Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours!

Chapter 174: News Of Death

Aiden’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline as he pressed his lips into a thin line, mulling over Athena’s question.

"Aiden? When did Antonio join the research team? He has a company to run back in Whale’s City, and operations in several other countries."

Aiden exhaled slowly, wrestling with the possibility that he may have crossed an unspoken line. But then he shrugged it off; Antonio hadn’t asked him to keep it a secret from Athena.

In fact, he had assumed she would be the first person Antonio would want to tell, especially given the depth of his feelings for her.

"I don’t know, Athena. I actually thought he had told you. Maybe he left the company in the care of a family member—his brother, perhaps? If he’s decided to stay here, I guess you know the reason."

Athena shut her eyes, pressing her fingertips to her temples as if trying to massage away the throbbing in her head. Each pulse felt like a carpenter striking a hammer against her skull. She rubbed her forehead tiredly yet gently, hoping to ease the mounting pressure.

"Athena, you aren’t saying anything," Aiden prodded, sensing her silence.

"Aiden, you already know my situation. I’ve tried; it just isn’t working." Her voice was heavy with resignation, and a hint of sadness crept in. "My heart isn’t cooperating with my mind. I doubt it will change its mind if I accept his proposal of marriage."

"No, it won’t. You’ve already experienced one loveless marriage; I wouldn’t want you to go through that again," Aiden said as he maneuvered the car around the last bend leading to their secure location.

"That’s right. I wouldn’t want to do that to Antonio either. He deserves more," She admitted, a wave of uncertainty washing over her.

If Antonio was so intent on being in her life, how would he ever see his forever girl, even if the latter stood right in front of him?

Five minutes later, as they stepped out of the car and faced a dilapidated, old rusted phone booth that had clearly seen better days, Aiden broke the tension. "So, I’ve got some news for you."

or bad?" Athena asked, stepping into the

button on the machine. With

on the switches that

finally admitted, his tone grave. "Why did we follow this

seemed safer. But that’s beside the point. What’s this bad news?" Athena got a cobweb caught on her face and brushed it away as she approached an iron steel door

walked past her to the door, his focus set on maneuvering the heavy wheel on the door to the right. He strained and grunted, relief washing over him when

a few beats, each word landing like a brick in

weight of his words. She felt a cold rush of air against her skin, as if the world

stepped closer, his presence a comfort

news this morning. Heart failure, they said..." He continued, his voice barely above

they sure? Maybe..." She started, grasping at straws, unwilling to accept this

Aiden’s voice trailed off, a pause pregnant with the unsaid. "Not every

a furious glare. "And why wasn’t I told about

didn’t want to bother you, seeing as you had a lot of work to do

felt the pain swell within her, hitting Aiden’s chest repeatedly, tears spilling

you mean? It would have taken just a flight—two at most. How could...?" Her words fell away as a wave of sorrow crashed over her, and Aiden instinctively

Athena..." He murmured, patting her back gently, an anchor in the storm of her

man who had picked up the broken pieces of her life, the second person who had taken her in after Antonio, the first stranger who had made her

and had even signed the

passed away. He had never seen the twins again, and knowing they would be

chest with renewed fervor. "You’re going to pay for this, Aiden," She muttered, stilling only after a while to regain some composure before stepping out of