Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours! - Chapter 461

Chapter 461: Mole strikes II

Athena felt again, an immense wave of relief as she stood in the president’s private quarantine chamber. He had chosen the largest room in the residence for his family’s treatment, one that allowed for enough air circulation and space to move between the beds. It was the right call.

She was dressed head to toe in the sterile white suit doctors wore when entering containment areas, the visor fogging slightly from her breath. Aiden was suited too, though his seemed to hang heavier on him, the fabric making a faint rustle whenever he shifted.

The sharp tang of antiseptic filled the air, burning faintly in her nose. It was clean — almost too clean — with an undertone of the chemical disinfectants that always reminded her of hospital corridors and sleepless nights. The humming sound of a purifier filled the silence, steady, unbroken, like a heartbeat.

She glanced around the room. Four beds had been arranged in a neat row along the far wall — the president, his wife, and their two children. Three of them were already under sedation, breathing evenly beneath the thin white sheets. Only the president remained awake. His face was pale, his lips slightly ashen, and yet his eyes retained the sharpness she had always known in him.

The security team had done their part earlier — bringing the beds into the hallway — but since they had not been equipped with quarantine suits, the final work of pulling and positioning the beds had fallen to Athena and Aiden.

Her arms still ached from it. She had already informed the chief security official that the guards and every staff member of the household would need to be tested as well. There could be no risks, not when the virus had already made its way to the highest office in the land.

Now, with the last IV line secured and the monitoring machines humming softly, Athena stood back and watched. The room, though large, felt small with the weight of fear pressing down on everyone inside.

The president looked up at her from where he sat propped against the pillows. He looked exhausted — the fine lines around his eyes deepened, his once good complexion dulled to a washed-out hue. Still, when he spoke, his voice carried its usual authority.

“Thank you, Athena,” he said slowly, each word deliberate. “For everything — the vaccine, the gang, the containment… for all you’ve done.”

She started to shake her head, but he lifted a hand weakly. “Please. I mean it. You’ve done more for this nation in months than some of us have managed in years. Name your price — anything. A reward is the least I can offer.”

Athena smiled faintly beneath the face shield. “I’m not doing this for money, Mr. President,” she replied softly. “You already paid me when you gave me the chance to work freely.”

He chuckled — a rough, weary sound. “Still humble,” he murmured. “It’s why the people trust you.”

Athena said nothing, her gaze flicking briefly toward his wife. The woman’s chest rose and fell in shallow breaths, her skin faintly grey under the fluorescent light. The children, barely teenagers, looked smaller than their years, fragile under the crisp white sheets. She fought to steady her breathing. This wasn’t the first time she’d seen a family in this condition, but it always hurt a little more when the faces were familiar.

The president followed her gaze. “They’ll be fine, won’t they?”

“They will,” Athena assured, her voice low but firm. “The vaccine is already taking effect. You’ll all sleep for a while — your body needs that rest to fight properly.”

He nodded, but didn’t lie down just yet. “Before you sedate me,” he said quietly, “I heard something… about your engagement. Congratulations, my dear. I’m sorry I didn’t say that sooner. I’ve been… distracted.”

Athena’s heart gave a small twist. “It’s all right,” she said, her tone even. “But it was canceled.”

His brows shot up. “Canceled?”

“It was… but it will be held today…” she said with a soft sigh. “It’s fine. I’ll be home in time, and… we’ll see.”

The president looked horrified, guilt flickering in his weary eyes. “I called you away on your day?”

She waved it off, managing a small laugh. “Sir, you’re the president of the nation. You can call me on any day. Besides, the celebration will take place in the evening.”

He watched her for a moment longer, then smiled faintly. “You’re stronger than most of us, Athena. When this is over, you should rest — in one of the rooms here, if you’d like. You’ll need your strength. The press will want to see you a few hours from now, and your face will tell them everything they need to know — that there’s hope again.”

Athena inclined her head slightly. “I’ll rest after the next evaluation. And thank you. For trusting me.”

As much as she wasn’t utterly pleased with talking to the press, she knew she had to; not doing so might put other government parastatals in trouble. Secondly, it will help them to check into the hospital at any slightest problem, instead of hoarding it–to prevent stigma, thereby infecting other people.

And there was the fact that the president’s recovery will tip off Kael and his people.

The president nodded meanwhile, the fight finally leaving his eyes. “Go on,” he whispered. “Let me sleep.”

Aiden stepped forward, adjusted the IV, and within moments, the president’s body relaxed against the pillows, his breathing deep and slow.

Athena watched him for a moment longer. His color was still too pale, his pulse faint beneath the monitor line — but he would recover. They all would.

When she turned toward the door, her boots made soft squeaks against the disinfected floor. She and Aiden exited the room, the door sealing shut behind them with a hiss.

The hallway outside was dimly lit, quiet except for the faint hum of the air filters. Athena pressed a hand against the wall and exhaled, the weight of the day settling over her shoulders.

“His color’s better than when we first arrived,” Aiden said, pulling off his gloves. “Still… that grey hue—it’s eerie.”

“His wife’s worse,” Athena murmured. “But she’ll make it. I’ve seen worse cases recover.”

They stood in silence for a moment. The antiseptic smell clung to their suits, heavy and metallic. Aiden shifted, fingers tugging at the edge of his hood. “Can we take these off now?” he asked, exhaustion creeping into his voice.

Athena turned to him and laughed softly, the sound muffled under her respirator. “Not yet. Give it a while.”

He groaned under his breath. “You just like seeing me suffer.”

“Maybe,” she teased, then reached for the small pouch strapped to her side.

Aiden’s brows lifted. “What’s that?”

She opened it to reveal a handful of smooth white stones, almost pearl-like in sheen. They gave off a faint medicinal scent — crisp, like crushed herbs.

“It’s a disinfectant,” she explained, closing the pouch. “A natural one. In case there’s still a lingering trace of the virus in the air. Stella calls them purity stones.”

Aiden blinked. “You and your ancient remedies,” he muttered, but he smiled despite himself.

Athena moved through the corridor, placing one of the stones in a small ceramic dish near each room — the bedrooms, the study, even the stairway landing. The house was enormous, but she didn’t skip a single area. The stones were supposed to absorb toxins.

They were heading to the living room, when Aiden asked: “You know this was deliberate right?”

Athena didn’t hesitate before answering. “Yes. It was meant to make a statement.” Her gaze flicked to the ceiling, as though she could see through the walls to the family resting beyond. “Too bad for them that it failed.”