---- Chapter 22 Athena POV: The moment Hardin's presence vanished, the adrenaline that had been holding me together evaporated. My knees buckled. Eliot was there in an instant, his arm securely around my waist, holding me up. "I've got you," he said softly. | looked up at him, my eyes swimming with unshed tears. "You're not going to ask me about any of it?" | whispered, my voice thick with emotion. He smiled, a gentle, understanding smile, and reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from my face. His touch was feather-light, but it sent a shiver down my spine. "| don't need to," he said, his voice a low, comforting murmur. "| don't want you to have to relive any of it. All | care about is that you're safe now. And that from now on, you're happy." The simple, unselfish kindness of his words was my undoing. | collapsed against him, burying my face in his chest, a single, choked sob escaping my lips. He held me, one hand stroking my back in slow, soothing circles. | could feel the steady, reassuring beat of his heart beneath my ear. My own heart did a strange, unfamiliar flutter. ---- | quickly pulled away, my face flushing. "It's late," | mumbled, suddenly flustered. "We should go." He just looked at me, his eyes filled with a warmth that made my blush deepen. "Okay," he said with a soft laugh. We walked back through the now-empty gallery. | paused in front of one of my favorite pieces, a landscape of a surreal, alien world under a sky of swirling nebulas. "| can't believe it," | said, a sense of awe washing over me. "I finally have my own exhibition." Eliot came to stand beside me. "This is just the first of many," he said, his voice filled with a quiet conviction. | turned to look at him and found him already looking at me, his dark eyes sparkling like the starry sky in my painting. The intensity of his gaze made my breath catch in my throat. He always seemed so goofy, so carefree. But now, in the quiet of the empty gallery, there was a seriousness to him, a depth | had never fully appreciated. My own gaze faltered. | quickly turned and walked towards the exit, my heart pounding a strange, new rhythm. The moment we stepped outside, the cold night air hit me. | shivered, wrapping my arms around myself. | was still in my thin, silk evening gown. Without a word, Eliot shrugged off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders. It was warm from his body, and it ---- smelled of him-a clean, subtle scent of sandalwood and old books. The warmth, both physical and emotional, enveloped me. "What about you?" | asked, looking at him in his now-thin shirtsleeves. "You'll be cold." He just smiled, a lopsided, endearing grin. "I'll live. Get in the car. He gently nudged me towards the waiting car, where the heater was already blasting. The ride home was quiet. | was exhausted, emotionally and physically. My head lolled to the side, and before | knew it, my cheek was resting on Eliot's shoulder, and | was asleep. | felt him shift slightly, pulling his jacket more securely around me. | heard him murmur to the driver, "Take the long way. And go slow." | was woken by a gentle hand on my shoulder. "Athena. We're home." | blinked, momentarily disoriented. Realizing | had fallen asleep on him, | sat up abruptly, my face hot. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry." He just laughed. "Don't be." | practically scrambled out of the car, handing him back his jacket. "Thank you," | said, my voice a little breathless. "For ---- everything." | turned to unlock my apartment door. "Athena," he said, his voice soft | turned back. He stood there, hesitating, as if he wanted to say something more. But then he just smiled. "Get some rest." He turned and disappeared into his own apartment. | stared at his closed door for a moment, my eyes drawn to the tips of his ears, which, even in the dim hallway light, | could see were a deep, telltale red. A slow smile spread across my face. That night, for the first time in years, | lay in bed and thought not of revenge, not of pain, but of a kind man with warm eyes and a lopsided grin. And | slept, deeply and without dreams. Title: A Princess? No! I'm the Female General! In "A Princess? No! I'm the Female General!" by CrushReel, Adela Taylor, a noble family's daughter, disguises herself as her brother to secure their Duke title by joining the army. Despite facing obstacles, she achieves remarkable success. However, upon her triumphant return, her brother betrays her, setting off a chain of events that will test her resolve and reveal hidden truths. This captivating novel delves into themes of secrets, reincarnation, revenge, murder, and drama. 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