From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 28

Chapter 28 Broken Strings

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Dion stared at Athena in disbelief, his eyes brimming with tears.

He was furious that she had scolded him for someone else and even told him to leave.

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He yanked something out of his bag and hurled it at her. His voice broke as he shouted, “I don’t want anything to do with you anymore!”

With that, Dion spun around and stormed out. On his way past Teri, he shot her a furious glare.

The object Dion had threwn hit Athena hard. She picked it up and looked at it.

It was a marionette.

She had made it for him with her own hands.

Years ago, Dion had watched a short video online of someone carving a beautiful puppet. He begged for one just like it. Athena searched every online store, but she couldn’t find it anywhere. In the end, she decided to make it herself.

Her hands weren’t very steady, and carving such fine details with a sculpture knife had been difficult.

Still, she finished it. It wasn’t perfect, but it was made with love.

Now Dion had thrown it back at her, as if he were tossing her love into the trash without a second thought.

“I’m sorry, Athena.” Teri whispered, lowering her head.

Guilt filled her chest. She thought the fight had happened only because of her. If she hadn’t been there-or if she had left sooner-maybe things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

Athena forced down her emotions and gave a small laugh. “Don’t blame yourself, Teri. This has nothing to do with you. Dion’s temper is just too awful.”

Hearing this, Teri’s eyes softened with envy. She murmured, “If you were my mom, I would never make you angry.”

Dion didn’t know how lucky he was. He probably had no idea what it felt like to grow up

without a mom.

Athena looked at the little girl’s sad face, and her heart ached. A thought came to her. If her daughter hadn’t been murdered by Lewis, if she had lived and grown up well, maybe she would have been just as sweet and gentle as Teri.

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Chapter 28 Broken Strings

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Athena tightened her grip on the marionette. For a moment, she wanted to throw it into the trash. She raised her hand, but Teri quickly stopped her.

“Athena, are you really going to throw that away?”

“Yes,” Athena said with a bitter smile.

“It means nothing now. Keeping it will only make me sad.”

To her, it was better to get rid of it-just like she had to get rid of her feelings for Lewis and

Dion.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Teri’s eyes lit up as she looked at Athena. She asked softly, “If Dion doesn’t want this toy, could you give it to me? It’s really special. It doesn’t look like something you buy in a store. It must be handmade, right?

“The person who made this put in a lot of care. Throwing it away would be such a waste.”

Athena’s eyes stung at her words.

Even an outsider could see how much work went into it. Yet Dion had crushed her effort without a second thought.

“Teri, do you really like this?” Athena asked.

“I do!” Teri’s dark eyes sparkled. She said with confidence, “I think you made this, Athena. That’s why it shouldn’t be tossed aside.”

Athena looked at Teri’s hopeful face and drew in a deep breath.

“Then I’ll give it to you.”

“Thank you, Athena!” Teri beamed. She hugged the marionette as if it were treasure.

Watching her, Athena’s heart grew heavier. When she had given the marionette to Dion, he wasn’t this happy. He had even complained that her carving was ugly, not polished like others he’d seen.

He had no idea how much effort it had cost her to finish it.

Her hands were not nimble, so this was the best she could do.

Downstairs, Dion stormed back in a huff.

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Chapter 25 Broken Strings

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