Chapter 131: Keeping Up Appearances

"You’re going out to collect more evidence? Gianna asked Athena, incredulity ringing in her voice. "Haven’t you collected enough?"

She eyed Athena as the latter donned a sleek black leather jacket over matching pants. The image before her resembled something straight out of a spy thriller, reminiscent of a CIA agent gearing up for a high-stakes mission.

"Honestly, I think you’ve gathered more than enough," She continued all the same, gesturing toward the mountain of files meticulously arranged on Athena’s work table. "You even have video files, Athena. So, take a chill pill best friend. I think it’s high time you take a break and spend some time with the kids. I’m sure they’ve missed you."

Gianna believed that after the whirlwind of Christmas festivities had subsided, Athena had transformed into an evidence-seeking zombie, neglecting her own well-being.

Every morning, when Gianna prepared for work, she always saw Athena diligently working; and every evening she returned to see her best friend still buried in her investigations or rushing off to meet another witness, leaving the children to entertain themselves.

Sure, the kids occasionally visited Kendra and Stella, sometimes even Old Mr. Thorne, but Gianna couldn’t shake the feeling it was too much. She had seen the evidence collected; it was more than enough to keep Ewan and Fiona away from the children. There should be no more meetings with witnesses. No more research or articles to scour.

Standing up from the queen-sized bed, she approached Athena as the latter dabbed powder on her face, trying to conceal the weariness etched on her features.

"No more of this, Athena. You can’t keep leaving the children to fend for themselves."

Athena bit her lip to stifle a chuckle. Leaving the children? No, it was the other way around—her children were the ones leaving her!

Gianna saw wasn’t neglect; the kids were just keeping up appearances. They were more than capable and they worked harder

the witnesses they uncovered. Those meetings rarely took longer

it all to Gianna. So instead, she nodded with a look of guilt. "I know, Gianna, and I’m really sorry about that. This will be the last witness I meet, and then I’ll spend the rest of the evening

scrutinizing Athena with furrowed brows, searching for any hint of deception. When she was convinced of her friend’s sincerity, she nodded. "Alright then. Who is the

raised her eyebrows in surprise. "You don’t have any backbreaking work

my boss I’d be taking the rest of the year off. I’ll resume in the second week of January. The company has closed for the holidays, and the clients under me can wait until then to collect their orders. It’s

deadline. It’s your fault for being too greedy—you should have pushed up

"How was I supposed to know they would all

are unpredictable. Deal with it," Athena retorted with playful exasperation. "And don’t worry about your request; I’ve got it covered. I won’t be wasting any time, and I’ll be

giving Athena’s stomach an affectionate pat. "If you say so. And those leather pants look great, by the way! If

she slung a crossbody bag over her shoulder that held all her essentials, gave Gianna a wink, and stepped out of the

from the floor where they had been playing and rushed to their mother. They shot Gianna a sidelong glance before

are you

out a witness..."

pause at Gianna’s pointed look. "Okay then. Good luck. Will you be

at the kids’ concern. "Yeah, I will be. Take care of your sister; Aunt Gianna will be home

heart, while Athena couldn’t help but feel amused. Her children were better

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