Chapter 19 Old Friends, New Wounds Athena's hand had been ruined in that accident while saving Lewis. Finished The video kept replaying on the screen. Athena slowly came back to her senses, let out a bitter smile, tapped like, and closed it. Eight years had passed. Kate was doing well. Harriet was doing well too. That thought eased some of the guilt in her heart. She really had let Kate down back then, after all the effort she spent training her. Suddenly, Athena's phone rang. The number wasn't saved, but she hadn't forgotten it. Her fingers trembled as she slid to answer and raised it to her ear. "Woman! You've got the nerve to like my video, but not the guts to come see me?" The voice on the other end was both strange and familiar. It yanked her memory back to the old days-days of laughing and joking with Harriet and studying together. Athena's throat felt blocked, like a heavy stone was stuck there. She wanted to speak, but nothing came out. Finally, she managed, "How did you know it was me?" The account she used had no profile or personal information. No one should have recognized her. But the moment she liked Harriet's video, Harriet had known. "Hmph! I've got eyes like a hawk. Of course I knew." Harriet gave a proud little snort, then asked, "How have you been lately?" That simple question hit Athena harder than she expected. Well, she wasn't doing too badly. She knew now that Lewis was a rotten man, and she was divorcing him. She didn't have to take care of Dion anymore, a boy who wasn't even her own flesh and blood. On the surface, there wasn't much wrong. And yet, everything felt different. Nothing was the same anymore. "Athena, let's meet." That evening, Athena rolled into a café near her house. As soon as she entered, she saw Harriet sitting by the window. 1/2 14:37 Sat, Oct 18 Chapter 19 Old Friends, New Wounds She looked almost the same as in Athena's memories. 68 Finished Harriet's eyes went wide the moment she saw Athena in a wheelchair. She gasped. "Not only is your hand messed up, but now your legs are too?" Athena gave a bitter smile. "It's just a fracture. Not permanent." "What did you even get from being with that man?" Harriet's words came sharp and furious. Then her voice softened with sorrow. "You were the girl who graduated at eighteen with perfect scores in every subject. A genius." Harriet shook her head, full of regret. The Athena she once knew had been extraordinary. Her skills in modern medicine were outstanding, and under Kate's guidance she had even mastered holistic medicine. She had been destined to become a legend in the medical world. But then she met Lewis. And in trying to save him, she destroyed her hand. Athena gave a faint smile. "That was all in the past." Harriet sighed. The once brilliant woman had now turned into a full-time wife and mother. How could anyone not feel it was a loss? "Alright, I won't bring it up again. This weekend is my mom's birthday. Come over for dinner!" Athena hesitated, her chest tightening. "Back then, she was upset with you and said some harsh things. But she never stopped thinking about you. She often brings you up and always says you were her proudest student." Athena's eyes burned. What was there left to hesitate about? Even if she was at her lowest now, she still owed Kate an apology. She had thrown away her future for someone who wasn't worth it, wasting eight years of her life. She nodded. "Alright. I'll be there." That weekend, early in the morning, Athena bought Kate's favorite fruit and picked up a small cake she had ordered. Only then did she take a cab to Kate's house. The whole ride, her mind kept running in circles. What should she say when she sees Kate? Should she apologize first? Or ask for forgiveness? с 21 C 14:37 Sat, Oct 18 Chapter 19 Old Friends, New Wounds But all those questions fell apart the moment the door opened. (68) Finished Inside the living room sat a man and a little girl, their eyes so alike it was unmistakable. Both turned toward her at the same time. Teri's face lit up with joy. She jumped up and shouted, "Athena! What are you doing at Aunt Kate's house?" Athena froze. Shouldn't she be the one asking that? Why were Zaden and Teri here? Then it clicked. Teri had just called her professor Aunt Kate. Did that mean her professor was Zaden's relative? Her head spun. This coincidence was almost too much. "What are you standing there for? Come in!" Harriet's voice broke the awkward silence. Athena stepped inside. Zaden rose naturally and took the things from her hands, as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "You and my cousin know each other?" Harriet asked, eyes full of curiosity as she looked from Athena to Zaden. Athena gave no response. And just like that, Athena had no choice but to accept the truth. Send Gifts