From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 31

Chapter 31 She Doesn’t Want Them

“Dion.”

When Lewis walked in, Dion quickly tried to hide his emotions.

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He didn’t want Lewis to see how upset he was over Athena. He also didn’t want to give him a reason to laugh at him.

Lewis asked with a stern voice, “You didn’t bring your mom home, did you? Didn’t I tell you not to argue with her, not to make her mad? You didn’t do what I said!”

Dion already felt hurt and wronged. Hearing his dad blame him worsened it.

His face twisted with anger as he yelled, “No! She’s the one who didn’t want to come back! She has another kid now! She doesn’t love me anymore! She kicked me out!”

His voice cracked, and finally he couldn’t hold it in.

“I never want to see her again!” he cried, breaking down into sobs.

Lewis frowned deeply. When Ned told him Dion had failed to bring Athena back, he didn’t know the details. Now, hearing Dion say Athena had another child shocked him.

Athena had another kid?

He drew his brows tight and gripped Dion’s shoulders. “What are you talking about? How could your mom have another child?”

Between sobs, Dion explained what happened at Athena’s place. When his son said it was a girl about his age, Lewis’s expression tightened.

For some reason, one person flashed through his mind-Zaden.

He had seen Zaden and Athena together more than once. They had even gone to Professor Warner’s house for dinner. But since Athena had always acted so openly about it, he had brushed it aside.

Now Dion’s words made his suspicion flare again.

Lewis wanted to press further, to ask if Zaden was at Athena’s house. But Dion was crying so hard that Lewis couldn’t get anything out of him. All the boy could say was that he never wanted to see Athena again.

Finally, overwhelmed with frustration, Lewis stopped questioning him and stormed out.

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Chapter 31 She Doesn’t Want Them

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On the balcony, Lewis dropped into a chair, lit a cigarette, and sat there with a stormy face. His mind raced.

Could Athena really be involved with Zaden?

The thought was unbearable.

Buzz, buzz. His phone vibrated in his hand. Lewis picked it up and glanced at it.

It was a call from one of the rich heirs in his circle, someone he used to party with. Lately, Lewis had been buried in personal messes, and I hadn’t seen him in a while.

He answered the call, and the guy laughed through the phone. “Lewis! Where have you been? It’s my birthday tonight. We’re throwing a party at King Club. Come have a drink.”

Lewis crushed out his cigarette. “Yeah. I’ll be there.”

His mood was already in pieces. A few strong drinks sounded like exactly what he needed.

Lewis grabbed his car keys and headed out.

Before he left, Nina asked where he was going. When she learned he wasn’t seeing Athena but just meeting some friends for drinks, she finally relaxed.

Half an hour later, Lewis arrived at the club. He walked straight toward the private lounge like he’d been there a hundred times.

The moment he opened the door, he froze.

Sitting in the shadows was Zaden.

Zaden wore a black suit and matching pants, his crisp white shirt outlining his tall, sharp frame perfectly. In that dim room, he looked calm, powerful, and far above everyone else.

Most of the other men had women hanging on their arms-but not Zaden. He sat alone, quiet and distant, as if he didn’t belong there at all.

Lewis stopped in his tracks, his face darkening.

Talk about running into your nemesis.

The birthday boy that night was Daniel Croft. The Crofts weren’t a huge family, but they held some influence in Vlephia. When Daniel spotted Lewis, he waved him over. “Lewis, you’re late! Three shots for punishment!”

Lewis gave a short greeting and picked up a glass from the table.

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Chapter 31 She Doesn’t Want Them

He downed one shot, then another, then a third-without stopping.

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Lewis hadn’t eaten since morning, still upset over Athena. The alcohol hit his empty stomach fast, burning all the way down. Athena used to stop him from drinking.

But now, there was no one left to stop him.

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