Dark Revenge Of An Unwanted Wife The Twins Are Not Yours novel Chapter 418

Chapter 418: Go Home II

Athena’s sharp words landed like a slap across Antonio’s face, leaving him stunned in the quiet night air.

Go home.

She hadn’t yelled, she hadn’t raised her voice, but the steel laced within her tone carried more sting than a thousand shouts could.

Antonio stood frozen, unable to believe she had dismissed him so easily. His lips parted slightly, but no words came at first. His brows furrowed, drawing together in confusion as the sting of rejection settled into his chest.

His jaw shifted, clenching once, then again, as though grinding down all the words he wanted to spit out but couldn’t.

The turmoil inside him was violent. Didn’t she see? Didn’t she remember? He had been there when Ewan had tried to destroy her. He had stood in court by her side, had been with her those years ago when her strength faltered, carrying the weight of her battles even when it wasn’t his to bear.

He had fought for her, protected her, chosen her over his own comfort. And yet now, Athena looked at him like all of that meant nothing. She could dismiss him with three words, like a man who had no place in her world.

Antonio’s shoulders stiffened, his chest heaving, fists clenching and unclenching at his sides. His lips trembled, caught between hurt and disbelief. Finally, when the silence clawed too deeply, he found his voice.

"You can’t be serious, Athena..." His voice cracked, barely louder than a whisper. He shook his head subtly, eyes locked on hers with desperate intensity, a storm brewing in their dark depths. "What’s a relationship without trust? How can you claim to be in one with me, and yet keep things hidden from me?"

He stepped closer, his voice gathering strength, sharpened with anguish. "Wasn’t I there when you brought down Lucas? Even in the court case? Why can’t you trust me the same now? What has Ewan been filling your head with? That nincompoop?"

Still on Ewan. Always on Ewan. Athena’s chest rose with a weary sigh, her gaze dropping momentarily to the ground. The tiredness in her bones seemed to spill into her expression, softening her face but hardening her silence.

She wanted to tell him everything—despite her grandfather’s warning—but she couldn’t. Doing so would put Antonio at risk. It would make him a target.

Her friends understood. They had accepted the half-truths, the evasions, because they trusted her. But Antonio—Antonio was as stubborn as the word stubborn. He always pushed, always demanded. He didn’t see that she was trying to protect him, shield him from the fire she was already burning in.

"Antonio, this is more than the court case," Athena said finally, her voice carrying the weight of exhaustion. She shifted on her feet, her shoulders heavy. "This is bigger than us all. I don’t want you being a target."

Her confession was quiet but firm. It eased some of the sharpness in Antonio’s anger, the defensiveness cracking slightly. His shoulders dropped an inch, his breath hitched, and for a moment, his heart softened.

Without hesitation, he stepped forward, circling his arms around her waist, drawing her close as though afraid she might vanish if he didn’t. His forehead pressed against hers, eyes closing, voice roughened with sincerity.

"I’m flattered you want to take care of me, my love. But I can do that. I also want to take care of you."

Athena’s eyes lifted slowly, her heart twisting with guilt. She wished—truly wished—that he could. But the reality was harsher. Her gaze held his, steady and unwavering, even as her chest ached.

"You can’t, Antonio. Not this time," she whispered. Her words were soft, but each syllable carried a weight that pressed against his chest like lead.

For a fleeting moment, Antonio’s face had softened. Then her words struck him fully, and the softness evaporated. His hands fell from her waist again. His eyes narrowed, confusion and pain colliding, and his mouth opened in protest. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"But he can?" His voice carried a bitter edge, dripping with accusation. His lips twisted, his brows arched sharply, and his voice shook with a wounded pride.

Antonio’s chest constricted painfully. He couldn’t breathe, couldn’t think. His mind reeled as he watched her turn away. Just like that?

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