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

Chapter 378: More Worries IV

Athena sat frozen, her chest tightening as Margaret’s words echoed through the phone like the tolling of a bell. Missing.

It did not make sense. She thought sharply. She had been careful, more careful than she had ever been with anything else in her life when she picked the place with Lucas–not wanting any backlash that might affect them after the court case at the elders’ council.

The family of three had been sent to a location buried beneath layers of secrecy, hidden even from allies, tucked away in anonymity. No paper trail. No whispers. No chance of a breach. Only her old CIA contacts had the coordinates. Not even Aiden knew the full address–But only because he wasn’t interested in it.

And yet—

Her throat closed. Her mind stumbled over the thought. How had they been found? Who could have possibly pierced the veil?

Her fingers clenched the phone so tightly that her knuckles burned white. Behind the sharp edge of panic, anger simmered. She felt it in her ribs, pulsing with every shallow breath.

For a moment she could not speak... only think in rabid circles. What was the end result of this? Why would they touch Kendra?

Margaret’s muffled sobs filled the silence. Athena pressed her palm to her temple, forcing herself to steady. She swallowed, then pushed her voice out through the storm in her chest.

"Margaret," she finally said, low, taut. "Tell me. Start from the beginning. What happened?"

On the other end, Margaret sniffled, trying to compose herself. But she was a talker before the sickness—always had been—and once the dam cracked, the words spilled out.

"I... I went to the market, Athena. Just for a little while. I didn’t think—God forgive me, I didn’t think! I only wanted to get foodstuffs. Rice, some meat, and a few things for dinner. You know I don’t like feeding them junk. Lucas was with Kendra, He hadn’t gone to work today. They were fine. They waved me off. I told them I’d be quick."

Her voice broke, but she pushed on, rushing now, as though afraid Athena might cut her off.

"The market was busy. Too busy. People shouting prices, haggling. I kept thinking of what Lucas wanted for stew, Kendra’s favorite fruits—oh God, her little hands, always tugging at me to buy more oranges. I—I didn’t notice anyone following me, or anything suspicious. I swear, Athena, I didn’t."

Athena closed her eyes, ignoring Mageret’s rambling, understanding the woman’s panic. She pictured Margaret there, moving from stall to stall, chatter spilling from her lips as she joked with the vendors. Margaret’s nature had always been warm, overly open.

Never toward her of course, in those past years. But to people around her, to her family, she had been that. She was the kind who never left silence alone. It was both her charm and her flaw.

her tone clipped

knew. I knew something was wrong. A mother always know, you know... My legs turned cold. I wanted to run, Athena, but I couldn’t. I pushed the door, and the smell—oh, the smell of dust and metal. The place

phone tighter. Her stomach

corner. The kitchen—empty. The bedrooms—mess everywhere. Not a note, Athena. Not even a warning. Nothing. Just gone. As

to listen past the sobs, every word etching itself into

like they were splitting apart. Kendra. "Did you see anything strange before you left? Anyone

she were

whispered finally. "No, Athena. Nothing. Just the usual faces

you must do exactly as I say. Do not go back to that house. Don’t linger on the streets. Go to the Silver Elm Hotel—third floor, room 309. My friend Eric will come for you. He’s tall, dark hair, scar under his chin. He’ll call with the code: ’Do you still keep roses?’ That’s how you’ll

sniffled, but her reply came firm, desperate. "Yes, Athena.

put until Eric arrives." Athena exhaled. "Hold yourself together,

The line ended.

She dialed Eric immediately. The man answered

"Athena."

you?"

Shawn. Why?

Lucas and Kendra are gone. She’s heading to Silver Elm Hotel currently. Room 309. The code is Do you still keep roses? Don’t forget it. Take the jet. Tell the boss it’s an emergency. I want that tracker I

She heard Shawn in

move. Adding this to the list though,

line cut, humor in the last

interiors, away from the weakening sunlight. At the poolside door, a servant bowed.

area." she spoke,

sitting leisurely on the sofa with Susan, playing a game of

saw her though, once they noted her expression, they abandoned the

"Athena, what’s the problem?"

voice flat.

her mouth. Mr. Thorne’s jaw

Aiden strode in, hair disheveled, tie askew, eyes sharp with urgency. He must have flown