CHAPTER 309: MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE

York City District Hospital...

Inside Dominique’s ward, Athena chose to speak with Aaron. The young boy had finally calmed down, and he was still clinging to his mother.

Athena glanced at her son with mixed emotions. She could tell how worried and frightened he was when Dominique fell ill in front of him. She felt anxious after knowing how much her son cared about his father.

’What should I do? Will Aaron hate me if I try to distance him from Dominique? I can’t help but feel uneasy. My son is growing too attached to his father, even though he doesn’t yet know the truth about their real connection.’

Athena gently rubbed her son’s back as she continued to comfort him.

"Don’t be sad. Your Uncle Dom is a strong and healthy man. He’s just exhausted from working too hard, that’s all."

Aaron looked up at her, a faint smile breaking through his worried expression. "Thanks, Mom. I just don’t want him to get sick. I hate seeing him in pain."

Athena forced a smile in return, though her chest tightened painfully. She brushed a strand of hair from his face and whispered, more to herself than to him, "Why do you care for him so much, my son?"

But Aaron still heard her words. He grabbed his mother’s hands and looked up to meet her gaze.

"Mom, Uncle Dom is not only a friend. He is like a father to me. He looks after me and cares for me like I’m his own son."

Athena was at a loss for words after hearing his words. It felt as if an invisible hand had clenched her heart, making it hard to breathe. Overwhelmed by emotion, she could only reach out and pull Aaron into her arms, holding him tightly against her chest.

’I’m sorry, Aaron. I can’t tell you he is your father. I am afraid that he will take you away from me. But I won’t forbid you from communicating with him. But sooner or later, we have to leave this place... and go somewhere far from him.’

"Aren’t you hungry?" Athena asked Aaron, changing the topic.

Aaron gazed at Dominique before nodding. "We need to buy food, Mom. Uncle Dom has to eat once he wakes up."

"Alright," Athena said softly. "I’ll ask your Uncle Enzo to buy dinner for both of you. If you want, you can go with him and help choose something from the menu that your Uncle Dom might like. While you’re gone, I’ll stay here and watch over him. Does that sound okay to you?"

Aaron bobbed his head frantically. "Okay, Mom. I know what Uncle Dom’s favorite food is."

She just smiled and ruffled Aaron’s hair. "Your Uncle Vladimir brought a car. I will ask him to drive you to the nearest restaurant."

Athena wanted to send them away so she could have a private moment with Dominique once he woke up. There was something important she needed to say to him.

It didn’t take long before she escorted Aaron out of the room, bringing him over to where Enzo and Vladimir were waiting. She asked the two men to take Aaron with them to buy some dinner.

Vladimir was reluctant to leave her side, sensing that something was weighing on her mind. But in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to refuse her request. With a heavy sigh, he agreed.

Once the three of them had left, Athena quietly made her way back to Dominique’s ward.

The soft sound of the sliding door stirred Dominique from his slumber. His eyelids fluttered open, and he slowly scanned the unfamiliar surroundings of the hospital room. He blinked several times, trying to clear his blurred vision.

Fragments of memory returned to him. ’I remember now... Aaron and I were playing in the park when that sudden pain struck my stomach. It was so intense I nearly passed out. We rushed here to the hospital...’

A low groan escaped his lips as he tried to sit up. That’s when he noticed the figure standing at the door. His eyes widened in surprise.

"Athena," he murmured, his voice hoarse but laced with astonishment. He hadn’t expected to see her there.

Athena kept her neutral expression as she stared back at Dominique. Yet, despite her indifference, an unexpected wave of relief washed over her the moment she saw him awake and conscious.

"What are you doing here?" Dominique’s voice was soft, almost hoarse, as he broke the silence.

He made a move to get out of bed, but Athena was quick to react. She crossed the room in a few swift steps and gently but firmly pushed him back against the bed.

"Just stay still," she said, her tone leaving no room for argument. Her hands lingered for a brief second before she stepped back, regaining her composure.

She wasn’t supposed to touch him. But her body just moved on its own. Meanwhile, Dominique just gazed at her intently, his eyes never leaving her face.

"I’m only here because of Aaron..." she said, her voice trailing off.

Athena paused, struggling against the urge to ask him how he was feeling. The words hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them down.

She couldn’t afford to show any sign of concern. Asking would only betray the fact that she was worried about him— and that was something she wasn’t ready to admit, not even to herself.

Dominique also kept quiet, just observing Athena. Deep down, he was glad to see her. He missed her so much.

"Aaron went out to buy you some dinner. We will leave afterwards." Athena spoke up.

Dominique just nodded with a faint smile. ’My son is very thoughtful.’

"Dom, we need to talk," she said with a serious expression on her face.

"I understand," Dominique replied. He drew in a breath before continuing, his eyes never leaving Athena’s face.

"I also have something I need to tell you." He paused, as if weighing his next words carefully. "Sasha has already signed our divorce papers. It’s finalized now."

His gaze softened, and his tone lowered as he added, "I wanted you to be the first to know."

Athena was taken aback, momentarily speechless as Dominique’s words sank in. ’I... I succeeded in ruining his marriage,’ she thought, a mixture of triumph and guilt swirling inside her.

But then, her heart began to pound rapidly against her chest, the sudden rush of emotion catching her off guard. ’Why is my heart racing like this? Am I really... happy to hear that?’

The thought unsettled her, leaving her confused by her own feelings.

"Now, it’s your turn. What do you want to tell me?" Dominique asked her expectantly.

His voice snapped her out of her deep stupor. Athena cleared her throat, forcing herself to gather her composure. She straightened her posture, masking the storm inside her heart with a cool facade.

"Congratulations on your divorce," she blurted out.

She quickly pressed on before she could hesitate. "As for me... I want you to know that I’m going to marry Vladimir. We’ve decided to make our relationship official. In fact, I can even send you a wedding invitation."

Her words pierced through Dominique like a dagger. His chest tightened painfully, and for a brief moment, he forgot to breathe.

His heart shattered completely at her cold announcement, each word cutting deeper into his heart.