Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife: The Twins Are Not Yours!

Let me go. Athena echoed in her mind, looking into Ewan's desire-filled eyes. Yet she didn't make a move to dislodge Ewan's finger from her face.

Instead, she bit down on her lips, worsening the already messy situation for Ewan, who was battling with the need to just go ahead and kiss her—damning the consequences—and the need of his gentlemanly side, which was advocating that he let her go.

His gentlemanly side didn't want her to regret after everything was done. No. He wanted her to savor, not hate his touch on her.

This saner part won the battle; still he cursed again and again in his mind about his ill luck, before dropping a chaste kiss on her forehead.

Friendly kiss. He mused bitterly, pulling away.

"Yeah, boyfriend Antonio…" He muttered, letting her chin go.

Athena was then able to breathe freely. And breathe, she did—a greedy intake of air, while her hands smoothed out absent creases on her robe.

Just when she wanted to turn away, however, to take a position where a kiss would be miles away from happening, she spotted a bracelet on Ewan's hand.

Her brows furrowed, her interest piqued by the likely history behind the worn-out item that seemed antique, especially as it called to her. Like it was a familiar substance.

"Where… did you get that from?" She asked, her eyes not leaving the bracelet. Her fingers itched to touch the item.

Ewan raised his right eyebrow, darting a curious glance at Athena—and then at the bracelet of his savior. And again, the suspicions arose. Could she be the one?

But even as that thought arose, the cancelling thought came with it. They had been walls apart, miles apart, as families. There was no way they could have met.

"It is the only reminder I have of my savior—the girl who saved me from drowning. I took it from Fiona. Does it seem familiar to you?" Ewan asked.

Athena shook her head.

"So Fiona knows who the real savior is? Why haven't you gotten the answer from her yet?" She questioned, her gaze darting between Ewan's curious expression and the bracelet.

"I've asked Connor to do the needful, but she remains stubborn. However, not to worry—we will be getting all our answers today."

Athena nodded, then pointed at the bracelet. "Can I touch it?"

She couldn't explain this feeling that was assaulting her within, at the sight of the bracelet; she couldn't understand why she even wanted to touch it. Was it something from her past? A similar antique, perhaps?

When Ewan gave her the go-ahead, she slowly reached out and touched the bracelet, taking her time to feel the pearls and costly stones surrounding it. The picture the bracelet presented was a false one—this was a highly valuable item, worth millions of dollars on the black market. Diamonds were expensive.

"What do you think?"

She heard Ewan's soft voice drifting above her, but the bracelet was calling to her mind, enticing her with its warmth yet coldness—a clash of the stones used for it. And then she tried to remember, to perhaps place it in some memory. But as usual, pain racked her head and her back; it was worse this time, so much worse that she screamed.

Ewan jerked, having not expected this, before swallowing her slender frame in a bear hug.

"Hey, I'm here." He rubbed her shoulders gently, then ruffled her hair softly, as if sweeping the pain away. He wasn't sure if what he was doing was even working, only moving to calm the woman in his arms.

But for Athena, it was working.

"What is the matter? Are you sure you don't know this bracelet?" Ewan asked, forgoing his earlier argument that it was impossible for them to be friends then; anything could have happened to make them cross paths.

But Athena shook her head. "I can't remember."

Just then, a knock sounded on the door.

Without opening it, Ewan already knew that the family was awake—they had heard Athena's scream—and had come to check on her.

Not wanting to put her in a compromising position, he gently eased away from her, to Athena's chagrin, and stood, walking toward the door.

The door opened before he could get to it, and the twins rushed in.

"Mom!" They shouted as they barged in, their next words cutting off when they beheld the scene in front of them.

They came to a halt immediately, some feet away from Ewan. They glanced at him, then at Athena, whose expression was still tinged with discomfort but clearly awake.

Nathaniel's eyes narrowed in accusation.

"What did you do to my mother?" He demanded. Already he and Kathleen had been awake, discussing, before they heard the scream.

Did their father try to do something? He wondered, eyes perching on his mother. She seemed okay, except for that look on her face.

"Nothing." Ewan answered, not sure how to explain his presence or the situation to his children. He immediately turned to Athena for help.

Athena sighed and got out of bed. "I'm fine. Just a bad headache," She said, moving to the sofa. There, she beckoned the children, who sidestepped their father and ran into her arms.

"Mom, say the truth. Headaches don't make people scream," Nathaniel continued, refusing to give up the matter.

"Bad headaches do," Athena replied.

Ewan nodded. "Your mother is telling the truth. I know, because I've had them, before your mother saved me."

Nathaniel looked Ewan up and down. "So, why are you here?"

"The same reason as you are here," Ewan replied without hesitation. "Out of concern. To take care of her."

"He is right," Athena spoke then, not giving her children any more chance to speak, knowing how assertive and inquisitive they could be.

"He came to make sure I was okay."

"Thanks, Father," Kathleen said, giving Ewan a thumbs-up before reaching out to tap her mother's cheek. "Is that why you told Aunt Chelsea to get you the drugs last night?"

Athena nodded. This was better than telling the kids she had terrible amnesia and terrible headaches when provoked.

"So, how are you feeling now, Mom?" Nathaniel asked, tucking her hair behind her ear.

Athena smiled. "Better. Your father took care of me appropriately."

Nathaniel pouted, then turned to Ewan. "Thank you."

Ewan nodded with a smile. "It was a pleasure."

Right at that moment, a knock sounded at the open door, attracting everyone's attention. It was Old Mr. Thorne.

"We heard a scream," He started, looking over Athena and checking for any dents, duly followed by a worried Florence.

"It's okay, old man. Just a bad headache," Ewan said, winking at him.

Story for privates, the old man thought, before giving a slow nod. Alright then. I'm sure my wife can get you her famous tea…"

Athena smiled widely. "I'd appreciate that. Thanks, old man."

Old Mr. Thorne chuckled and muttered a few words with his wife, who winked at the kids before turning away. It was morning after all; they might as well start breakfast.

As she left, Old Mr. Thorne turned to beckon Ewan to follow him so they could discuss the next steps in this almost-solved mystery, when he noticed the bracelet on Ewan's hand.

His eyes widened, pupils dilating, right as his quaking index finger lifted and pointed to the antique.

"Where… where… did you get that?"

Instant silence descended in the room, bringing loud tension along with it.

"Ewan, answer me. Where did you get that bracelet?"

Ewan was filled with confusion; he didn't understand the old man's fascination with the bracelet. First, it was Athena. Now it was was old Mr. Thorne?

"I don't know the identity of the owner. But it belongs to the girl who saved my life when I was a little boy. You know of the accident..." He paused, hope flickering in his voice. "Do you know who it belongs to?"

Old Mr. Thorne staggered into the room, stopping only close to Ewan. He lifted the latter's hand, tears filling his eyes.

"Florence!" He shouted, uncaring of a tear that slid down his cheek.

Athena was even more confused, not understanding what was happening. Was the bracelet a charm? Something that beckoned people until they couldn't help but want to touch it, feel it?

Her eyes went to the door when Florence rushed in, having heard the urgency in her husband's voice. This time, Gianna, Aiden, and Chelsea followed behind. The shout had dragged them from their rooms.

What was going on?

"Edward, what's going on?" Florence broke the silence, discomfort spreading across her chest at seeing her husband's tears. Did Ewan say something to hurt her husband? She was just about to inquire on that when her husband pointed at the bracelet.

Florence's eyes widened, and a scream erupted from her lips.

Kathleen pushed her index fingers into her ears as Florence screamed again, rushing toward Ewan.

"Tell me, son. Where did you get it?!"

Ewan was at a loss for words. He looked at Athena, but she was as nonplussed as he was.

"Ewan, look at me!" Florence yelled, grasping the bracelet gently. "Tell me where you got this bracelet from! It's a family heirloom! Aren't you aware?"