Hi Loves, this one is going to be a wild ride.
Athena“Your mum sent me to pick up the documents,” I say flatly. I'm finally in the Royal Bastards office and it's taking all my strength to keep myself from smacking him.Maybe I should just sign those damn divorce papers.“Did you hear me?” I snap. Alex pauses, reaches over to his desk, and grabs a bottle of water before leaning back like he has all the time in the world. He watches me for a second, his expression unreadable. “What's with the attitude? Are you still sulking over the divorce?”“I’m actually celebrating.” I retort, crossing my arms. “I want to be as far away from you as possible.”Alex smirks, leaning against his desk like he has just heard the most entertaining line. “Funny. You say that, yet here you are. Always finding a reason to be around me. If you're so eager, why don't I have the signed papers on my desk?”“You'll have them tomorrow morning or tonight should you remember you have a-” I catch myself before saying the word home.“If you’ll be at the house
Athena I exhale sharply, ignoring her as I walk past, but her voice—sickly sweet and taunting—halts me mid-step. I grip the phone tighter, forcing myself to walk past her without a word, but she steps in front of me, blocking my path. “Poor, poor Athena,” she drawls, tilting her head. “Still playing the devoted wife? It must be exhausting, trying to hold on to a man who doesn’t even want you.” So the bitch knew and played dumb last time?I knew it!I inhale sharply, refusing to take the bait. “Move.” She chuckles, a slow, mocking sound. “Why? So you can go home and pretend your marriage is real?” She takes a step closer, her eyes gleaming with mockery “We both know Alex belongs to me. He always has. He always will.” I laugh, a real laugh I have to hold myself back. Now that I think about it, she wouldn't be here spewing nonsense if all was going her way so that means Alex still needs me to play wife. Lucky for her, I'm already too tired, “You’re so desperate to be impo
Alex“I love you.” Three words. I’ve heard them countless times before—soft, warm, and filled with sincerity. Mum and Dad say it to each other. Mum and Granny say it to me all the time. But hearing them come out of Leah’s mouth the other night? It made my skin crawl. It sounded foreign, misplaced like it didn’t belong between us. It didn’t settle in my chest the way it was supposed to. Instead, it made something tighten, something itch beneath my skin. I pulled away. Not obviously. Just enough to create distance, enough that I could breathe without feeling suffocated by the weight of words I wasn’t ready to hear. And that’s when I noticed her. AthenaRunning. Her black long hair whipped behind her, her pace quick. The way she left—like she was running from something—made my jaw clench. I had wondered for the past three days but since I had been busy with work I barely saw her. But seeing and hearing those remarks told me one thing.My wife was jealous and I liked it.W
AthenaI lift my head, my eyes blazing with something between anger and devastation.But he doesn’t care.She provoked me. That’s what I want to say, but I realize it won’t matter. He won’t believe me. Maybe he never has.“Say it.” His voice is ice-cold, sharp, and cutting through me like a blade.Alexander King has always been ruthless. Calculating. Cold. But this—this side of him is new even to me.This is the look of a man who always gets what he wants, and right now, my humiliation is what will soothe his anger.Too bad I have no interest in it. Leah may have been his first love but she is a pretentious bitch and it's annoying how Alex turns a blind eye.My lips press together. I’m stubborn, always have been. The urge to fight back burns in my veins, but his grip tightens on my wrist, a silent reminder that fighting him won’t get me anywhere.His face tells me I won’t leave this place until I apologize.How degrading is that?Here I am, in my nightdress, my knees forced to stay on
AthenaNoah stood in the living room, his hair a mess. He was wearing a T-shirt and dark jeans, which was rare to see since it seemed like the Kings had a thing for suits. Even Gia in her old age wore suits. I was always the odd one out in my jeans and Plain tops. “Why do you let him do this? You know Aunt Ari wouldn't let this go on if you just told her?” He takes a step closer. I almost laugh at that.Alex would kill me and burry me six feet under if I ever tried to do that.That's a known fact. But… deep down in my heart, I feel like this secret between us is the only thing that keeps me going. A sick part of me likes that we have something we share that no one else knows. “I'm not bothered by it.” I lie. Noah watches me. For a second I feel like he's about to argue but I was just humiliated a few seconds ago and had he walked in a few minutes earlier, he would have watched the scene like a damn movie in 3D. I exhale, forcing my emotions down. “Have you eaten?” I ask, changin
AlexThe door slams shut behind me as I take in the sight before me—Athena flushed and laughing, her head tipped back against the counter, a half-empty bottle of vodka between her and Noah.Am I losing my mind?Athena has always been laid back. Never did anything out of the ordinary. I liked to call her plain in my head because of how easy she was to read. But now, standing here, I'm starting to wonder who the fuck I married. My gaze locks onto the alcohol, then flicks to my wife. Her eyes are glassy, her movements slow. Fucking drunk.I shift my attention to Noah, standing too damn close to her. His casual smirk as he looks at me only fuels my anger and it feels like I just might kill my cousin.Have I missed something? I have always entrusted her to him. For pick-ups. Anything she needed I assigned him. But now I'm starting to wonder if by doing that I've been playing fucking cubid. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” My voice is cold, and sharp, demanding an answer.N
AthenaThe sharp crack of my palm against his cheek rings through the room. My chest heaves with fury, and my hands tremble at my sides. The audacity. The sheer, infuriating arrogance of him.My head is still tipsy but thanks to his insult. My mind is no longer foggy.Alex doesn’t flinch. Instead, his lips curl into a smirk, his green eyes darkening with something dangerous. Something possessive.But I'm mad as hell and he knows it. “You will not insult me!” I spit. Anger radiating off me In waves. But it's like this man is a wall because he doesn’t seem bothered. He takes one step back, placing his hands in his pocket before finding my gaze again. “You will not see him again.” His voice is low, but I heard him just fine. I scoff, crossing my arms tightly over my chest. “I’m not your wife, Alex. We’re getting divorced. I can do whatever the hell I want. Do you suffer from memory loss?”His smirk deepens, amusement flashing in his gaze as he takes a slow, deliberate step toward me.
Athena “If it isn't the little charity case.” An annoying voice stops me in my tracks, and I groan internally. Do I have to deal with this right before my exams? I turn to find Melanie and her usual group of followers standing by the hallway lockers, smirking like they’ve been waiting for me. Of course, they have. I bet it eats them up so bad that an orphan like me, with no financial backup, is attending the best and most expensive medical school. What they don’t know is that I’m backed by the Kings. And if they did, that smug look wouldn’t even exist. My parents were extremely gifted surgeons. They chose to help during a devastating flood, saving lives, and among the people they rescued was Giana King—Alexander’s grandmother. Unfortunately, my parents didn’t make it out alive. Giana felt indebted to them, so she found me, took me in, and promised to support me. Somehow, she ended up loving me like her own and decided I should marry her grandson. Let’s just say, Al
ATHENAMy fingers tighten around the doorknob as I stare at Alex. His green eyes burn into me with an intensity that makes my chest feel tight. There’s no mistaking the anger simmering that look, but his voice remains dangerously calm when he speaks.“There she is. The mother of my unborn child.”The way he says it sends a chill down my spine. My heart hammers, but I refuse to let him see the effect he has on me. I push the door shut behind me and drop my bag onto the small table by the entrance. I grab my takeaway pack and sit on the couch, trying to seem unbothered even though my heart is in my throat.“I didn’t realize you still lived here,” I say, my tone laced with mockery.His lips twitch in something that is far from a smile, and he slowly rises to his feet. The air in the room shifts. Alex never raises his voice, but his presence alone is suffocating.When he speaks, you hear him, no matter how low his tone is.“I’ve been busy,” he replies, rolling up his sleeves even further
One month later….. “You look beautiful.” Zayan says, and I laugh as I stuff another piece of apple pie in my mouth. “I'll take that as a compliment.” I was bored out of my mind, and I'd have done anything to pass time so I wouldn't think about labor just for one more second. Sadly, I had missed my white coat ceremony. It broke my heart, but Ariana said we would fix It once I gave birth. Anyway, so I tried reaching out to Sloane, but she had left the country, Mira was busy, and Noah was doing the meeting things the Kings do. My husband, however, was nowhere to be seen. At this point, I don't even know if he still lives In our home. So, left with only one choice, I called Zayan, who was more than happy to hang out with a pregnant woman. We've been hanging out for some time, and it's been fun. I also learned that he's actually a doctor but rides horses to lay off some steam. Which is pretty cool. I was unable to share much about me, and I just told him the basics. You kno
ATHENA“We failed him at one point. And honestly, I'd do anything to turn back time and reverse it. It's my biggest regret.” Ariana begins, but I don't interrupt her. “Eli and I were trying so hard to keep the legacy of the King family was going. So you know this life, meetings after meetings and trip after trip. He was the decision maker and the enforcer. I was the strategist. We went everywhere together because we worked best together. But after I had Alexander, I didn't slow down. I gave birth to him and let Giana and Raymond raise him with the help of the nannies.Time flew so fast, I didn't even realize my son was growing up without his mother's presence. In a blink of an eye, he turned eighteen, and I missed his birthday. But you know what breaks my heart?”Tears are now falling as she looks at me, and I don't know what to say. Ariana has always been so strong, she has never been the type to show weakness and I admire that about her but I'm also moved that she trusts me en
ATHENA“He doesn’t mean it” Ariana says, and I almost laugh at that. She had come to pick me up so we could go shopping, but I thought it would be nice for the men to tag along. What a stupid idea this was. We had just reached the door when I heard Alex talk about how I was shoved down his throat. The pain that I feel is not new, but it doesn't hurt any less. “I know he loves her. It's not news to me.” I look at my mother inlaw before knocking on the door. Ariana sighs as she opens Alex's door and walks in. “Mum.” Alex sits upright. “Hi Sweetheart, I was about to come to you.” Eli says, and Ariana smiles, placing a kiss on his lips. “We haven't done much, we thought we could join you, but I'm not sure today is a good day.” Ariana says as Alex stands to give her a kiss. This is the only time you'll ever get to see his soft eyes. When he’s looking at his mother and grandmother, “Hi.” I say slowly. Not knowing what else to say to him. “Hi.” He responds, “You can sit on the couc
ALEXThree months later…..Frustrating doesn’t even come close to describing Athena these past three months.She’s six months long now, and every day it feels like there’s a new side of her I’m seeing. I get it, it’s not easy carrying life inside you. But damn, some days, it feels like the world is going to swallow her whole. I’ve never felt so powerless. No matter what she’s going through, there’s nothing I can do to fix it. She’s pregnant and diagnosed with PTSD, and it makes everything feel like it’s on a knife’s edge. I’m walking around on eggshells, trying not to make it worse. I want to help, but it seems like the harder I try, the more I fail.I dive into the pool, the cool water enveloping me like a second skin, hoping it’ll clear my mind, even just for a moment.I'm not sure how long I swim when my muscles feel like they're burning. Sitting by the pool's edge, I grab my phone to check for any email I might have when I stumble upon a photo. Someone sent it to me but it's a p
ATHENAA thick, suffocating darkness surrounds me. Cold. Wet. Heavy. I can’t breathe. Water clings to my skin, soaking through my clothes, and weighing me down. My legs kick, my arms thrash, but there’s no solid ground beneath me. Only the endless, inky abyss swallowing me whole. I try to scream, but the moment I open my mouth, water rushes in. It burns. It fills my lungs, dragging me deeper, deeper until all I can hear is the muffled roar of my heartbeat and the distant echoes of my own cries. Then suddenly, A hand. It grips my shoulder, fingers digging in painfully. Not to save me. Not to pull me up. To push me further down. “No,” I choke, bubbles escaping my lips. I claw at the hand, at the unseen force keeping me trapped in this nightmare, but it’s too strong. The water is cold, but my chest burns, and my body convulses, desperate for air. I see shadows above me. A towering figure watching. Laughing. And then I’m falling…Not through water, but through dark
ATHENA A small baby bump. My mind repeats over and over again. “Athena!” Leah walks towards me and hugs me. I stiffen not knowing what to do with this affection. I'm wearing a lose Tshirt and jeans so I'm pretty sure I'm not showing unless you touch me, Leah however, is in a tight-fitting dress with her bump right on display for everyone to see. My heart stops, feeling like the world is suddenly spinning. “Congratulations. Didn't know you were married.” Sloane points out not missing the sarcasm in her tone. Leah laughs, as she turns to Sloane and tries to hug her but the eye she gives her makes her think otherwise. “I didn't know you were back, Sloane. It's good to see you.” My mouth is dry and I'm speechless. Who is the father of the child she's carrying? She didn't deny not being married either. Am I missing something? Suddenly I feel anger Start to brew inside me. Did Alex play me? I wouldn't even call it playing since I've known he's always loved her. Bile rises in my
ATHENA Without warning, she rushes forward and wraps her arms around Alex in a tight hug. I stiffen. My arms cross over my chest, a strange, unwelcome heat crawling up my spine. Who the hell is she? If she was family I'd probably know because I've been around this family for over three years. Alex doesn’t hug her back. In fact, he just stands there, his body rigid, his hands shoved deep into his pockets. His expression is unreadable, his usual glare gracing her presence making a smile almost slip out from my lips. I'm still mad she's touching him though.The woman pulls back slightly, tilting her head at him. "Five years, Alex. Five damn years, and you're still too stiff to hug me back? Unbelievable." She shakes her head, letting out an amused scoff before stepping back. Alex exhales before pulling her off him but shockingly he doesn't look irritated. He finally turns to me, "Athena, this is my annoying cousin, Sloane." Cousin? Oh. His tone is dry, edged with somethi
ATHENA I stare at the mansion in front of me, my jaw practically on the floor. Mansion? No. This is practically a castle. The grand structure looms before me, its towering presence, and intricate stonework, giving it the appearance of something straight out of a royal fairytale. Elegant balconies are curved, massive arched windows facing me as my eyes widen into shock. The sheer size of the place makes my stomach flip. "Alex…" I whisper, “What is this place?” I ask. “I got you a little gift.” He shrugs, and I laugh. His idea of a small gift is a wonder. I turn to him, and he’s watching me closely, his hands shoved into his pockets like he’s waiting for my verdict. His usual cool, unreadable expression is replaced with something new. It almost looks like… uncertainty. “You don't like it?” He asks, his expression worried, and I almost tease him, but I hold back. Without hesitation, I rush toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck and peppering his face with wet, overe