Chapter 394: Tests III

"So, is it bad?" Ewan joined Athena in peering at the vial, after it had been stirred and allowed to settle for a few minutes.

When she sighed wearily, dejectedly, he knew it was indeed bad. His chest tightened as he wished, almost desperately, that he could erase the consequence of what lay before them — the fallout, the chaos that would ensue, the weight that would press unyieldingly on her back.

"Athena..." he murmured, needing words, needing to know what they were up against. "Is it as you feared?"

Athena nodded slowly, straightening her shoulders with effort. "It’s a variant. Much worse than the Grey virus. I don’t think the cure I manufactured would be able to do anything against it..."

"But you haven’t tested it out? Maybe—"

Athena shook her head sharply, cutting off Ewan’s hurried response. "I know what I am saying, Ewan. This is so much worse. I will need to spend a lot of time in the lab from henceforth... and I will need you to be there for the children. Gianna is not always around, as you must have noticed, and I think Chelsea is too busy with her day-to-day activities..."

A pause. Her brows furrowed as she realized she didn’t exactly know why her friend was always out of the house first thing in the morning. If she didn’t know better, she would say Chelsea was looking for a job.

Wait. Athena sighed inwardly. Was her friend really looking for a job? What happened to her previous one?

"Athena, what’s the problem?"

"I think Chelsea is up to something. But that’s by the way..." She waved the thought aside, returning to the present. "As I was saying, you have to be there for the children. Working on the drugs, the experiments... it consumes a lot of time. I hope you can understand..."

"I understand, Athena. I understand perfectly well," Ewan cut in softly, his gaze meeting hers with quiet tenderness. "You don’t have to explain yourself. Take as much time as you need to deal with this. I’ll be here if you need anything."

Athena searched his face, lingering in his eyes for truth, then exhaled gently. "Thanks for this, Ewan. And I am sorry if—"

"Don’t apologize for doing what you should," he interrupted gently. "You’re also doing this for them. And no, it’s not a burden."

then closed firmly. "I see.

was his responsibility as much as hers, but he sensed

Maybe tomorrow. I’m too mentally fraught to do anything now. But I will speak to Herbert and collect some kind of permission, should in case working here tampers with my hours

Ewan muttered, his mind stewing over a particular thought, one he knew

voice was sharp. Just as Ewan was adept at reading her, so was she at reading him. She pushed aside what the truth of that meant and

wanted to top whatever was happening. And if I should take a guess, I would say that Kael would be occupying a position as an advisor. That he would advise they release

and then Herbert. Because if I enter that lab mode, a lot of things will need to be running without my presence. And as much as it pains me that I

her eyes sting with tears. "Why can’t these people just give up, Ewan? For a second there, I even

you’re not wrong to feel that way. The gang can be petty... and so can their sponsor. We just have to keep pushing, keep holding

he was right. Things left untreated usually found a way

reigned between them for a

finally, his tone heavy. "How long does it take before acting once it gets into a human

only made the air heavier. Whereas the Grey virus took at least a week or two before showing signs, this one could manifest in mere days. And creating a drug, test-running it, that would take much longer. She

She exhaled deeply. "Let’s leave here. I want to

as they approached the Thorne gates. "Doesn’t it get tiring, shuffling between here and your

honest, I haven’t been at

furrowed. "Still

But I don’t want to stay there... it brings bad memories. The servants keep it clean and

Sandro is staying at a bachelor’s pad, isn’t he? Why not stay with Zane at the Whitman mansion? There are more than enough rooms

same space with Herbert. We’re two business moguls, and we’re bound to clash at some point. And he’s family. I don’t want to mix business with pleasure. I’m sure

biting back the urge to point out that Old Mr. Thorne was also a business mogul. It wasn’t

staying at the Thorne mansion. It’s not weird. And if it does get

was becoming homeless. It would have been

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