From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 188

Athena said, “You’ve got to be hungry. Eat something. Stop helping me.”

After that, they ate quietly without another word.

Firushed

When they finished, Athena tried to clear the dishes, but Zaden stopped her. “Let me handle it.”

Seeing how firm he was, she didn’t argue and sat back on the couch.

She watched him, looking like she wanted to say something, but she was unsure how to start.

After throwing away the trash, Zaden turned and noticed Athena staring at him.

“What is it?” he asked, sitting beside her.

Athena hesitated. “Uh I heard from Harriet that you fought with your mom?”

…

“Yeah,” he admitted quietly.

“Was it because of me?”

Zaden shook his head softly. “Even if it wasn’t about you, my relationship with her isn’t great. Don’t feel guilty.”

Athena was impressed that he could read her thoughts so easily.

She had been worried her issues made things worse between him and his mother, and now he’c gone missing because of it. She felt awful.

Zaden looked at Athena for a moment, then casually asked, “So, what are you going to do about Lewis?”

Athena felt a headache when Lewis was mentioned. She never expected him to pull something so disgusting.

After thinking for a moment, she said firmly, “No matter what he says, I’ll never forgive him. Especially after everything he’s done. If I went back to him now, I’d have to be crazy.”

Zaden heard her and gave a faint smile.

Athena was completely fed up with Lewis. Her annoyance was obvious.

Somehow, Zaden felt a strange, quiet happiness bubble up inside him.

Athena didn’t notice the subtle shift in his mood.

12:19 Fri, Oct 24 B

Chapter 188 I’m Your Father

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Finished

She kept talking. “I’ll ignore him for now. Lewis can make a scene, but if no one pays attention, he’ll get bored eventually. Maybe it’ll all just blow over.”

Zaden smirked. He didn’t think it would blow over that casily.

Still, since Athena had a plan, he decided to sit back and see how it played out.

After a moment, he said, “Athena.”

She looked up, waiting.

“Handling Lewis is actually pretty simple,” he continued, testing her reaction. “If I go public and announce we’re together, he’ll look like a total fool. He won’t be a threat at all. What do think?”

Before Athena could answer, her phone rang.

“Hold on,” she said, pulling it out.

you

When she saw the caller, her expression shifted. She turned to Zaden. “Sorry, I need to take this.”

She stepped out onto the balcony with her phone.

Zaden watched through the glass, his expression turning serious. Whoever it was clearly mattered a lot to her.

Who could it be?

On the balcony, Athena answered carefully, her voice polite but distant. “What’s the matter, Mr. Rice?”

There was a pause on the other end. “Athena, is that how you’re going to talk to me? I’m your father. Can’t you just call me Dad?”

Athena’s patience snapped.

She replied flatly, “We’ve gone over this plenty of times. I don’t think your wife would want me to call you that, so I’m sticking with Mr. Rice.”

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