Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 2241

On the way over, Tyler couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at him. Something about Grandma Edith’s attitude toward Athena just didn’t sit right.

He’d tried asking around about it with the Kellers, but no one would say a word. Whatever the truth was, it would have to come out tonight—maybe Grandma Edith would finally explain everything.

The car pulled up outside the Keller estate. Years ago, when the family was fighting tooth and nail over the inheritance, the battles within these walls had been especially vicious. Marlon’s cousins were all as ruthless as they came. There was one night, not so long ago, when the place had practically run with blood.

Whenever Tyler heard stories about those days, he couldn’t help but marvel that Marlon had survived at all. It was almost inhuman.

Marlon hadn’t reached his current position without stepping over plenty of bodies.

Athena leaned on Tyler’s arm as they entered. There weren’t many Kellers left tonight—after all, Marlon had long since taken care of most of his closest rivals.

Grandma Edith sat at the head of the long dining table, the remaining elders lining either side. Marlon’s seat was right next to hers; he lifted his brows in surprise when he saw Athena walk in.

A gentle, almost grandmotherly smile spread across Edith’s face as she slowly rose to her feet.

“Athena, and young Mr. Bennitt—you’re both here! Come, sit down. Tonight is just a family dinner.”

Family? Tyler’s brow furrowed, but he held his tongue.

Athena, though, couldn’t help herself. “Grandma Edith, I’ve always wondered—why are you so kind to me?”

Edith glanced at Marlon, then at the others gathered around the table, and sighed.

“Over twenty years ago, the Kellers lost a child. My granddaughter—Marlon’s older sister. Marlon’s mother never recovered from the loss; it broke her heart. My only wish in this life was to find that little girl again.”

She rose slowly, her face calm and composed.

“Grandma Edith, let me get this straight. You’re saying I’m the child the Kellers lost, and now you want me to come back into the family?”

“Athena, you are a Keller. We’ve done the tests. You can trust that we’ll take good care of you.”

Athena’s mouth twisted into a bitter smile.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t accept your DNA results. I have no desire to become a so-called Keller. Maybe you think I should jump at the chance—join your family, inherit a share of the estate, finally ‘move up in the world.’ But that’s just your fantasy. My family is gone. And I know how well you’ve treated Maggie all these years. Maggie bullied me all through high school. Grandma Edith, do you remember the day we met at the church? Maggie said some horrible things to me. I lost my temper and fought back. I don’t want to compete with her—or anyone—for the Kellers’ affection.”

With that, she turned to Tyler. “Let’s go.”