CHAPTER 97.  SHOCK

ATHENA'S POV

Lia nonchalantly emerged from the bathroom stall behind me. The lights harshly highlighted the frustration brewing within me.

Lia wore a sly smirk, a deliberate move that only fueled my annoyance. Her saunter towards the sink seemed calculated, each step echoing a subtle taunt directed at me. The scowl on my face deepened as Lia couldn't resist a jeer.

"Huh, look who's here? The pathetic damsel in distress," she mocked, her words an attempt to provoke me. I felt the anger boiling within, but I took a slow, steadying breath, determined not to let my temper explode. I would never give her the satisfaction!

Unfazed, Lia continued smirking as she washed her hands. She raised an eyebrow, a silent challenge hanging in the air. The anger pulsated through my veins, but I maintained a composed exterior.

"Says the desperate whore who ran out of options but to pounce on taken men," I retorted with measured tone, a smirk replacing my scowl. I relished the surprise that momentarily