From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 102

Chapter 102 Wait Until You’re Better

Zaden clearly hadn’t expected Athena to be awake.

“You’re up?” he asked softly.

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As he spoke, his gaze lingered on her face as he studied her carefully. Worry flickered in his eyes. “Did you …‘

He wasn’t sure if Athena had overheard what Beverly had said.

Athena steadied her thoughts, then turned to him and asked, “How’s Teri?”

When those men had raised their knives, she didn’t even know where the strength had come from, but she had stepped forward to take the blow.

The blade had pierced through her hand, pain boring into her bones.

Afterward, she had clutched Teri tightly to her chest, shielding the child from every strike.

She could still feel the deep cut along her waist, tugging painfully whenever she moved, but right now she didn’t care about her own injuries–she only wanted to know about Teri.

At her question, Zaden’s expression grew heavier.

He let out a long sigh, his voice low and grave. “It’s not good.”

“She’s hurt? How badly?”

Athena tried to sit up in alarm, but the sudden movement yanked at her wound, forcing her to grit her teeth against the pain. It took her a long moment to catch her breath again.

Zaden quickly steadied her. “Don’t move.”

Athena forced herself to stay still, but her eyes clung to him, pleading. “Tell me–how is she?”

“She doesn’t have any major injuries, but … ” Zaden exhaled another heavy sigh.

His striking features were shadowed with sorrow, his eyes clouded with helplessness.

Athena’s heart plummeted.

She had feared this, and now it was actually happening.

Her voice dropped. “Teri’s suffered severe psychological trauma, hasn’t she?”

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Chapter 102 Wait Until You’re Better

Zaden gave a grave

nod.

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“Before we reached the hospital, she didn’t say a word. Later, when the doctors tried to examine her, she screamed and fought so wildly that they had to sedate her. They did some tests, and it showed that she was physically fine, but since she woke up, she hasn’t said a word.”

Athena’s chest clenched so hard that it burned behind her eyes.

When Zaden had once mentioned Teri’s mental struggles, she had thought he was exaggerating or lying. But hearing this, she finally understood.

Zaden must have put in a lot of effort to help Teri seem normal.

And now, it had all collapsed in an instant.

At least Teri hadn’t been physically harmed. Athena had taken the blows for her, sparing her further pain.

That thought brought Athena a small measure of comfort. She tried to soothe him. “It’s alright. Once she calms down, we’ll guide her slowly. Teri will get back to her old self.”

Zaden gave a slight nod.

Athena then recalled the fight between Beverly and Zaden outside her room earlier. She risked a glance at him and asked, as if offhand, “By the way, did you catch the kidnappers? Did you interrogate them?”

Zaden’s eyes locked onto hers. “My mother said you were behind it. Do you want to know if I believed her?”

“Uh…”

Isn’t that a little too direct?

How could he be so sharp yet so blunt?

She had only wanted to ask indirectly, to leave everyone some dignity.

Athena forced an awkward half–smile. “I … ”

Zaden sat down on the couch beside her bed and said with quiet certainty, “I know it wasn’t you.”

He trusts me that much?

Athena had braced herself for him to waver and be swayed by Beverly’s words.

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Chapter 102 Wait Until You’re Better

She hadn’t expected this–he hadn’t hesitated for even a second.

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