From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 139

Chapter 139 Let Me Feel Your Abs

Athena flipped on her phone’s flashlight.

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She glanced at the signal bar–still blank; once in a while, a single bar winked on and then vanished.

She gave up on calling for help.

Something rustled in the grass outside, and she froze. “What was that? Could there be wild animals out here?”

Zaden’s voice was calm. “Don’t be afraid. We’ve got light–whatever it is won’t come in. And if it does, I’ll protect you.”

I’ll protect you… Hearing that, Athena felt a little warm inside.

She was glad he’d found her. Really glad.

Thank god for him!

By midnight, her energy was almost gone.

Her eyelids kept drooping, and the rain’s steady slap outside felt like a lullaby. After three yawns, she heard Zaden say softly, “If you’re tired, sleep. I’ll stay up.”

With her eyes barely open, she didn’t bother with niceties. “You take the first half of the night, I’ll do the second.”

As soon as she said that, she blinked into sleep, leaning against Zaden without even realizing it.

He glanced at her, then wrapped an arm around her shoulders and tucked her closer, adjusting so she could sleep more comfortably.

Silence settled–only leaves and rain whispered outside.

Gradually, the rain cased, then stopped.

Zaden checked his phone; it was late.

He’d meant to wake her when his turn came, but somehow he didn’t.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, he felt a small hand roaming at his waist.

He was silent for a moment.

11:22 Thu, Oct 23 B

Chapter 139 Let Me Feel Your Abs

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Finished

He looked down. Athena’s eyes were shut, but her hand was wandering–dangerously close to places it shouldn’t be.

His expression tightened, and he restrained her hand.

Her brow knotted, as if she’d been dreaming; she muttered half–asleep, “Don’t be shy… let me feel your abs. I’ll count–see if you’ve got eight.”

Zaden frowned, despite her mumbling.

What kind of dream was that?

Still, after hesitating, he let her keep going.

Her hand wandered aimlessly again, and he leaned close and whispered, “Enough?”

“Not yet

yet … I haven’t finished counting!” she mumbled, frowning as her hand traced down his torso while she counted under her breath, “One, two, three, four…”

་་

She paused and muttered, “Wait … why is there an extra one?”

Zaden’s breath caught; he froze and grabbed her hand–she had touched somewhere she shouldn’t.

After she’d finished counting the abs to her satisfaction, she fell back into sleep, content, leaving Zaden stunned and more than a little flustered. He pressed deep breaths to calm himself.

It took him a while to chill out.

Confusion flickered across his face, his brows furrowed tight.

Last time he’d seen Athena, she’d been just as provocative—she certainly had a talent for getting under his skin.

When Athena opened her eyes, it was to bright light; the rain had stopped, and sunshine poured in.

She realized with a start she’d slept in Zaden’s arms.

She sat up and smoothed herself. “Hey–did I sleep the whole night?” she asked, blinking.

She looked over at him and frowned. “Why didn’t you wake me?”

Zaden replied, “I didn’t wake you because you were sleeping so soundly.”

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