From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 341

**Her Rise 341**

The lounge was enveloped in a thick silence, the kind that felt almost tangible. Athena sat there, a statue of stillness, her gaze fixed intently on Zaden as he focused on her.

His fingers, long and elegantly defined, gripped a cotton swab dipped in iodine, the antiseptic glistening under the dim light. With painstaking care, he applied it to the wound on her arm. Although the injury was minor, a sharp sting shot through her, igniting a flicker of grievance deep within her chest.

It was impossible to ignore the fact that Ariana had set her sights on Athena, targeting her with a deliberate cruelty that felt all too personal. The animosity stemmed from Maya, who had been Zaden’s past love, and now, as Athena’s rival, she was determined to reclaim what she believed was rightfully hers.

Athena’s lips pressed together, a subtle gesture that betrayed her inner turmoil.

Zaden, ever observant, caught the fleeting expression on her face. “Athena,” he began, his voice low and earnest, “Harriet mentioned you’ve been feeling upset because I haven’t been around much lately. Are you angry with me?”

Athena blinked, taken aback by his words.

Angry because he hadn’t been present? Was that really what Harriet had conveyed to him?

Zaden’s brow furrowed as he noticed the confusion etched on her features.

So, she wasn’t upset due to his absence? Then what was the source of her distress? What had he overlooked?

Suddenly, a thought struck him—Preston’s words from that fateful day.

Could it be that Athena had overheard their conversation?

No, that couldn’t be possible. She had been at work, engrossed in her duties. There was no way she could have caught wind of their private discussion.

In that moment, Zaden felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him. He was at a loss, unsure of how to navigate the emotional landscape that lay before him.

He lifted his gaze to meet hers, sincerity flooding his voice as he implored, “Athena, if I’ve done something wrong, please, just tell me. Don’t keep it bottled up inside. I don’t want to fight with you anymore. You didn’t come home last night, and Teri was restless for hours, searching for you.”

The mention of Teri tugged at Athena’s heartstrings, softening her resolve.

If only Teri weren’t Maya’s child, things might have been simpler…

She recalled Zaden’s words from the past, how he had confessed that even he didn’t know who Teri’s biological mother was. Perhaps the situation wasn’t as dire as she had envisioned.

A thought crossed her mind—what if she discreetly collected a strand of hair from Teri and compared it with Maya’s?

If they truly were mother and daughter, she would confront that reality when the time came.

But if they weren’t connected by blood, then it would mean Preston had been trying to manipulate Zaden, weaving a web of deception.

After all, Preston was Maya’s brother, and it wouldn’t be surprising if he had orchestrated something underhanded. Athena scolded herself for allowing a few overheard words to create a rift between her and Zaden.

Zaden’s expression shifted slightly, a frown forming on his lips. “You don’t trust me?”

“No, I do,” Athena replied quickly, eager to reassure him.

With a hint of satisfaction, Zaden continued, his movements becoming noticeably gentler. Athena could sense the shift; he had clearly taken her concerns to heart.

Before long, he finished tending to her injury. Athena wrapped the wound in gauze and secured it with a bandage. Pulling her shirt down, she slipped into her white coat. “Thank you, Zaden. I really need to get back to work. You know your way around, so feel free to see yourself out.”

Just as she turned to leave, Zaden reached out, his fingers brushing against her wrist.

“Will you come home tonight?” he asked, his voice laced with an earnest hope.

Athena hesitated for a heartbeat, then nodded lightly. “I suppose so.”

If she intended to gather Teri’s hair for the DNA test, returning home was inevitable.

Zaden’s furrowed brows finally relaxed, and a faint smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. “Good. I’ll come to pick you up after work.”

Athena let out a soft hum, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Zaden, I’m not going anywhere. You really don’t have to worry that I’ll run off.”