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

Chapter 324: A Warm Welcome

Unfortunately for Athena, her plans for a hot bath, good food, and sleep—in that sequence—were interrupted when she stepped into the living room of the Thorne’s mansion and saw that there were visitors chatting at the dining table.

It was only the mere addition of Antonio, Cedric, and his fiancée, Victoria, but it was enough to give her a headache. She didn’t want more than she had been expecting: Old Mr. Thorne and his wife, her kids, and then her two friends.

Any more was a crowd, and she wasn’t in the mood for it, not even when one was her new boyfriend. And from Ewan kissing his teeth, Aiden’s heavy sigh, and Susan’s short whistle, she knew that they, too, thought that the three were a crowd.

"Mom!!!" The twins’ shouts dragged Athena from her melancholic thoughts to her children, who were hurrying toward her with wide, laughing mouths and twinkling eyes.

She squatted to their height and opened her tired arms wide to welcome them, aware, from the corner of her eyes, that Antonio had stood from his seat and was approaching her too.

No, no. She chanted inwardly, sensing the buildup of Ewan’s unwelcoming energy. Not tonight. She really had no strength for unnecessary machismo at this point.

All the same, she dropped a kiss on each of her children’s foreheads, smiling when they dropped wet kisses all over her face. She could never be too tired for these two.

"Mom! Did everything go well?" Nathaniel asked, breaking away from the hug, darting a glance at Ewan, who didn’t know what to do with his hands under his children’s sudden scrutiny, for Kathleen had followed her brother’s lead.

"Yeah, everything went well," Athena replied, standing to her full height, her lips folding in when she noticed the apparent space and tension buildup between Ewan and the children.

"Won’t you hug us, Father..." Kathleen finally muttered teasingly, breaking the tension, looking at her father with eyes still shining with the happiness that her parents had returned from the mission in a healthy state.

Ewan, who had been battling with his annoyance over Antonio’s presence and the need to hug his children as Athena did, immediately sank to his knees, any form of annoyance fading away as Kathleen rushed into his arms, placing her head on his chest.

"Welcome, Father..."

Ewan smiled so much that it was a miracle his lips didn’t touch his ears. This was the warmest welcome of his life!

second later. "Thanks for protecting our mother..." He whispered, only to the hearing of

was too emotionally overwhelmed to say anything in response. He rather tightened his hold around them,

a soft look on her face as she gazed at the trio, that he wanted to wipe Ewan off the face of the earth.

throat loudly to break off the emotionally laden atmosphere, but that didn’t work; it rather brought Aiden’s attention toward

angrily and covered the distance

my love... was there a hitch?" He was utterly pleased when Ewan lifted his head then to glare at

between the two men, Antonio dealt

table is already set..." He continued, his hand slipping into

but having no choice if she wanted to enjoy a drama-free night, followed him.

departure, Old Mr. Thorne hailed Ewan to the dining table, he with Aiden and Susan, needing to cover up the

dining room and into the kitchen, where she communicated

the mission go?" Old Mr. Thorne started, needing to break the tension that had mounted immediately Ewan had taken

with this attention from his children that he lost track of whatever was happening at the table, whatever were the next

only it were not rude to leave the dining table, he would have gone to a separate room to be with his kids, and maybe Athena—Athena, who was sitting beside Antonio. The simple thought was enough to lift Ewan from

we had expected," She was saying, a smile on her lips, her gaze gentle as she talked with Old Mr. Thorne—so gentle that you couldn’t reconcile this version of hers with the one

Thorne’s voice as he wondered at Ewan’s silence; as he wondered how Ewan was dealing with the news of Antonio being Athena’s boyfriend; the over-cheerful male

fine. How’s business,

laughed. "You can ask her yourself..." His eyes shining as he watched his wife ruffle Ewan’s hair, as he caught

told us... you kept us all

there was a little hitch," Ewan answered, enjoying the attention. "But it’s as Athena said, it finally went well,

were bringing more food to the dining

Victoria felt a little out of place, especially as small talk about business and politics started to

her turf. She wasn’t pleased either that Athena seemed to be

in a mild ban from the Thorne’s household, maybe even to spend