ATHENA

Ariana bounds toward me, practically glowing as she throws her arms around my neck.

"God, you smell like eucalyptus and baby shampoo. I hate how much I missed you," she says, nting a loud kiss on my cheek before pulling back and giving

me a once-over.

"Wait... what''s going on? Why are we here? And why do you look like you''re about to go to bed?"

Iugh.

Trust Ariana to roast your outfit no matter what you wear. These are the days when I miss Sloane the most. They''d go head to head as they argue about her love for bright colors and crazybinations.

I open my mouth, then close it again.

"I... don''t know," I admit honestly. "Alex and Rayen said it''s a surprise. That''s all I know."

Before she can press for more, Giana groans dramatically as she climbs out of the car with Ryan''s help, her hand pressed to her lower back.

"Ugh, I swear my back is conspiring against me today."

Alex raises a brow. "Your back hurts because you''ve been glued to the couch watching Korean dramas for three days straight."

Giana scoffs, straightening with all the sass in the world. "Excuse you, I''m old. I deserve peace,fort, and beautiful Korean men on my screen. What''s your problem?"

Alex shakes his head as he walks towards her and leans in to kiss her cheek. "Then we''d better hurry so you can get back to the next episode before you miss out." The sarcasm in his tone is loud enough to earn him a re from Giana.

"I swear you''re lucky I love you."

All the words being spoken fade away as the French doors swing open.

I freeze as a familiar figure walks out.

Eli.

And right beside him is Luca,n, Noah, Isabelle... all of them.

My jaw drops as my heart ms into my chest like a punch.

"Happy Mother''s Day!!" they shout in unison, beaming as they step aside to reveal the grand foyer.

Mother''s Day?

Wait.

What?

I stare at them, confused, then at the house. The twinkling lights. The giant floral arch. The glowing candles. The long table inside was set like a fairytale.

Gifts. Cards. Ribbons.

My chest tightens while my head spins.

I forgot.

I forgot it was Mother''s Day.

My days have been so chaotictely, I don''t even know what day it is, worse off, it being Mother''s Day!

The room starts tilting, my brain doing cartwheels as the realization hits. I''m standing here in my gray sweatpants and hoodie.

I''m in freaking sweatpants.

My eyes snap to Alex, rage now overtaking awe. I grab his wrist and pull him aside, my heart pounding in horror.

"Are you kidding me?" I whisper sharply, dragging him into the shadowed corner near the staircase. "You let me walk into this looking like a tired roon in pajamas while everyone else looks like they walked off a Vogue cover?"

His mouth twitches, he''s trying not tough.

That smug idiot.

"Comparing yourself to a roon is crazy."fn9288 For more chapters visit fin?novel/fn9288

My eyes ze in fury,

"Did you want me to be embarrassed? Is that what this is?"

Alex steps in closer, too close.

The air shifts as he cages me in against the wall, one hand beside my head, the other gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

His voice is low, velvet-smooth.

"Angel, your beauty surpasses them all. No matter what you wear. Besides, you''re tire,d there is no need for you to wear things that will exhaust you even more."

I forget how to breathe.

His minty breath fans across my cheek.

My mouth opens.

Then closes.

Then opens again, like I''ve lost all ability to speak.

My brain short-circuits.

“I...” I stammer, blinking rapidly, heat blooming in my chest and climbing to my face.

He begins to move his face even closer when mymon sense hits me in one blow as I push him away.

I walk to where everything else is and hug Ariana and Giana,

"Happy Mother''s Day. I''m sorry I forgot to bring you a gift. I''ll make it up to you both." I say in shame.

"Happy Mother''s Day, baby. No worries, I know how crazy it has been for you the past month!" Ariana hugs me tightly.

"Wee to the club of headaches," Giana says, ring at Eli.

We allugh as I join the rest in celebration, and the shock keeps piling up as I notice the center is filled with gifts.

"Happy mother''s day mummy! I made this for you" Rayen runs in my arms and I fall to my knees so I can hug him as he gives me the cute painting.

Tears prick my eyes as I press a kiss to his forehead and smile through the lump forming in my throat.

"Thank you, baby. It''s beautiful."

I''m still crouched on the floor, hugging Rayen, when a shadow falls over us.

"You came with Alex?" a voice says, tinged with mock disbelief.

I look up and see Noah standing there, his jaw tight, arms crossed, and eyes zing.

"I thought you couldn''t stand him." He hisses.

Rayen clutches my hand, looking between us.

I force a smile and brush his curls gently.

"Go find Nonna, baby. Show her your painting, okay?"

He nods and runs off, unaware of the storm rising behind me.

I straighten slowly and turn to Noah.

"That was... situational."

“Uh-huh. Situational," he repeats, dragging the word out to mock me.

"Isn''t he your cousin?" I ask, tilting my head.

This is unlike Noah.

Noah scoffs, his eyes narrowing. "Don''t try to flip this on me, Athena."

His voice is low, barely above a whisper, but it''sced with heat and restrained anger.

"You said you hated him," he continues, stepping in closer. "You said you wanted nothing to do with him. And now you''re walking in with him? I could have driven you here."

I steady my breath, locking my gaze with his.

"Don''t do this here, Noah," I say coolly, lifting my chin.

His jaw clenches.

"Oh, so now I''m just some interruption?" he hisses. "I''m the one out of ce?"

I tilt my head slightly, "I think your aunt would be disappointed if you ruined the mood before dessert."

Noah''s face darkens, and suddenly he grabs my wrist, not hard, but enough to make my body jolt in surprise.

"Don''t forget what he did to you, Athena," he growls under his breath. "You won''t be happy with him."

Before I can answer, a voice so cold I feel the blood in my veins freeze reaches

our ears,

"If you want your hand to still be attached to your body in the next five seconds, I suggest you release her wrist."