Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours! - Chapter 464

Chapter 464: Confrontation

“What is the meaning of this?” Colt’s voice boomed through the hall.

The man stood squarely in front of Athena, thick-shouldered and grim, the lines of his shirt crisp enough to cut. His jaw twitched as he watched the dark-clad Nimbus agents move silently across the marble floor. They had arrived only hours ago, already setting up a secure perimeter around the President’s quarters.

Athena rubbed her temples before answering. The pressure behind her eyes throbbed—fatigue and tension in equal measure. She didn’t have the strength for this argument. Colt’s tone made her want to snap back, but she forced herself to breathe slowly, to stay measured.

The living room meanwhile, had become a tactical base. Laptops lined the modern table beside holographic scanners and portable bio-readers. The Nimbus agents’ gear gleamed faintly under the recessed ceiling lights. Their quiet efficiency only seemed to irritate Colt more.

Athena folded her arms, giving him a cool look that didn’t quite hide her exhaustion. “You’ll have to speak lower, Colt. The President’s resting.”

“The President,” Colt said with barely contained anger, “is my responsibility. These people—” he gestured sharply at the agents — “were not cleared by my office.”

Before Athena could answer, her phone vibrated. The name flashing on the screen made her exhale in relief.

Ewan.

She lifted a finger toward Aiden, silently asking him to hold Colt back.

Aiden, ever the good friend, stepped between them, murmuring something low that Athena didn’t quite catch as she accepted the call.

“Ewan,” she said, lowering her voice.

He didn’t bother with pleasantries. “How’s it going? I recognized that décor behind you the moment the broadcast went live. That’s the President’s house, isn’t it?”

Athena grimaced. Of course he would notice. “It is. Things got complicated.”

“Complicated,” he echoed dryly. “I saw the guards, Athena. You’re standing in the middle of a hornet’s nest.”

Colt’s frown deepened as she spoke, his body stiff with contained anger. Athena met his glare briefly before turning her attention back to Ewan.

“It’s under control,” she said, though her tone betrayed doubt. “The readings came back clean, but that doesn’t mean we’re safe. Whoever injected the President and his family might still be near.”

A beat of silence. Then Ewan’s voice softened. “You sound tired. Come home when you can. I’ll keep your favorite dish waiting. Comfort food, as usual.”

That pulled a laugh from her—a small, genuine one that felt strange after the chaos of the day. “You still remember that?”

“For you? Always.”

The warmth in his voice lingered as she ended the call, but the smile faded almost instantly. The weight of reality settled back on her shoulders. She glanced at the phone, then at Colt, whose expression had turned thunderous.

“Why are you telling an outsider the President’s business?” he demanded.

Athena tucked her phone into her pocket, eyes narrowing slightly. “Ewan isn’t an outsider.” Why couldn’t he be cool headed as Valentine? Was it because there was secret attached to his own security office?

“He’s not security. He’s not medical. He’s not even cleared.” Colt’s voice carried that edge of command that once made rookies tremble. “So what is he to you that you trust him with state affairs?”

Athena’s lips tightened. Colt was unbelievable! “He’s been in on every happening since this started. You might want to check your reports before you accuse me.”

Colt inhaled sharply through his nose, visibly holding himself back. He knew Ewan’s record of course. But still, his pride bristled.

He looked around the room again, his scowl deepening as two Nimbus agents installed a sensory panel near the corridor. “You think my men would betray the President?”

“No,” Athena replied, calm and deliberate. “But I think it would do my mind well if my men protected him. Yours can handle the rest of the mansion. I won’t take chances, Colt. You shouldn’t either.”

His nostrils flared. “You’re overstepping.”

“I’m safeguarding,” she countered smoothly.

The two stood locked in silent combat for a moment, their gazes unyielding. Finally, Colt muttered, “You have no such authority.”

Athena sighed, glancing briefly at Aiden—who stood quietly, arms crossed, pretending to study the holo-map on the wall but clearly listening. Then she lied, smoothly and effortlessly.

“The President authorized it.”

Colt froze. “What?”

“He gave the go-ahead before resting. You can confirm later if you wish, but I suggest we don’t waste time.”

Colt’s jaw worked silently, his teeth grinding. He wanted to argue, but Athena’s tone made it sound like an order. Finally, with a clipped nod that barely concealed his irritation, he stepped aside.

“Fine. But I’ll have it in writing.”

“Of course,” she said with a small, tired smile.

She turned toward the Nimbus team. “Ten of you will secure the President’s quarters. Rotation every four hours. I want two monitoring the corridor, two at the east hall, one on the roof access. The rest will remain on standby. Understood?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Colt’s own secret security detail shifted uneasily, resentment simmering beneath the surface. Athena could feel it—the unspoken insult of having outsiders invade their jurisdiction. But she didn’t care. Not today. Not with the President’s life hanging on invisible threads.

She turned back to Colt. “You and your men can continue securing the outer perimeter. I trust you’ll keep the mansion sealed.”

Colt’s face was granite. “You’ve made your point, Dr. Caddels.”

“I didn’t mean to make a point,” she said softly. “Just to keep him alive.”

He didn’t reply, only gave a curt nod before stalking away with two of his men.

Athena exhaled, tension draining from her spine. She looked at the remaining security agents, not the ones under Colt’s team— tired, but listening. Their eyes met hers, and she saw not defiance, but weary understanding.

“I know this isn’t easy,” she said. “But we can’t take risks. Whoever breached us did it under our noses. You did your best—we all did. Now let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

A few nodded. One even murmured, “Yes, ma’am.”

Athena smiled faintly, offering a brief nod of gratitude before leaving the room.

The mansion was quieter now. The distant hum of the Nimbus scanners echoed faintly through the hallways as she walked.

In her room, Athena began to pack her things. She moved mechanically, her thoughts a blur.

She should have left hours ago. The engagement was nearing, and though her heart wasn’t entirely in it, she still owed the evening to the promise she had made.