ATHENA

    I''ve had so many situations that took my breath away.

    Literally.

    But the man standing here before me, with his jaw clenched and eyes that flicker like a storm about to strike tops the list by far.

    My mouth dries up. My pulse screams in my ears. And for a second, I forget to breathe altogether.

    I crouch down quickly, stuffing the toothbrush back into the reseble bag like it''s nothing more than a spilled pen.

    Casual.

    Cool.

    Calm.

    All the things I am absolutely not right now.

    His shoes move closer, and they match the fast beating of my heart.

    Ta ta ta ta

    Silence.

    When I look up, I realize the sound had stopped because he''s now close.

    "You didn''t answer me," he says, his voice lower now.

    My fingers fumble with the zipper of my purse.

    "Rayen asked me to get him something," I lie, though my voice wavers near the end.

    "I was just grabbing it."

    Or I could have just said he invited me, but that''s even worse.

    A three year old invites you, and you end up stealing?

    Oh God!

    Alex tilts his head, his gaze sweeping over my face, reading me like a damn book.

    His eyesnd on the bag like he can see right through it.

    "Since when does Rayen need help getting a toothbrush from his own room?"

    Shit.

    My tongue darts over my lip. "Since he wanted to show me his toys and ran off mid-sentence? I don''t know, Alex. He''s three. He does a lot of things that don''t make sense."

    His arms cross over his chest now, his suit jacket shifting slightly with the motion. His silence is suffocating, more threatening than yelling.

    I feel like I''m being examined under a microscope. Like he''s seeing past everyyer, straight through to the real reason I''m here.

    "Daddy!" Rayen rushes to his father, who lifts him up and throws him in the air, making him giggle.

    The sight warms my heart.

    Alex may be the most ruthless, selfish bastard I''ve ever known, but he''s a great son and an even better father.

    It warms my heart, and something tugs on my heart string.

    I could get this over with once and for all.

    I could tell him the truth. But not like this. Not without proof. Not without the test.

    So I take a breath and offer Rayen a smile.

    "Hi Ry, I have to get going, okay? It was great seeing your room and the awesome toys!"

    "You''re leaving already? Daddy has a big house. Why don''t you stay with us?" He pouts.

    I stare at Alex, expecting him to speak against it or say something like his mummy wouldn''t allow it.

    But instead, his eyes are staring at me. That intense stare that makes me ufortable.

    "I''ll visit you soon. Okay." I wave him goodbye and rush out as fast as my legs can carry me. Not bothering to say goodbye to Sloane or Ariana.

    An hourter, I''m in Zayan''s office with a pounding heart and fear strong enough to leave you paralyzed.

    "Rx, Athy, it will be what you expect." He says as he hands me a cup of hot cocoa.

    I sigh.

    It''s been a long day!

    "Thank you for doing this." I give him a small smile.

    "You need to stop thanking me, or I''ll start getting mad." He says softly as he

    grabs a soft nket and ces it on my shoulders.

    "You have a nket in your office?" I ask.

    "You don''t?" He teases, making meugh softly.

    "That''s more like it. I love seeing you smile."

    I take a sip of the cocoa. It''s warm, rich, soothing, and exactly what I need to anchor myself. But the weight in my chest hasn''t moved. It sits there like a stone, pressing down, reminding me why I''m here in the first ce.

    Zayan studies me quietly, his fingers tapping lightly against the edge of his desk.

    He''s always had this calm energy, like he''s immune to chaos. Unlike Alex, whose very presence feels like a thunderstorm. Zayan is the steady rain after it.

    "The test will take some time. You can rest on my couch. You''re exhausted."

    I am. But I don''t know if I can even get any shut eye. However, I don''t argue against it. I simply ce the cup on the table and kick my shoes off, and the moment my head rests on the couch, I drift off.

    "Athena." Shake. "Athena." Another shake.

    I grumble, as I turn and slowly open my eyes.

    I have no roommate, so who is that waking me up?

    Did I fall

    I jolt awake as everythinges crashing down.

    "Hey. Hey. Rx, you''re safe." Zayan''s voice reaches my ears, and I rx.

    "Are they out?" I ask.

    He nods.

    He leans forward and ces a small envelope on the table. Sealed.

    My stomach turns.

    "This is it?"

    He nods once. "They came in an hour ago. Thought I''d let you rest a little bit

    more."

    My hands tremble slightly as I reach for it. The paper crackles under my fingers. I

    haven''t even opened it yet, and already, my heart is in my throat.

    "You don''t have to read it now," Zayan says, his voice almost a whisper.

    "Whenever you''re ready."

    I stare at the envelope.

    But I am ready.

    I need to be.

    Slowly, I break the seal and pull out the folded sheet inside. My eyes scan the words, skipping over the formalities and medical jargon until theynd on the only line that matters.