CHAPTER 314: SOME TRUTHS

Athena’s last remarks hung in the air. Dominique could feel the hint of resignation and despair in her tone. She had mixed emotions right now– fear, sorrow, and a small flicker of regret.

He wanted to comfort her... to tell her that everything would be fine... that he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her.

"Athena, don’t lose hope. They still need something. They won’t kill us just yet. Think of Aaron..." Dominique paused for a moment before he continued.

"Vladimir will do something to rescue you. If you don’t believe me... then just trust Vladimir. You have to stay strong."

Dominique had no choice but to mention Vladimir’s name. If this was the only way to encourage Athena, then he was willing to rely on Vladimir.

Meanwhile, Athena found herself comforted by Dominique’s words. He was right. She believed that Vladimir would do anything to save them.

"I just hope they can rescue us. I don’t want to die here. There are still lots of things I want to do..."

’Together with Aaron, my brother... and Vladimir,’ she added in her thoughts.

Dominique nodded with a smile. "Yes. Just think positively. You will not die here."

There was a long moment of silence between the two.

After contemplating for a while, Dominique spoke up again.

"Athena... if we survive here, can I request something from you?"

Athena furrowed her eyebrows. But she still listened to him. "What is it?"

"Please... allow me to tell Aaron the truth... that I’m his biological father."

Athena’s eyes widened in disbelief. "You already knew about Aaron?"

"Yes. I know the truth. He is our son," Dominique replied.

Athena shook her head as she looked at him mockingly.

"How dare you make such a request, Dom? Have you forgotten what you’ve done before?" Her voice was firm and sharp.

"You don’t have the right to be his father! Or even act as his father. You didn’t want Aaron to be born. You asked me to abort our child!" Athena couldn’t stop herself from raising her voice as she vented out her anger and frustration.

"You are a shameless bastard!" she cursed him.

"No! I didn’t know that you were pregnant! Sasha hid the truth from me. I never asked you to abort our child! Swear to God, Athena. I would never do that!" Dominique retorted, trying to clear this misunderstanding.

"I found out that Sasha deceived us both. Please believe me... I love Aaron... our child. If I had known that you were pregnant at that time... maybe... just maybe I should have changed my mind about my revenge. I should have chosen you and our child."

Dominique’s words were unwavering. He wanted to let her know his true feelings.

Meanwhile, Athena remained silent. She didn’t know whether to believe him or not.

"There is no way I would lie to you about this. Athena... It’s truly my fault for taking you for granted. I was blinded by my revenge. I failed you and our son. But I swear... I would never ask you to abort our child... even though I hated your father so much."

Athena could hardly believe it. But to think about Sasha’s scheming nature, there was a high possibility that Dominique was telling the truth.

’If this is true... then it only means Sasha lied to me... making me hate Dominique more.’

"If you are still doubtful about my words, you can ask Gael. He already knew that I never ordered to abort our child..." Dominique recalled his confrontation with Gael.

Athena was rendered speechless. ’Gael knew about it. But he never mentioned it to me. Why did he hide it from me?’

"Are you telling the truth, Dom?" she asked him again.

"Yes. I am," he replied with conviction. "Aaron is our child. I was so happy when I learned the truth. Aaron is not an unwanted child. I love him. Even though I know I’m not a good father... I still want to make it up with him. Please don’t stop me from seeing Aaron, Athena. I beg you. Tell him I’m his biological father... This is my only wish..."

Athena was feeling confused right now. She still couldn’t believe that Dominique never asked her to abort their child. All these years, she hated him for that. But it seemed that everything was just a misunderstanding due to Sasha’s scheme.

"Let me think about it. I’ll reconsider it once we survive here," Athena mumbled, looking away.

For some unknown reason, her heart suddenly felt relieved after knowing the truth. ’Dominique didn’t know about my pregnancy. And he never asked me to abort our child. Sasha lied to us.’

She clenched her fists tightly. She hated Sasha for letting her believe that Dominique didn’t want their child.

’She truly knows how to stir a conflict between us. She just wanted us to hate each other more. That’s her motive.’ Athena thought to herself.

"Dom... why did you do it? What has my father done to you for you to hate him and take revenge on our family?" Athena finally asked him. She was dying to know the reason why Dominique hated her father... her family.

Deep down, she wished to understand where Dominique’s hatred came from. What was the root of this revenge? How and when did it start?

However, Dominique chose to keep silent. He could see how much she admired her father... how she held him up as a figure of strength and virtue. To speak the truth now would only shatter that image. It would cause her pain, a pain he wasn’t willing to inflict.

The idealized picture she carried of her father would be destroyed, replaced by something darker. Dominique couldn’t bring himself to be the one to do that—not to her.

"I’m sorry, Athena," he said quietly, his voice heavy with regret. "But I can’t tell you. Some truths are better left unspoken. This one... It’s for your own good."

Athena subconsciously gritted her teeth at Dominique’s words. "How could you? I deserve to know the truth, Dom! You betrayed me. You used me. And you hurt me because of my father. You have to tell me the reason why you did all of that?!"

Dominique could only take a deep sigh. "I’m sorry, Athena. Just forget about it."

"You are such a jerk!!! You refuse to tell me the truth. How can I understand if you keep hiding the truth from me?!"

Athena suddenly burst out. She wanted to hear everything from him. She was giving him one last chance to come clean. But he refused to reveal the truth.

Dominique was still struggling to find the right words when the door burst open. Two masked men stormed into the room with cruel intent gleaming in their eyes.

"It’s time to separate the two of you. Hahaha!" one of them sneered, his voice dripping with mockery as he moved toward Athena.

"No!" Dominique shouted, his voice raw with panic. "Don’t you dare touch her!"

But before he could do anything more, the second man crossed the room in a flash and slammed a fist into Dominique’s stomach. The force of the blow knocked the air from his lungs.

"Shut up!" the man barked. "You’ll get your turn. We’ll deal with you after we’re done with her."

Athena cried out as the first man yanked her to her feet, his grip rough and unrelenting. Her eyes locked with Dominique’s, wide with terror.

’Help me...’ — a silent plea appeared in her eyes.

Dominique could only watch, helpless, as she was dragged toward the door, his body aching, his mind screaming. But even in his pain, his eyes were fixed on Athena as he struggled to free himself from his binds.