Chapter 81: Thoughtful Gifts

Athena’s eyes diligently scanned Aiden’s report for the second time, her heart weighing heavy with the troubling findings. She wasn’t pleased, not at all.

Fiona, the elusive figure at the center of this web, couldn’t be traced back to either the murder of the chief waiter or her own kidnapping.

True, Fiona had left signs—clues that suggested her involvement—but they were mere whispers, not shouts demanding attention. To the outside world, those whispers were not enough to label Fiona as evil.

The investigation team, having entered her city just two days after her abduction, had come up empty-handed. They were unable to find any CCTV footage from the hotel on the night of the waiter’s murder, nor did they find the CCTV footage of the exact time she had been taken.

Even if some footage had surfaced, Athena doubted it would point directly to Fiona. How could they possibly connect the dots?

She let out a weary sigh, deliberately letting her phone tumble onto the dresser. The weight of her situation was suffocating, and her mind raced in circles.

How desperately she wished to involve her children, to let them stand by her side, but this matter felt too close to home. The children still clung to her for comfort, their worries lingering even a week after the incident.

She gazed at her reflection in the long mirror, her eyes trailing over the remnants of what she had survived. Scars marked her thighs, some faded, others still ghastly reminders of the ordeal.

Each mark whispered of her resilience, but also of the work that lay ahead: the need to eliminate the threat before it found her first, before it could strike again.

As she fought to steady her slightly racing heart, a knock at her door startled her, pulling her from the spiraling thoughts.

"Are you still going out today? I’ve been waiting a while..." Gianna’s voice echoed past the door, punctuating the tense air.

draped haphazardly around the room. She had submerged herself in work, lost in the reports and her

Gianna. I’ll be with you shortly," She called back, forcing herself to

hastened movements, she grabbed a blouse hanging on the chair, slipping it over her head. Black pants and combat shoes followed, complementing

was significant; she was heading to Ewan’s town, preparing to face the people of his

faltered as she caught sight of her children. They were huddled in the corner of their room, surrounded by the gift bags Ewan had sent prior to the

checked the items—had completely forgotten about them amidst the chaos

watched as Nathaniel excitedly pulled a hefty LEGO box from one of the bags. His eyes widened

had risen to her son’s challenge, and it momentarily chased away

smile away as she turned her attention to the next gift

as she saw Kathleen’s face light up with delight. No matter his flaws, it seemed that Ewan had a knack

inspected the playhouse, their excited chatter filling the room. The sound wrapped around her like a warm embrace, momentarily

to Nathaniel, who was busy emptying another gift box. His excitement was

signed copies? And how did he

veins. Had he really been paying attention during their marriage, despite being as distant as he often was, despite being a cold

As she sorted through her whirlwind of emotions, a note slipped from one of the books, breaking her train of

into the children’s room, catching Nathaniel’s curious glance, and

thought you were already leaving with Aunt Gianna!" Nathaniel

feigning seriousness as she met his puzzled gaze. "Haven’t I taught you not to take

a sheepish grin spreading across his face. "I was just checking to

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