ATHENA

"Kill me now!" Sloane groans as she throws herself on the bed.

Rayen''s, to be exact.

He will hate it when he finds us going through his things. Rayen recently turned four, but I''ve always known my son was special. He thinks differently and even asks questions that leave my mouth hanging open. He also hates it when we are in his space. Apparently.

No one told me he would hate my kisses so soon. Too soon.

Okay, hate is a stretch, but still... he always says,

"Mummy, please. I''m too old for kisses. Just make another baby."

Anyway, so he is growing tall super fast, so I had to change his wardrobe. My schedule has been crazy busy, but I always make sure I''m present and he finds me home.

I still remember how Alex was affected by his parents being too busy, and we got lucky Giana was there. Otherwise, he would have been worse.

That''s something I certainly will not put my precious boy through. Sloane, who was shocked as I was by Katelyn''s earlier than scheduled appearance, rushed to my house, and here we are.

"It''s not so bad. She even called you, so you could have lunch together." I try to smoothen the situation.

"Easy for you to say, Aunt.. I mean.. Mum dotted on you before even meeting you." She groans.

I give her a smile, I''m so proud of Sloane. She''s been so strong, especially after hearing her idiotic parents'' behavior while she was inma. She was hurt but mostly angry and punched Noah for it.

Something Alex smiled at and offered to even help with.

"Yours defended me yesterday. Even offered to fund my research. You really have nothing to worry about."

"Maybe she just likes medical stuff!"

Iugh

"Think of it as a way to win points fromn. By making your mother iw like you."

I don''t even know what I''m saying, to be honest.

"She''s not my mother iw yet."

"Well, she will be."

"If we get married. He might change his mind if she hates me."

"I doubt anyone can change his mind. I now see why he''s best friends with my husband. Birds of the same feather and all that." I lean forward, putting the new sets of shorts on the chair,

"I know you''re worried because I mentioned he said he cares about only you and her. But that isn''t supposed to give you any kind of pressure. Just be a sweet chaotic self. If she doesn''t like it, that''s her loss. Besides, Aunty Ari will have her head on a spike if she makes you cry. Let me not even get started on uncle Eli. The man behaves like he''s having a stroke at the mere mention of you being in a rtionship."

She lets out a smallugh, but it doesn''t quite reach her eyes. She stares up at the ceiling like it holds all the answers she''s desperate for.

I gently nudge her leg with mine. "Sloane, you''ve survived worse. You''ve literallye back from the dead. One lunch withn''s mum isn''t going to break you."

"That woman looks like she was born judging people," she mumbles, dragging a pillow over her face. "And she dresses like she eats diamonds for breakfast."

"Good. Because that means she''ll choke on your authenticity."

She snorts under the pillow. "You''re insane."

"And you love me," I remind her, patting her thigh. "Besides, no one worth having in your life wants you to shrin to fit their standards. Do you think I did have people whispering about me when I married Alex? Both times. Even now, people still think he''s way over my league. Trust me, if I had to win over every skeptical rich parent, I''d be running an orphanage by now."

Sloane finally lifts the pillow, her eyes a little shinier than before. "What if I''m not enough? You know, regarding uhm.. my situation."

I pause at that. My chest tightens.

"You are," I say simply. "You''ve

always been enough. Ifn''s mother

can''t see that, then she''s blind. But

hold a grudge for that, too." I halfugh before looking at my sister iw and best friend, "So, neither should you."  s

That earns me a watery smile.

"You should consider being a therapist." Sheughs, warming my heart that some of her doubt has left her.

"Hmmm. I''m the best, aren''t I? Your brother is lucky to have me!" I tease, and we both fall into a fit ofughter.

The sound of tiny, furious footsteps pounds toward the room.

I don''t even need to look to know who it is.

My little dictator storms in, his face crumpled into a scowl so serious it makes me want tough.

"Aunty Sloane, How are you?" he asks.

"Good little King. How are you? Come give me a hug." Sloane spreads her hands but is met with sheer rejection.

"No thanks. I don''t like hugs very much. Do you want me to bring you some candy?" He asks politely.

"No thanks." Sloane responds, squinting her eyes at her nephew.

"Mummy, what time will you finnish? I''d like to have my bed back, please."

I smile.

"Soon love," I say, scooping him up and nting a kiss on his cheek.fn5083 For original chapters go to FιndＮovel/fn5083

He groans and wriggles like I''ve just ruined his life. "Mummy, stop. I said no kisses."

"But I missed you."

"Make another baby. I''m too grown for kisses."

"Rayen you''re four. But even if you''re thirty, I''ll kiss you because you''ll always be

my baby."

"And I will get a hug whenever you see me!" Sloane supports me.

My son stares at us both like we''ve failed himpletely, then sighs with the drama of a much older man.

"I''ll be in the kitchen. Daddy said I could go to Kai''s ce for a bit. Please don''t touch my dinosaur drawings. Or my astronaut books. Or my bed."

"Yes, your royal highness," I half roll my eyes as he turns around and marches out, muttering something about changing his room.

I copse backward beside Sloane, stillughing.

"He''s going to rule the world one day," she says between breathless giggles.

"He has a precious heart, but I see more and more of his father in him." I smile.

She turns her head to look at me after we are both silent for some time. "Thank you... for this. For everything."

"You''re family," I say, brushing a strand of hair from her forehead. "And no matter what happens withn''s mother or the world or the past you''ll always have a ce here. With us."  s

"I''ve decided to meet her. After party, that is. I can''t let anything

distract me from throwing my?

favorite man the best birthday party known to mankind!"  s