ATHENA

Warmth.

That''s the first thing I feel.

Soft sheets. The scent of fresh linen. A deep musk lingering in the air, cedarwood and something...oddly familiar.

My brows pull together as my body stretches slowly, reluctantly, like it doesn''t want to leave thefort it''s found.

Pulling the warm bed sheets closer, I throw my leg over a pillow when realization hits me like a damn train.

Wait.

My eyes shoot open.

This isn''t my bed.

The ceiling is higher, the light brighter. The nkets are thicker, softer, almost cloudlike. My heart ms against my ribs.

Where the hell am I?

Did I go clubbing and leave with a stranger?

I haven''t gone clubbing in years!

I sit up fast and immediately regret it. My head spins, my hair tumbling over my shoulders in a wild mess.

My son!

My gaze whips around the room, my breath catching and my heart beating faster and faster.

Then I remember.

The party. Speeches. Everyone getting together. Falling asleep on the couch with Rayen. The exhaustion. The way my body gave out before I could even argue.

Alex went up to get the keys when I decided to wait from the couch.

I must have fallen asleep.

But why didn''t Alex wake me up?

His speech reys in my mind on a loop as I try to figure out why he has been behaving in such a strange way.

Is Ariana threatening him to be nice to me? Or is it another deal with Giana?

Because Alexander King is not the type of person who would say such things willingly.

But it doesn''t matter because it all meant nothing anyway!

A quiet breath escapes me, and my heartbeat slowly begins to settle.

The panic fades, reced with a different sort of unease, one thates from being in his space.

His room. His bed.

It''s strange.

Too intimate.

Why didn''t he put me in the guest bedroom? I know this is his room because it used to be our masters when we moved here before everything went south. But even if we hadn''t stayed together, I''d know.

Everything screams Alex, from the scent that wraps around you whether you like it

or not.

But wait....

Does that mean we slept in...

No no no no!

Iugh with a shake of my head.

He wouldn''t stoop that low.

I swing my legs over the edge of the bed and stand, tugging the sleeves of my sweat shirt down as I tiptoe toward the door.

The house is silent.

As I descend the staircase, the scent of freshly brewed coffee wraps around me like a hug I''m afraid to ept.

And then I see him.

He looks like a freaking Greek God.

In sweatpants and a dark gray sweatshirt, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his

hair like he just ran his hands through it. He looks... different

Which is strange.

His green eyes snap up the moment I appear, and something shifts in the air between us.

"Good morning."

His voice is deep, low, and calm.

I pause at thest step, my fingers tightening around the railing.

"I''m sorry for intruding. I must have been too tired and slept. You should have

woken me up. Where is Rayen? We need to leave."

He smirks at my words and walks to the stove, and removes freshly baked cinnamon buns.

My mouth waters, but my pride is intact. I wonder where he got them or who made them. Because Alex can''t even boil water.

"Sit down, and I''ll serve you breakfast." He says softly.

Is someone holding this man hostage?

I don''t do as he says while I watch him ce a cup of coffee that smells so good I

have to hold it in to not fall for the temptation.

"You don''t have to pretend to be nice when Rayen is out of reach. We''re not friends, Alex. Stop acting like it." I snap.

His hand stills, hovering just above the te.

The smirk fades from his lips, reced by something quieter. Something unreadable.

For a second, I wonder if I went too far.

But then again, how could I, when this is the man who once looked me in the eyes

and shattered everything I trusted?

He sets the te down slowly. No anger. No cold words. Just silence.

"I''m not pretending," he says, finally turning to face me. "And I didn''t wake you up because... you looked like you needed rest. That''s all."

"Where is Rayen, and why is this ce so damn bright!?"

These are not the lights we had on, but obviously, they had them changed. It''s been so long, but damn, did they have to get such bright bulbs?

"I had Ryan have them changed because you get panic attacks in the dark, and I didn''t want that. Rayen is at school. I dropped him off some hours ago." He exins, and I swallow.fn5669 Discover more novels at Find?Novel/fn5669

He changed the lights for me?

Is this man losing it?

I see red from how angry I am.

Because it''s not fair.

Why is he being nice and starting to confuse me?

He''s the one who tore my world apart and ruined everything we had.

"I made the buns," he adds, pulling me back.

I blink.

"You?"

He shrugs.

"You can''t even boil water." I retort. It''s supposed to be an insult.

But he doesn''t seem affected when he smiles while hovering with the damn cup.

Liar!

He obviously had Ariana bake them. She must have left them yesterday.

But why... I shake my head.

Its not your business Athena. Get a grip and get the hell out of here!

"I''m leaving. Have Luca drop Rayen home." I turn to leave when his voice stops

me.

"Sit down and eat Athena. I''m not trying to win points here. I know I don''t deserve that. But you''re here. And I figured... I could try being decent. Even if you hate me. Besides, this is Rayens''s house now. You don''t have to be on the run because of me."

I cross my arms, tension crackling through me like static.

"You don''t get to y decent after everything, Alex. Do you think coffee will make

everything better? You''re the worst of the worst, and I may tolerate you when Rayen is around, but I prefer if you didn''t speak to me when he isn''t!"

He flinches, and his jaw ticks.

Good.

But instead of firing back, he just nods.

"You''re right."

"What?" My eyes widen.

I step forward, voice low. "Why now? Why start acting like this suddenly? You

made it clear where we stood when you divorced me."

Guilt shes in his eyes.

He exhales a slow breath.

"Eat breakfast, Athena. You can take my car once you''ve done so."

"Are you listening to anything I''m saying? I''d rather walk on foot than use your damn car!" I scream.

The bastard watches me with his hands in his pockets and his face, giving nothing

away.

I want him to fight back. To say something that will piss me off. My hatred needs fuel, and his presence alone used to do to it, but I need more!

"I charged your phone. But because of the weather, thework has been a little tricky. You can''t call a taxi because it looks like it will rain very heavily soon. So, if you don''t want to be stuck here with me, eat, and i''ll give you the car keys."

"You poisoned the food, didn''t you? You''re too calm. Is that why?"

His gaze turns dead serious.

"Poison you? Athena, I still haven''t forgiven myself for the damage I already did.

So no. I haven''t poisoned it."

The kitchen falls into a silence so thick I can feel it pressing against my skin. His

eyes are steady on mine.

No mockery, no sarcasm. Just truth. Raw and quiet and terrifying.

And I hate that it makes something twist inside my chest.

I should snap back. Throw the coffee in his face. Call him a liar and walk away.

But all I can do is stand. My lips too heavy to move.