Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours! - Chapter 490

Chapter 490: Night Talks IV

Athena was shocked to her bones.

What sort of twisted story was this? Her pulse raced as she stared blankly into space, her fingers numb against her lap.

Having known and seen Connor in action, she knew that he was almost inhumane—cold, weird, with an obsession for killing, torture, and blood.

But she also knew he was loyal to Ewan. Maybe because Ewan had been his boss in the mafia? Maybe that was the same case with his father, being loyal to John, Ewan’s predecessor?

Still, why then would he collect money from her grandmother? The contradiction twisted Athena’s insides.

She didn’t think that John was aware of this, or he would have told Ewan. It went to say then that Connor’s father had been a snake.

He was lucky he wasn’t alive. Athena mused bitterly, anger rising again, her jaw tightening.

It was also safe to say that Cedric’s people knew of Florence’s attempt at their lives, knew that she suspected them, and had laid low as a result of that—not wanting to trigger old Mr. Thorne.

The weight of it pressed on her chest. What happens now then?

She looked at her grandfather. He was still grappling with the revelation, his expression drawn and pale, his fingers trembling where they rested on his knee.

Was it the fact that his sister was confirmed the killer of his only child—or the fact about Connor’s father?

“Where is the old boss? Where is John?” old Mr. Thorne asked finally, his voice breaking the silence like a whip. The steel in his tone made everyone flinch.

“Ewan didn’t tell me the location. But…” she paused, steadying her breath. “He is a missionary now. Married one, and converted. He has not had anything to do with the gang since he handed over.”

Florence exhaled, her finger pressing on the center of her forehead as though to calm a pounding headache. “Good choice for him. He is a lucky man.”

She inhaled deeply—once, twice, then again—before whispering, almost to herself, “I am sure Emily would want us to forgive him.”

Athena released a sigh of relief she didn’t even know she’d been holding. At least, she would have a piece of good news to tell Ewan when she went over to apologize to him. She swallowed hard, remembering that impending duty of hers.

Would he forgive her for taking over what belonged to his family?

The thought made her stomach twist.

He had been cold in their marriage—distant—not because he hated her, but because he thought she had connived with Zack to keep a land from him.

Much more a company now?

Her nerves wouldn’t let her be still. She rubbed her palms together and took another deep breath.

“What about Cassandra?” Gianna asked, addressing the newest elephant in the room, her voice sharp with barely concealed fury. “Are we going to let them go too?”

From her friend’s tone, Athena knew she was hoping for the opposite. She watched her grandfather shrug slowly, his face tightening with grim resolve.

“Maybe. Maybe not. I will smoke them out…” A pause. “Their actions will draft in a befitting consequence…”

Athena wasn’t sure she understood what her grandfather was talking about, but she nodded all the same, watching the shadow in his eyes.

“You will be handing over the company to Ewan, right?”

Athena nodded again, her brows furrowing. “I have to.”

“Of course. That would also make your transition as heir to my company smoother and easier. I will make the announcement in the next board meeting. Relegate Cedric to a lesser position. That will ruffle enough feathers… would make them desperate, reckless. A leopard hardly changes its spots. They will plan to strike again—only that this time will be different…”

His lips pressed into a thin line, his fists buckled tight on his lap.

Athena nodded slowly, her gaze sliding to Florence. She seemed to agree with her husband’s plan, her eyes glittering faintly in the lamplight.

“Surely, life is on our side this time. They will pay for the evil they did me, in return for the good I always granted to them,” old Mr. Thorne concluded, getting to his feet with effort. The firmness in his posture returned, the years of quiet dignity settling over his frame again.

“When you see Ewan, tell him that his old boss can sleep well at night.”

“Thank you, Grandpa,” Athena said, emotional at her grandparents’ display of forgiveness. Her voice cracked, but she smiled anyway, her chest swelling with gratitude.

—

In the morning, Athena didn’t waste time—she couldn’t even sleep well. The moment dawn broke, pale gold light slipping through the blinds, she got out of bed, restless.

Her thoughts kept circling back to Ewan, to the way his face had looked that day—hurt, distant, betrayed.

She first hurried to her children’s room, her heart softening at the sight of their peaceful faces. She bent low, brushing her fingers through Kathleen’s hair and kissing her forehead. Then Nathaniel’s.

They stirred, eyes blinking open groggily.

“Mommy?” Kathleen murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Athena smiled gently. “Hey, sweetheart.” She kissed them again, feeling the burn of tears behind her eyes. “I’m sorry… for my actions, my behavior toward you both.”

“It’s okay, Mommy…” Kathleen murmured, hugging Athena tight, still in her pajamas. “I’m just glad that everything is back to normal.”

Nathaniel joined the hug from the side, agreeing with a grunt, his little arms looping around her waist.

Athena would have loved to carry the children along to where she was going this morning—to ease her apology—but she didn’t know yet how Ewan would respond. And she didn’t want the children seeing a fallout.

Secondly, they had to be in school.

She kissed their foreheads again. “Thank you. You both are the best. I’ll be leaving now… do make sure to have fun in school today.”

Nathaniel looked toward the window, almost covered with curtains. It was barely morning. His sharp eyes found the clock—just some minutes past five a.m.

“Mom, you’re going to work at this time?”

Athena didn’t want to lie to her children. She brushed a hand through his messy hair and smiled faintly. “I’m going to see your father… I owe him an apology.”

She sighed softly, holding the children gently to her chest. “I acted without thinking… was impatient… didn’t listen to his side of the story. And because of that, I did something wrong.”

Kathleen tapped her mother’s cheek softly, her tiny face earnest. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’m sure that he will forgive you.”

Athena hoped so. She was banking on it.

She kissed the children on their foreheads again, obtaining reassurance, before letting them go and getting back to her feet.

“I’ll see you later?”

The children nodded in unison.

“Love you!” they both echoed, making her smile through her nerves.

“Love you too!” she called back, mimicking a dramatic wave before leaving the room, feeling somewhat bolder for the task ahead.

Outside, the house was silent, the morning air still heavy with dew.

Rodney was already waiting by the car, leaning lazily against the door. When she caught him yawning as he started the engine, she apologized for waking him so early.

“Have an emergency,” she muttered, adjusting her coat.

But Rodney shook his head quickly, alert now. “Not a problem, boss. I understand you have a lot on your table. I’m privileged to be of help in this way.”

Athena flashed him a small smile before turning her attention to her tablet, her fingers flying across the screen. She was reviewing documents—signing off, approving, cleaning up the last pieces of business.

She wanted to hand the company back to Ewan with leftover homework done, part of appeasing him.

She swallowed. She hoped it worked.

“Where to, boss?” Rodney asked after a minute.

Athena gave him the address of Sandro’s house, remembering that Ewan had talked about preferring to stay there—than at his own mansion, which he’d once said was cold as death.

Her heart thudded as the car rolled forward, headlights cutting through the dawn mist. This was it—the morning she would either rebuild what she’d shattered… or lose it forever.

Read Gianna and Zane’s story in Dark revenge of a Jilted Bride!