Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours!-Chapter 282: Night Affairs

Do I keep waiting or should I send another email? Maybe they didn’t see my previous one? Athena thought while sitting on the bed, staring at her phone. Her feet made a tap dance on the floor while her left hand made the same on her lap.

It had been more than fifteen minutes since she had sent an email to the address Nathaniel had given her, but so far, there hadn’t been a reply.

Were they asleep already? She wondered, looking at her phone keenly as if she could magically rouse the hackers through its screen.

Asleep, though? She didn’t think so. Nighttime was the time for these people—a time without interruptions, both in network waves and physically.

They just didn’t want to reply to her. She thought forlornly, wishing she could share this dilemma with her children. Yet, she didn’t want to disturb them, nor did she want to inform them of the email’s contents.

After waiting for five more minutes, she gave up and dropped the phone on her dresser.

At that moment, she remembered the second important thing she was supposed to do this night.

So, she picked up the phone again and started a video call with Aiden first, hesitating a little to add the others, curious to see Aiden’s expression when he answered her call.

But he didn’t answer.

She pursed her lips, threatening fire and brimstone should he ignore her call again. He was online, for goodness’ sake!

But he missed her call for the second time, and no fire and brimstone fell.

She cursed under her breath, wanting to erase him from the plan, but knowing that she couldn’t. He had helped her get this far; she couldn’t leave him by the wayside.

So, she tried for the third time. This time around Aiden answered the call.

Athena maintained a calm expression as she took in the features of his face. Despite being in his mid-forties, he still looked like a man in his thirties, evidence of good genes and a diligent attention to his diet and exercise. She had not seen anyone so strict with food as Aiden. He only indulged in sugary foods and junk once in a while.

Even though a frown masked his face, he was a handsome man who still attracted women in droves, and she was still amazed that he hadn’t given marriage another chance.

Could it be that he was eternally scarred by his last marriage or that he was still in love with his ex-wife, considering the hold she still had over his emotions?

"Have you finally come around to your senses?"

Aiden’s gruff tone broke Athena away from her thoughts and her delusions that he would want to apologize for the last night since she had made the first step.

Holding in the need to cuss him out loud, she suppressed the urge to contort her face in anger and ignored him entirely, deciding to add Ethan to the video call.

She was just about to add a couple of others when a message appeared on her phone.

Her heart raced when she saw it was from Ewan.

Why was he texting her? An explanation? Or a rebuke?

While pondering this, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at her door.

Who was that? Athena’s mind sidetracked to guess the possible person behind her door at this time of the night.

Could it be the children? Maybe their friends had sent them a reply?

The knock sounded again, cutting off the answer her mind supplied.

"Who is that?" She finally asked, a furrow creasing her forehead, her eyes keen on the door as if she could see through it if she concentrated hard enough.

"It’s me, Athena..."

Oh... Florence...

"Please come in," Athena said, not taking her eyes from the door.

The door opened slowly and steadily, and then Florence stepped into the room with a mug and a tray.

The tea! Athena sighed happily, getting to her feet.

"Edward told me about your sleeping issues... and I knew I just had to make this tea." Florence mentioned as she covered the distance, handing the cup to Athena. "Take a sip, and tell me what you think..."

Her eyes were brimming with excitement, curiosity, and glee, so much so that Athena felt compelled to take a sip just to humor her.

"What do you think? Does it meet your expectations?" The overly eager Florence queried, stepping closer, invading Athena’s little space.

But the latter wasn’t bothered. If anything, she felt grateful, especially since the tea wasn’t bitter, as she had feared, but instead had a hint of lemon and sweetness from honey. What was the mix?

"It tastes nice. I think it will do its job..." She said with a wide smile, holding the cup to her lips. "What is the mix?" She continued, taking another sip.

Florence’s eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, it’s a secret. Maybe I’ll tell you some other time. It’s already late, and we both have to retire for the night."

Athena chuckled, nodding her head. "Sure, sure. Thank you very much for this, then. Also, send my regards to the old man."

"Of course, I will," Florence chimed, but didn’t move an inch.

Athena pursed her lips. Was there something else?

"Uhmm..." Florence paused, then sighed in resignation. "I don’t know if I’m in the position to say this, but I want you to release Ewan. For your sake of course. Only then will you have the peace you wish for. Ewan, and whoever it is that is haunting your dreams."

A slight pause.

"Of course, it doesn’t mean that you ignore their wrongdoings and all... just let them go from your mind so that you can have rest. You mustn’t bring Morgan to justice out of a sense of revenge and grudges. Just do it because it’s the right thing to do, not to satiate the bloodlust in you. Trust me, the latter won’t be satisfied when you are done. So... please bring Morgan to justice from a place of fairness... I don’t know if I’m making any sense, but I’m just speaking from experience... revenge is not exactly worth it, not when your mind isn’t at peace or when it’s overwhelmed with anger and bitterness."

"But my mind—"

Florence placed her index finger on Athena’s lips, silencing her. "Just think about it. I wasn’t hoping for any answer."

Athena nodded, albeit curious about the sad look in Florence’s eyes. What was her past? Had she enacted revenge on someone?

"Thank you, Florence. I appreciate the advice," She said instead, realizing that it echoed what Old Mr. Thorne had advised as well. Letting go. She wasn’t sure how to do that, but maybe counseling would help.

However, Morgan... that was another case. At least Ewan hadn’t killed anyone. He had only chosen to act foolishly out of some misguided duty.

"Okay then. Have a good night. I will see you tomorrow," Florence said, tapping Athena gently on the arm, motherly affection shining in her eyes.

Athena smiled and drew her into a hug. "Thank you too. Have a good night," She muttered, reveling in the rightness of the moment.

The hug felt so right, so... she didn’t know what word to classify it, only that the old couple felt like family too.

She snorted softly, a smile playing on her lips as the old woman, after disengaging from the hug, tapped her right cheek and pulled it.

"Go to sleep. Don’t linger on any funny business," The woman said, and then she left the room.

Moments later, Athena picked up her phone after locking the door. It was time for the meeting and, of course, to read Ewan’s message.

Inhaling deeply, she opened the message, her eyes widening slightly when she saw the contents.

"Hi, Athena. How are you settling in for the night? I am truly sorry about my behavior tonight. Please don’t take it out on the twins, Gianna, or the old couple. It was all my fault. I shouldn’t have gone against your word. I am so sorry for that. I hope you can forgive me and let it slide. I would really appreciate it. To make amends, I asked Spider to check out the other members involved in the Nimbus operation and the agents working there... the information you need is in the document below. I hope this goes a long way in mending our truce. Thank you so much. Have a night as beautiful as your smile."

Must he add that last sentence? Athena mused, cussing when she realized she was actually smiling.

What? Just over a sentence?

She cursed out loud, slapping her forehead. It must be because she had been out of the dating field for so long.

She believed that wouldn’t be the case if she was dating. Maybe she should consider Antonio’s request? The idea seemed good to her.

A ding on her phone snapped her out of her thoughts. It was from Ethan.

"Why the VC?"

Athena tapped on it to reply, but on a second thought, let it go. She was going to call them after going through Ewan’s document.

A/N:

VC= video call.