scattered papers. Whoever had been here had left in a hurry.

On the polished tiles lay tipped-over stools, spilled chemicals, a faint mist curling from a knocked-over container. Athena's eyes tracked a human-sized hand, encased in a glass jar, a grim artifact that made her stomach churn. Nearby, small animals floated lifeless in fluid, preserved perhaps for experimentation or worse.

And then she smelled it. The scent she had encountered at the gang's hideout she had raided just yesterday—the grey mixture. A subtle, metallic, sickly-sweet smell that clung to the air and teased her senses.

Athena's stomach tightened. Ewan had been right after all.

Her sharp gaze caught a thin tube lying near a puddle of viscous fluid. The liquid inside glimmered faintly, almost phosphorescent, and she instinctively knew—it could be a virus. A chemical weapon.

She moved quickly, picking up a nearby cellophane bag and securing the tube inside. Careful, deliberate movements, knowing even a small misstep could be dangerous.

Her eyes swept the lab again: analytical instruments toppled, microscopes cracked, centrifuges overturned. A chair lay on its side, a notebook scorched along the edges, notes in hurried handwriting barely legible. Clearly, the owners had fled, leaving chaos behind in their escape.

Athena's mind raced. Mary and Matthew had obviously been planning something sinister. She cursed under her breath, annoyed at missing the chance to confront them, to stop whatever had been in motion.

She drew her phone and quickly texted Ewan: You were right. I've found the lab. It's active. The twins have fled.

She followed quickly with a call to Aiden.

"Athena… what's going on?" Aiden started, after they exchanged pleasantries.

She gave him a rundown of the situation.

"...Activate the regional radar. The system that can detect radiation or chemical dispersions. I want full coverage. I need to know what's out there, what's been released."

Her voice was clipped, professional, but the edge of fear threaded through it. This wasn't just a lab—it was a ticking threat. What had they been mixing with the Grey virus?

So much for a peaceful birthday.

Next, she called Herbert. The line connected immediately. "Herbert, it's Athena. Secret lab confirmed."

Then remembering that she hadn't informed him of her search, of Ewan's suspicions. She told him the full story. "...I think the twins are gone. I need police intervention now. Containment and immediate extraction of all materials."

Thirty minutes later, police units descended on the lab. Athena observed from a distance, every detail seared into her mind—the flashing lights reflecting on broken glass, the officers cautiously moving through the wreckage, the sealed containers being bagged and transported.

But the twins were nowhere, nor was the little girl, Cairo. She had returned to the surface to start the search, to actually find the girl and ask her some questions, but the nurses had claimed they saw no one.

Athena had been too frustrated to say a word.

Now, her stomach sank slightly as she ruminated on Cairo's disappearance. Of course the twins had taken care of it; maybe sending one of their pawns to take the girl away.

She sighed. She would have brought the girl down here with her. She hadn't anticipated the possibility of missing a crucial hostage, a bargaining chip that would be useful in getting information from Mary.

Her phone buzzed. Herbert's voice was on the line again.

She paused her lips. Where had he even gone? He was supposed to be here.

"Athena, their contract has been terminated. But their lines are unreachable. Aiden tells me that they are off-grid too…" A weighted pause. "I'm sorry that I didn't act any sooner. We might have averted this."

"It's okay, Herbert. There's no way you would have known. I should have discovered evidence fast enough and communicated it to you."

"No, Athena. Don't blame yourself. But I promise… we will find them, and stop whatever malevolent plans they have."

"Okay Herbert, thank you." And the call ended.

Athena exhaled, though relief was quite far away. She needed this situation to be over! She needed people's lives to be safe, and not at risk at every turn.

And Spider wasn't awake. She sighed wearily. She would have needed his tracking skills, his unparalleled ability to trace digital and physical footprints.

The children were in school too; involving them would be reckless. The hacker contacts, the networks—they would have had to wait.

She leaned against the cold metal railing outside the lab, eyes unfocused. The chaos inside had been a stark reminder: she was always one step behind. Always chasing, never ahead.

The police finished clearing the lab, and with her guidance, moved through the hospital in meticulous sweeps, cataloging every detail, every hazardous item.

Her gaze followed them, ignoring the whispers of the medical staff, blank eyes reflecting the sterile lighting of the hospital. She knew the twins had vanished into the city, into the network of hidden routes, safe houses, and underground passageways known only to them. Mary and her sibling were intelligent, ruthless when they chose to be.

And again she wondered who was sponsoring the madness.

Her hand brushed against the cellophane bag holding the vial. A shiver ran through her. She imagined the grey disease spreading again through corridors, hospitals, homes. The thought alone made her pulse quicken, and she had to close her eyes briefly to steady her breathing.

Not again.

If again, she knew it would be different, worse.

She shook her head. She had to wake Spider today. She needed his help.