Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours! - Chapter 474

Chapter 474: Time To Think

“Okay, you two should go ahead and prepare for school…” Athena said, breaking the smooth conversation going on between Spider and her children. Just like everyone else in the room, she had difficulty—though less than most—understanding what codes they were talking about.

The children hesitated, exchanging looks that clearly said do we have to?

Athena sighed wearily. They had found another “uncle” to bond with. She wasn’t exactly complaining though—it could be worse.

“Listen to your mother. Go upstairs,” Ewan added, his tone firm but gentle.

Immediately, they obeyed, heading out with Chelsea and Gianna, who had read the room and knew the remaining group wanted to talk business with Spider.

Not that they weren’t allowed to stay—they just didn’t want to be involved more than necessary. They trusted Athena to do what was right, and Athena preferred them to be as ignorant of the matter as possible, especially in case of a future kidnapping situation.

“We don’t hope for that though,” Gianna muttered quickly when Kathleen questioned her as they entered the hallway.

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Athena was updating Spider and the others about Aiden’s report—about Fiona, their possible locations, and the decision she had made with Aiden concerning moving in.

“That’s good,” Spider said, reclining in his seat, fingers twitching with restrained energy. “I’ll see if I can hasten the process. Maybe locate Fiona, send her a coded message. Hopefully, she won’t be too dumb not to understand it.” His tone was half-playful, half-serious.

Athena watched the light in his eyes—the excitement of returning to his “home,” his system. He was in his element already.

To Ewan, he said, “Did you bring my laptop along?”

Ewan nodded. “I figured that’s what you’d want, seeing as it was close by.”

Spider nodded approvingly. He had been right to trust Ewan’s instincts.

“So, by your calculations, when do we move in?” Old Mr. Thorne asked, his wrinkled hand resting over his wife’s. The two had been practically inseparable since her encounter with the grey variant.

“We can start laying in clues today,” Spider replied. “I’ll get to work immediately. I’ll need a space…”

“That is already settled,” Mr. Thorne said kindly. “You can pick one of the cottages in the estate, or you can stay here in the mansion. There are rooms…”

“I’ll prefer the cottage,” Spider cut in politely. “Preferably somewhere quiet. I can handle my safety.”

Old Mr. Thorne nodded approvingly. “Then you can take a stroll and choose one yourself. Since you’re aiming for quiet, you should pick one closest to the end of the estate.”

Immediately, Athena’s eyes connected with Ewan’s. She bit her lip and looked away quickly, a faint heat rising in her cheeks.

Ewan cleared his throat, rising to his feet. “I’ll take you on the stroll now.”

Athena wondered if he was volunteering just so Spider wouldn’t pick their point—the spot where she and Ewan had dinner nights ago.

Their point? Why would she even call it that? She shook her head faintly. Maybe she should get to work. She was spending far too much time thinking about unnecessary things.

She murmured her goodbyes and “have a nice day” to everyone, kissing her grandparents on their cheeks before strolling into the hallway. She could feel Ewan’s gaze trailing after her, heavy and unspoken.

Just as she reached the stairs, her phone vibrated with a message from Aiden. Even without checking, she knew it was about what she had asked him to help with.

Hurrying to her room, she shut the door behind her and sat on the edge of the bed. But she hesitated to open the message. Her thumb hovered over the screen as she took in a deep breath.

Antonio.

How much did she really know about him?

She caught her lower lip between her teeth, her brows furrowing as she forced herself to remember.

He had been a good friend once—standing up for her against his mother, shielding her when others would not. Until she had left to stay with Master Shen, who had offered her a place to stay after noticing her weary state and the strain of her pregnancy.

The tension at home had been unbearable then, especially during Antonio’s visits to her, or during the every-now-and-then parties. She had accepted Master Shen’s offer almost too eagerly—partly to escape Antonio’s family, partly to keep peace between him and them. She had not wanted to be the cause of a rift.

Antonio had traveled a lot during that time, but he usually came to visit when he was in town, bearing gifts. He had even accompanied her to a few prenatal checkups and helped her shop for baby items.

She paused here, sighing softly, her thumb grazing the side of her phone in a slow, rhythmic pattern.

He had been there when she gave birth—even though the nurses had refused to let him into the delivery room since he wasn’t the father. He had stayed with her for weeks after Gianna’s absence, tied up as her friend had been with work and studies.

He had been a constant face in her children’s lives—always arriving with gifts, always openly admiring her, never complaining except on rare occasions.

It had never crossed her mind that he might hurt her—until yesterday, when he had grabbed her arm so forcefully that the pain still lingered, faint but real.

Her thumb grazed the phone again, indecisive.

Opening this research might ruin all the good she remembered about her friend, and she wasn’t sure she was ready for that. Maybe he had just been frustrated. Maybe she had pushed him too hard?

Athena shook her head sharply. No. She wouldn’t do this to herself—wouldn’t rationalize what had happened.

Finally, she opened the message.

“Hey Athena, this was all I could find. Nothing new.”

“Nothing new” meant Aiden had already run a background check on Antonio before. She ignored that implication and opened the file anyway.

When she was done reading, she couldn’t agree more. There was nothing out of place. Billionaire playboy—yes, she already knew that. She remembered how other women had confronted her, assuming they were dating back then.

Nothing new, nothing violent, nothing suspicious. There was no trace of the man who had hurt her yesterday.

She bit her lower lip again, placing the phone aside.

What now? What was she supposed to do? Could she afford to lose his friendship, especially since there was no way he would want to return to that just friends stage?

Her phone suddenly rang, its vibration startling her.

Speak of the devil, she thought grimly, catching sight of the caller ID—Antonio.

He had probably sent a hundred messages since yesterday, and now he was calling because she hadn’t replied to a single one. She hadn’t even opened any.

She didn’t answer the call.

When it came again, she exhaled sharply, switched her phone to flight mode, and tossed it onto the bed.

She needed time to think.