Chapter 239: Long Night III

Athena lifted her head from Antonio’s shoulder, cutting his mocking laughter short.

She took her lower lip in slowly, trying to understand why she felt so guilt-pricked at the sight of Ewan looking so downcast. Was it because Mr. and Mrs. Thorne were regarding her with a plea and a taint of sorrow? Or was it something else?

She looked at her children. They appeared just as confused as she was. However, Kathleen’s face was also besotted with another emotion—pity.

Athena chewed on her lower lip and realized she needed to salvage the situation because it was quite bad. Ewan was here to see the children, not to get humiliated.

"What is the name of the book?" She finally spoke, retrieving her hand from Antonio’s grip and breaking the tense silence. If she felt bad about this, then it was bad.

Ewan might have done a lot of things, but at this moment, she needed to cut him some slack. Moreover, there had to be a reason for why he had gotten her books.

She recalled the last gift he had given her, and her brow furrowed now as she watched Gianna peer into the gift bag again. Her heart rate picked up as a knowing feeling rose within her—could it be Coleen’s?

She nodded slowly in resignation, looking at Ewan a second later, when Gianna met her gaze and spoke up. "It’s from your favorite author, Coleen Hoover."

Of course, Athena thought, not sure what to do with the varying feelings swelling up within her, especially as Ewan’s head remained bowed. Antonio’s laugh must have dealt a significant blow to his ego.

Yet, wasn’t that why she had wanted Antonio here? To destroy whatever hope Ewan had concerning her and the children?

"Ewan, thank you. Old Mr. Thorne is right. You give thoughtful gifts," She said, getting to her feet, accepting the gift from Gianna. A smile touched her lips when she saw the titles of the books—they were the recent releases from the author.

When she looked at Ewan again, he was looking at her this time, with relief.

"I’m glad you liked it. But if you want an Areso gown..."

Athena chuckled before she could help it. "No, I don’t. This is perfect. Thank you very much. I’ve wanted these books for a while." She paused, curtailing her excitement—she didn’t want to send the message that she was very cool with him now. "So, what did you get for the twins?"

Ewan wetted his lips as the nervousness returned, clasping his hands tight, causing a furrow to mar Athena’s forehead, as well as the twins’.

This time, Sandro, eager to get this over and done with, so that his friend could breathe easier, got to his feet and sauntered over to the remaining packages. He started with Kathleen’s.

out the castle puzzle and set, followed

up slowly, ignoring her brother’s whispered angry calls, and met Sandro halfway. "Is it for

beautiful one. What do

her mother. Athena gave her a small nod,

I love drawing? It’s more like a secret hobby...

if he was an interesting puzzle she was trying to solve. How did

Kathleen gushed, looking over the

smiling and gesturing to

with that answer. Her hand gripped the material

many ways, yet, at this moment, holding proof of his thoughtfulness in her hands, she wondered if maybe... if maybe it was okay to give him a

aware of the tension brimming in the room,

her with hope shining in his eyes. Thinking of crushing that hope, of

catching as she halted before him, with her hands still clutching

She paused, then exhaled. "Thank you for

okay with it; his daughter was talking with him. Overexcitement had him clenching his thighs so that he wouldn’t hug her to himself and inhale her scent which

Kathleen. It was a pleasure." He managed to keep his voice

Kathleen offered a small smile before hurrying back to Sandro,

fell on Nathaniel

line, not in a hurry to get out of his seat. Instead, he folded his hands across his chest, his eyes focused on his mother as if seeking her permission, or rather, informing her that he wasn’t

were not surrounded by family and friends. It would have been easier for Ewan, for her, and for the children. This crowd, as familiar as it was, was putting pressure

"Nathaniel..."

mother’s voice, Nathaniel grumpily got up from his seat and strolled blankly to

coldly, his hands still folded across his chest,

that sometimes it was better to

father and lacking closure before the latter passed was one

before the lad, meeting his gaze steadily, amazed at the striking resemblance the latter bore with Ewan;

was not the time. He turned to the remaining package and carefully tore it open. The LEGO set came out

of emotion, sinking a stone in Ewan’s

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