Athena"Is it necessary for you to go today?" I asked, gazing at Sebastian as he prepared for some mundane task he seemed indifferent to sharing with me. "Can't you stay?" I remained seated in the middle of the bed, wrapped in the cosy embrace of the blanket, probably looking like a burrito, longing for the warmth of his arms.God, it would be so much better if he agreed that we should cuddle rather he was getting ready for an unknown agenda. I was pretty sure it had to be some stupid work in his office. It was evident that he had become a workaholic, often toiling away late into the night. "I'll be back before you know it, Love," he chuckled, stealing a glance at me through the mirror. "In the meantime, you could read a book or call Sarah or Shelly. I'm confident I'll find the information I need within an hour.""What is it, huh? What could possibly be more important than me right now?" I snapped, my frustration seeping into my voice, almost glaring at him, "I wanna know."A throat
Athena"Sebastian..." My voice trembled as I looked into his eyes, desperation and fear etched on my face. "The baby...""I know, my love," he whispered, his voice filled with understanding, his hand soothingly rubbing my back. "I have already noticed.""We won't have much time this way," I said, my voice choking with tears as I buried my face into his chest, trying to suppress my sob, "I thought I could be strong in this battle. I thought I could face the challenges with courage. But losing three, or maybe even more, months... It's breaking me. How can I stay strong? How can I protect our baby? If they enter this world prematurely, as we fear, they will face so many difficulties. They will be an outcast and have to rely on their own."I could not stay strong this way....The worry gnawed at me from within."Nothing will happen, my love. Even if time is against us, I will do everything to protect you," he said, cupping my face in his hands. "I won't let anyone take you or our baby awa
Athena"Have you called Tristan yet?" I asked Sebastian as he delicately dried my hair, treating me with the gentleness reserved for a five-year-old child."Not yet. But don't worry, I will talk to him soon.""Okay," I leaned against him, taking advantage of his proximity, "Have you considered the good news?""What news?" He inquired, continuing to dry my hair.Ah, so he hadn't thought about it yet."We can find out our baby's gender now," a smile tugged at my lips. "The pain was worth it after all. We won't have to wait much longer."His expression shifted, betraying a lack of excitement mirrored in my own. He set the dryer aside, turning the stool to face me."It must have hurt a lot," he said, his eyes shimmering with tears as he cradled my face in his hands.My expression softened and I grasped his hands, “Not as much as you think," I offered him a faint smile. "But it's gone now, so let's not dwell on it, okay?""Athena..." He sighed heavily, “ I understand your feelings. I know
Athena"I still can't believe it's a boy," A beaming smile remained plastered on my face, refusing to fade. I was happy, in fact, beyond happy, "Now we can choose a name. It's absolutely wonderful!""You seem incredibly excited," he chuckled, leaning in to plant kisses on my cheeks. "I must inform you that I've gathered quite a few books with suggestions for beautiful names.""Really? You did?!""Yes, my love," he smiled, brushing away a few stray strands of hair from my face. "I'm certain you'll find one that captures your attention. We can go through them together once we're home.""It has to be a name that suits mini-Sebastian," a mischievous smile played on my lips. "Perhaps something that reflects his character, like 'Arrogant' or 'Whiney'.""Excuse me?" Disbelief etched itself on his face. "I am not whiney.""Yes, you are," I couldn't resist teasing him, "Actually, you're really quite whiney. A big baby.""Athena..." His threat was cut short as a gasp escaped my lips, and I f
SebastianIt took two calls for him to pick up the phone."What is it?" he grumbled.No manners, as expected. Being stripped of the position of beta had clearly wiped away every ounce of obedience and good conduct from his mind. Or perhaps, it revealed his true nature."Well, hello to you too," I chuckled. "Shall we exchange pleasantries or should I get straight to the point?""Preferably the second one," he replied curtly. It seemed his dislike for me had multiplied tenfold in just a few days. "I don't have much time to waste on a conversation with you." I heard the sound of keys jingling, followed by the click of a door opening.He was up to something. But that's none of my business."I need to talk about Tristan," I finally addressed the matter, "I simply want to hear the truth and nothing else. While I acknowledge that much of what you say may be questionable, I believe you wouldn't lie about this, especially when it concerns Athena. So, tell me everything you know about him."A
AthenaHe stood in silence, his eyes fixed on me with a loving gaze, pouring all his emotions into that single look. Without uttering a word, he approached me, taking long strides until he stood before me. He pressed his lips against mine, sealing them in a tender and lingering kiss that left me breathless, exploring every corner of my mouth.God, how I loved him!"Well...I didn't realise you would like the name so much," I whispered, trying to catch my breath.His eyes twinkled with amusement as his thumbs traced my cheeks. He pressed a gentle kiss at the corner of my mouth and replied, "Well...I never anticipated that I would fall for you every time my eyes landed on you. The name is perfect. I love it.""I'm glad you love it," I chuckled, relieved. "Otherwise, I might have had to kick you out of the room." With a mischievous grin, I seized his collars and playfully pulled him onto the bed with me.He landed on his back, and as always, I found my place on his chest, nestling my head
Tristan"Oh no, not I, I will survive," I savoured the taste of alcohol, the chorus and verses of the song blending seamlessly. Gently humming along to the tune, "Oh, as long as I know how to love, I know I'll stay alive. I've got all my life to live. And I've got all my love to give, and I'll survive."The song played in the background, as a barrage of questions swirled in my head.By now, another attack should have occurred, the side effects of the unfinished dosage of that drug.Thankfully, I had anticipated Sebastian's move beforehand. Otherwise, this additional torment would have remained incomplete. The pain this time would be even worse—a pain that would propel me towards the next part of my plan. The ultimate one that would mark the end of their story.The bitter-sweet flavour of the liquor provided some relief, although the mere thought of Athena's struggle should have sufficed.So why did I find myself seeking solace in alcohol?I'm drawing closer to achieving my revenge. E
AthenaThe pain didn't subside as quickly as Sebastian had assured me. It persisted, dragging on for hours. What made it worse was the unpredictable fluctuations in my body temperature, swinging from scorching heat to bone-chilling cold. Words failed to capture the sheer horribleness of it all; it was an indescribable torment. It felt as if my energy was being drained from the very core of my being, as if I had already lost copious amounts of blood.My teeth chattered uncontrollably, and my body convulsed with continuous waves of shivers, each second worse than the last.This felt even more unbearable.Sebastian had dressed me in warm clothes and tucked me under the duvet, doing his utmost to keep me warm. I couldn't fathom how exhausting it must have been for him to constantly offer support when everything seemed so out of control. The weight of responsibility lay heavily on his shoulders, and despite my efforts to conceal my pain, I knew I had achieved the bare minimum, which felt