h4Chapter 395: Seizures/h4

"I haven’t seen Herbert on the news today... and I don’t think he has made a statement yet. Where is he?" Florence questioned, her eyes narrowing as they found Athena, who was rxed on the couch, gaze fixed on the news channel.

At her grandmother’s question, Athena only shrugged, her shoulders lifting and falling with a hint of weariness. "I don’t know really. When I called Zane, he mentioned that his father was supposed to be at the hospital. I just hope he is okay."

"Of course he is okay. The man moves with security like he is the government itself."

Ewan, who held a sleeping Kathleen carefully in his arms, let out a softugh. "But we all do, old man, especially with the situation of things. One cannot afford to be loose with security during this period."

Old Mr. Thorne huffed, making Athena hide her smile behind her hand. "Do you have some kind of beef with Herbert? If so, why would you tell him my schedule for the day?"

Old Mr. Thorne frowned, lines marring his forehead as his confusion deepened. "What are you talking about?" He exchanged a baffled nce with his wife, who was equally at a loss.

"When I asked him how..." Athena paused now, ruffling her hair nervously. The topic she was about to bring up was bound to go two ways.

"Athena, what’s the problem?" Old Mr. Thorne leaned forward, concern etched across his features.

"Well, turns out that today is my birthday, or rather the day my foster mother had chosen as my birth date."

Silence reigned in the room.

Nathaniel, God bless his soul, had the good grace to look guilty.

"Mom!" he blurted out, guilt and shock warring in his little face as he hurried to her from his position beside Ewan. "I am sorry." His voice broke, his small frame trembling with the me he cast on himself. Somehow he had forgotten his mother’s day, somehow...

"Nathaniel, stop." Athena pulled him into her arms quickly, stroking his hair. "There are a lot of things happening all at once, and it’s okay that you didn’t remember. I didn’t even remember until the surprise at the hospital."

"Surprise?" Old Mr. Thorne’s voice, heavy with shock, cut through the room. He couldn’t believe he had missed out on this. Why hadn’t he thought of it? Why hadn’t he factored it in when they discovered her?

"Yes. Herbert. He organized a surprise party in my office. I walked in only to be waid. The cake was delicious, by the way. There was supposed to be some for you, but I had to give it out... especially to the patients who came to wish me well when they heard, before things went downhill."

A pause stretched, during which Athena noted the variety of emotions shing across the faces in the room. One thing was clear—they weren’t pleased.

Even Ewan, with his mouth hanging open. She almost rolled her eyes. He should close it before a fly went in.

"How..." Florence began, then sputtered to a halt, unsure how to proceed. How to celebrate, in this climate? She didn’t think her granddaughter had the strength to handle that tonight, not with such a hectic day weighing her down.

Fortunately, Athena rescued her from the dilemma. "The party on Friday is still holding, right? It can be a double celebration then... if that’s okay."

As much as she wanted to cancel everything entirely, she knew the amount of effort her grandmother had put into organizing the party. And it wouldn’t do well showing to the gang that they were afraid. It wouldn’t change anything either.

Florence’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly. "Of course, my dear. Of course." She got to her feet with renewed energy. "I need to make more arrangements, make some calls..." And just like that, she swept out of the room.

"You didn’t tell me that she liked asions and parties," Athena murmured.

"Only if it’s family," Old Mr. Thorne replied. "Thest time I’ve seen her this excited was at Emily’s wedding ceremony." A pause, then his eyes sharpened. "So you said Herbert told you what again?"

"I asked him how he had known I wasing in the afternoon... if the doctors had waited in my office since morning. And he replied that he had confirmed my schedule from you."

Old Mr. Thorne’s face darkened into a frown. "I have not spoken to Herbert in a very long while."

It was Athena’s turn to frown. "Why then would he lie?"

"Maybe he doesn’t want you feeling guilty for keeping the doctors up and about..." Ewan suggested, finally recovering from his earlier shock, though not from guilt.

He should have remembered her birthday, no matter what else was happening. He had known it during and after their marriage. It should have been something—an avenue to at least make her smile, to ease her mind for a moment.

Athena reclined into her seat, nodding slowly. That exnation made sense. Herbert must have felt ufortable when she asked and said the first thing that came to mind.

Just then, a servant burst into the room, panting. "The patient is up... I think he is not okay."

Which one? Athena wanted to ask, remembering that both Lucas and Spider were under their roof. But seeing the panic in the servant’s eyes, she gently set Nathaniel aside. "Go to bed. Tell Mama Florence to tuck you two in. I aming."

Her son nodded, trusting her without hesitation, and hurried off. Athena rose quickly.

As she passed Margaret and Kendra’s room, she heard them singing, carefree. Relief flickered in her chest—it wasn’t Lucas. The duo had been with him only a few minutes ago after dinner. That left Spider.

Her steps quickened, Ewan following right behind her.

Spider was convulsing. She realized it the moment she heard the sounds—harsh grunts, the thud of his body against the bedding. When she opened the door, the sight that met her made her stomach twist.

He was thrashing, shaking his head violently like a man chained to a rock, fighting to escape some unseen torment.

It was painful to watch.

Quickly, she sprang into action, her mind focused on saving him, while at the forefront she stored questions she would demand of Ewan once this episode was over.

Fifteen minutester, Spider had calmed down, his chest rising evenly, his body ck. It was almost as though nothing had happened, peace settling over him like a fragile veil.

"What do you think happened?" Ewan asked, arms folded tightly across his chest, sorrow embedded deep in his eyes. Watching his young friend struggle like that, those terrible shakes, had reminded him of just how little he truly knew about the fellow.

"I don’t know, Ewan. I don’t even know," Athena admitted, voice low but steady. "It’s like I told you, the drug he ingested is strange... it must be a new one in the ck market. Very harmful too. But I think he is stabilizing now. He will be awake soon."fne435 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on Find?Novel/fne435