Chapter 5 Athena, I Was Wrong Since everything happened, this was the first time Athena received kindness from a stranger. Her eyes burned, and she almost lost control. But she forced the emotion back down. "I'm fine," she said with a calm face and a faint smile. "Just a family matter, Mr. Storm. Don't mind it." She glanced toward the doorway. Teri had already climbed out of bed. The little girl stood there, watching her, with eyes that looked exactly like Zaden's. "Teri is better now. As long as you watch her diet, she won't have another flare-up soon. It's getting late. Mr. Storm, take Teri home." Her words made it clear-she was sending them away. Zaden knew she wasn't in a good mood, so he didn't push back. He stood and said gently, "Thank you, Ms. Hall, for tonight. I'll repay you another day." Once Zaden and Teri left, the house went quiet. Athena's expression grew heavy and lost. The warm yellow glow of the living room lights wrapped around her thin figure. Her shadow stretched across the floor, lonely and fragile. The truth was, she genuinely loved the boy. She had raised Dion for eight years. Pretending there was no bond at all would be a lie. But every time she remembered that Dion was really Nina's son-while her daughter's body had been reduced to nothing-it was like a knife stabbing her heart. At least people who didn't belong to her would soon be out of her life for good. In one month, they'd be gone forever. ... "Mr. Belmont, we still can't find Mrs. Belmont's whereabouts." Ned stood respectfully in front of Lewis's desk, reporting what he had just learned. Back at the office, Nina had called several times, sobbing that Dion was throwing tantrums and she couldn't calm him. Athena had hung up on her, ignoring Dion completely. Ned had even suggested that he go to get Athena himself, while Lewis remained silent and did not intervene. But it turned out Athena had left the hospital. Now no one knew where she went. "This is your idea of competence?" Lewis's grip on his pen tightened. He lifted his cold gaze toward Ned. "I'm sorry, Mr. Belmont. I'll keep looking." Lewis took a deep breath. He knew yelling at Ned wouldn't help. But his frustration grew worse, and a dull ache started in his stomach again. His face went pale as he pressed a hand to his abdomen, trying to endure the pain. "Mr. Belmont, are you okay? Maybe you should go home and rest." Lewis leaned back in the leather seat, his eyes shut tight as he tried to fight through the pain. Normally, whenever he felt sick, Athena always had a way to calm it down fast. But without her, everything felt like it was falling apart. Previously, he never considered Athena to be very important. Now, he had to admit-she was useful. Lewis opened his eyes. Athena had blocked his number. His calls didn't go through, and his texts bounced back. He turned to Ned. "Give me your phone." Ned quickly handed it over. Lewis frowned as he typed out a message. "Athena, I was wrong. Come home now!" He stared at it, then shook his head. Too cold. She wouldn't fall for that. Women needed sweet talk. Lewis erased it and tried again. "Athena, this was my fault. I never should've taken Nina to the hospital. I was wrong. Where are you? Let's talk." Satisfied, he sent it to her number. When it went through, a smirk tugged at his lips. Athena was easy to win over. All he had to do was lower his pride a little, and she'd cave. He was sure she'd come back when she saw the text. ... Athena received the text. She stared at the apology, her face unreadable. To her, it was laughable. Just minutes ago Nina had called her. Now Lewis sent this message, begging for peace. Did he mean it? Not a chance. He probably just wanted to continue fooling her and wanted her back as his babysitter. Athena deleted the text without a second thought and blocked the number too. The next morning, Kit showed up to help. He slipped inside the apartment, his eyes sneaking toward the bedroom. Athena caught him right away. "What are you looking at?" "Ms. Athena, you didn't ... have a man stay over last night, did you?" She rolled her eyes at him. "I told you already, it was a patient. Stop with the nonsense and get cleaning." The night before, Athena had only cleaned up a simple spot to sleep. She got through it, but not well. All night, images of Lewis and Dion flashed through her dream. And then came another vision-bloody, haunting. A little girl's face she couldn't make out. When she opened her eyes, sunlight streamed through the window, and birds were singing outside. That's when she realized-this was the start of a new life. The first step was leaving behind the toxic place that had hurt her. The second was beginning to reclaim her future. Together, she and Kit spent hours cleaning the house inside and out. "Finally done!" Kit dropped onto the couch, exhausted. Then he frowned, as if something had just come to him. "Ms. Athena, that Lewis is a total jerk." Athena lifted her eyes lazily and agreed. "Can't argue with that." A decent man would never do something so shameless and ruthless. "I found quite a lot in this investigation," Kit went on. "Let me send it to you." Kit pulled out his phone and sent her the files. From the documents, she pieced together the past eight years of Lewis and Nina's life. They had been deeply in love. Lewis had chased Athena and even rushed her into marriage, not because of love, but because Nina was pregnant. She remembered that night-Lewis's birthday. She had a drink at the party and blacked out. Athena woke up next to him the next morning. A few weeks later, the doctor told her she was pregnant. Lewis had offered to "take responsibility." He arranged a small, private proposal. But now it was clear-that accident hadn't been an accident at all. He had planned the accident, using her as a cover for Nina. Because only if their children were born around the same time could he switch the babies. After the wedding, Lewis's work kept him busy. He was rarely home, sometimes only once a week. She had been understanding, never complaining, always trying to be strong and independent. But now, seeing these files, she found herself laughable. While she went alone to her prenatal appointments, Lewis was carefully holding Nina's hand at hers. When she went into labor, he left the delivery room mid-call-only to walk straight into Nina's. He was there when Nina gave birth, while Athena bled heavily and couldn't find anyone to sign the consent forms. And in the end, the baby girl she delivered was taken from her. Lewis had switched the children and killed the baby. Eight whole years. She had lived a lie. Athena had once believed Lewis had at least some feelings for her. But the truth was brutal. She had been nothing more than a cover in his love story with Nina. Nothing but a free babysitter. Ding Dong! The doorbell rang, pulling her back to the present. "Who is it? I'll get it!" Kit said quickly, walking to the door. When he opened it, Athena saw Lewis standing there. The moment his eyes landed on Kit, his face darkened.