CHAPTER 416: MORE GUESTS II

"So, Jessica, when do you think is Athena’s birthday?" Sandro asked, after many a small talk had been made amongst them. "Make a wild guess, putting together all the facts that you know..."

Sandro’s version of small talk caught everyone’s attention, plunging the room into silence. Heads turned, curiosity sparking, and all eyes landed on Jessica.

She furrowed her brows, tilting her head slightly as she accepted the question, fingers tapping lightly on the armrest while she thought on it, calculating.

"What’s today’s date?" she asked.

Her eyes widened a fraction when Kathleen supplied the answer happily, like she had just solved a riddle.

"If I should make a guess," Jessica said slowly, a thoughtful crease in her forehead, "then your birthday would be Monday, four days from now."

"Oh my God..." Antonio’s sharp gasp broke the silence.

Heads swiveled toward him at once, surprise flickering across their faces. His reaction caught the attention of the people next to him, got them wondering—everyone except Athena, who already knew why he sounded nervous.

He had forgotten that her known birthday was yesterday, just like her friends, just like everyone else. She just didn’t understand how it could have happened, but it did, and it was quite surprising—more so that she didn’t take it personally.

After Antonio’s gasp came the gasps of her friends. Gianna’s was the loudest. She clapped a hand over her mouth before blurting out, "Oh my God! Athena, I’m so sorry..."

"It’s okay." Athena lifted her hand gently, waving off the apologies coming her way with a calm smile, though her eyes softened at their guilt.

Jessica looked on, confused, her brows knitting, especially when her daughter joined the tirade of apologies. "What’s going on?" she asked, voice edged with puzzlement, meeting the gaze of Old Mr. Thorne who, unlike the others, had not joined in the flurry.

"Well," he said with measured calm, "the woman who raised her picked yesterday as her birthday... we all forgot."

"She must have calculated correctly..." Jessica noted with a small smile, nodding slowly before rendering her own apology, which had Athena rolling her eyes with good-natured exasperation.

"So, Aunt Jess, why did you make that deduction?" Athena asked with curiosity. "Maybe then these busy people here will have a second chance to make up?"

Florence shook her head with a chuckle, her lips curving as she regarded her granddaughter. Athena would not let any of them live down this day.

"Well, because we had an important client coming that week, hence why I remembered the day," Jessica began, her voice steady, though her hands folded together tightly on her lap.

"She had also mentioned going to see her friend, Miley... it seems there was a celebration going on there too..."

Her eyes found Ewan across the room and lingered, a furrow marring her forehead as if another piece of calculation stirred within her.

Ewan, who exchanged quick, subtle, surprised glances with Sandro.

"It was planned that she would return in time for the coming of the client. So, on the fateful day I called, around noon, she was in the hospital... I knew, even without her telling me, because I could hear the voices of nurses, with one talking to another about a doctor’s report." Jessica paused, her chest rising and falling as though the memory carried weight.

"And seeing that she had been pregnant, I did the math in my head, and realized she might actually be ready to give birth, because her voice was heavy, labored." Her voice broke softly, her hand pressing against her chest. "Out of excitement, I quickly ended the call, not wanting to trouble her."

Florence’s eyes became misty, and then a tear slipped out unbidden.

"She didn’t come back that week," Jessica continued, her tone thick with memory, "and we lost the client. But she didn’t seem fazed by it when she texted me to take over the business for a while... she had taken leave. So, I figure that day would be Athena’s birthday. I don’t think she reached Miley’s house either before her water broke."

Another loaded pause hung heavy in the room.

"You see," Jessica added softly, "Miley called hours later, asking after her. I was the one that informed her of my suspicions. I didn’t hear from her again about the matter, which further confirmed my deductions."

She turned her gaze on Athena, her expression tender. "So, you see why I think you were born then?"

Athena nodded slowly. It made the most sense, but Jess was right—her foster mother had made an almost excellent guess. How had she been able to tell? Maternal instinct?

She smiled faintly at the loving memory of the latter, her eyes glistening. Her attention was then grabbed when Gianna screamed happily and practically pounced on her with uncontained excitement.

"We have a birthday to plan! I will make it..."

Athena shook her head quickly, raising a hand. "The party tomorrow is enough publicity. If there will be a birthday celebration, I want it to be private."

I don’t think I can take any more public shows. It makes us susceptible to the gang’s plans.

Gianna exchanged meaningful glances with Chelsea and Florence before nodding her head, her dramatic pout easing. "Done. But you are up for receiving gifts, right?"

Athena chuckled softly, amusement lighting her face. "Of course." She turned to Areso with a teasing grin. "You better compensate me with a dress from your latest collection."

The latter raised her hands in mock surrender. "Your wish is my command, madame."

Her words extracted laughs from everyone present—light, genuine laughter that eased the tension, though Antonio’s laugh came out nervous, betraying how stupid he still felt for forgetting Athena’s birthday.

"So, is there something I should know?" Jessica asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing playfully as she winked at Athena, then at Antonio, a mischievous smile tugging her lips.

Athena’s uncomfortability stirred again, heat rising to her cheeks. She had forgotten the poking-nose quality of Areso’s mother.

"Are you both finally together?" the woman continued, her tone hopeful, leaning in as though determined to catch the truth.

"Yes." Athena answered meekly, her voice smaller than intended, feeling the heat climb higher. She rubbed Kathleen’s palm to steady her nerves.

"Spectacular! So, the marriage bells will soon ring..." Jessica rubbed her hands with glee, eyes sparkling, then turned her attention to Florence who wore an uncertain smile on her face.

"The sun is shining brightly on us, Aunt. I have always known those two will end up together, after a particular somebody lost his mind."

The jab landed sharp. Ewan felt it right in his soul, but he pretended like he had heard nothing, keeping his face neutral. Just as he had when the woman had ignored his greeting earlier—unlike her daughter, who had been more civil.

The silence that filled the room afterward, however, didn’t make it any easier. Can’t someone say something to diffuse it?

"You are invited to our wedding then, Jess, for being an ardent supporter..." Antonio spoke up, his attempt at lightness ringing too loud, too forced.

It made Ewan wish he could take back his earlier wish of someone speaking. His chest tightened, making him wonder if Old Mr. Thorne had been wrong all along—that Athena really was engaged to Antonio.

His heart contracted painfully. He would have left right then but for the fact that he was yet to give Athena the run-down of events. Maybe he should let Sandro do it?

Pressing incomprehensible things on his phone, he negated the idea. No, leaving would only make the tongues wag harder.

Old Mr. Thorne cleared his throat after a while, his deep voice cutting through the awkwardness that had spread thick. "I think we should all go to the dining room."