“Athena!” Rafael yelled, as he rushed over to her side.He had watched her fall when he came out of the car and this had taken him completely by surprise. He knew that she could already tell exactly what had happened from the moment he stepped out of the car. The stench of failure was no doubt all around him and he had thought about it all through the drive to the house. He thought about how he was going to tell her that her father was dead and he had watched as Hernandez put a bullet through his head as he was unable to do anything about it. The mere thought of telling her such a thing troubled him so deeply and it showed on his face immediately he stepped out of the car.Without him saying a word, she could already tell that the worst had happened. The look in his eyes told more words than he could ever say. Athena had felt like she was going to cry, as if a great burden had just come upon her shoulder. A burden which was too heavy for her to bear. She felt like she was going to cru
ATHENAMy eyes fluttered open, as I came to. A faint beeping noise continued to ring in my head, as I steered wondering where it was coming from. My equilibrium was still off and I had no idea what was going on around me. My mind felt like it was covered by a thick fog and it was very hard to get it clear. My eyelids felt extremely heavy and it was like they were being weighed down by invisible anchors. Finally, I was able to pry them open. It took some time for my eyes to get accustomed to the lighting in the room. There was a light which shone soft and dull right above my head, casting a pale glow across the room I was in.I looked around as it took me a moment to adjust, to process the white walls of the room it was in. There was the hum of machinery all around me, that was where the constant beeping sound was coming from and that smell. It was a very distinct smell which I recognized immediately. I had spent enough time in hospitals during my mother’s hospital to be able to recogn
RAFAEL“Watch your step.” I said, as I held her hands and led her into the house.She had absolutely refused my offers to carry her. In her words, she felt I had done enough. On the contrary, I felt I was yet to do enough. I was not sure if I could ever do enough to compensate for everything that I had put her through in the past few months. I felt it in my heart though, I was definitely ready to make amends for everything. That was the plan.The doctor had finally agreed to discharge her from the hospital and we got back to a welcome party from my mother. She had been extremely happy over the past few days. Ever since I told her the news at the hospital about how the baby might actually be mine, I realized that the glow which she had the first time she found out that Athena was pregnant had actually returned to her face. I couldn’t be hundred percent sure if I was the father, not until the baby was here and we were able to carry out a DNA test.I could feel it in my bones though. It
EPILOGUETHREE MONTHS LATER“He is so beautiful.” Athena said, as she lifted up their baby and spun him around in the air.The past months after the baby had come had been nothing short of magical. She couldn’t stop staring at the baby and she thought about how different her life was now from how it had been just a couple of months ago. They were at a point of peace and Rafael had magically transformed into the sweetest person on the earth. She now saw him smile a lot, especially when he played with Jaden. They had both chosen the baby’s name together after a lot of arguments. It had been a funny scene to witness but at the end of the day, they had settled for Jaden and it was a name that suited him so well.“He has my eyes so of course he is going to look beautiful.” Rafael said, as he emerged at the door of the room.He had been standing there for a while watching his mother and Athena without them knowing. They were startled at first, but at this point they had gotten used to the f
ATHENAYou know there is a saying that a person’s life falls apart at least once before they dieWell, they are not wrong.I am living in hell. One would think that a one night stand would be fun and free of consequences.I mean that is why it is called a one night stand… so it happens and we never think of it again.Whatever could go wrong?Allow me to tell you!You could get pregnant and locked up in a penthouse to bear a child you do not want while the bastard who has knocked you up is gallivanting half way around the world with other women on his arms.He claims he will not allow you abort the child and you must give birth under his care.How stupid could I be?The one time I decide to do it… my very first time and I get pregnant?…I glared at the man on the TV, my eyes watering which forced me to look somewhere else.One hand reached for my belly, patting the bump slightly. I could not feel any movement yet but then again, the doctors said it was too early to feel anything and
ATHENAIt was as though the world had titled on its axis.I could not catch my breath and he kept his eyes on me as though waiting for me to say something.But what could one say when a man makes a promise to kill for you.“I-” I sputtered, clearing my throat slightly.“We are here” He announced.He got out of the car and circled round to hold the door open and help me out of it.The moment was already broken but I could not stop thinking about what he said.He followed me into the bar.Did that mean that he meant to meet with me? Or he was merely curious as to what was wrong with me or both.A waiter greeted us with a smile on her face and so did the receptionist.“Mr Hall, it has been a long time since you graced us with your presence.” She commented right before turning to me.The smile dropped from her face.There was no doubt she used to harbor feelings for Rafael and probably thought me a competition.“This is Athena and we will be having the special”The girl smiled again as sh
ATHENAI am sure I imagined it, I thought.The goosebumps coating my arms at the moment however would say otherwise.I had felt it… that chill and hate about him. It almost made me whimper in fear.“I did not know they kicked so early” He commented, his hand still on my stomach.There was a slight smile on his face now, nothing like what I had seen.“Yeah, the doctor did say anytime now” I told him.He nodded slightly, removing his hand.“Are you not going to eat anymore?” He asked.I stared at the food, my appetite suddenly gone.“I think I am full” I told him.“Shall we leave then?” He rose to his feet, putting a hand out to help me.I took it without saying a word in protest and allowed him lead me out of the restaurant and back into the car.He must have noticed something was wrong because he spurn me around, his arms coming to my shoulders.“You are suddenly awfully quiet” He commented.“I just do not feel like talking after eating” I told him, taking a breath.I was unable to me
RAFAELAm I losing my fucking mind?Maybe that would be the reason I am so disturbed by her.How many times do I have to remind myself that she is the enemy and the plan is to destroy everything she holds dear?Maybe she wasn’t the enemy but the apple never falls far from the tree and her father was my nemesis.Imagine my surprise when I had learned about her identity and the fact that she was the daughter of the man who had kidnapped me as a child.The man who had ruined my life and who still plagued my dreams.I sunk into my chair in the study, not wanting to be around her any longer.I had almost let down my guard today at the restaurant.For a brief moment when I felt the baby kick, I had been reminded of Rachael… so full of life who had been pregnant too at the time I was kidnapped.She did not tell me how she came about being pregnant but she was also experimented upon and died in the process.Athena’s father is a doctor you see, one of the most top performing surgeons in the co