Chapter 187 Old Memory
Athena stood in front of the old courtyard door, her fingers lightly brushing against the rusted lock. It was a symbol of a past that she couldn’t shake off—memories of her grandparents, her childhood, and the life she once knew here. The familiarity of the place felt both comforting and suffocating.
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to push past the wave of emotion that threatened to overwhelm her. The sound of her heels tapping softly on the ground echoed in the otherwise quiet alley. Everything here seemed frozen in time, unchanged since the last time she had been here.
But now, it was different. The people who had been her foundation were gone, leaving behind only the house and the memories that clung to its walls. Her grandparents had given her everything they could—love, stability, and security. Now, that same house had become the center of a battle she hadn’t expected.
The situation with Tyler hung heavy in her mind. She could still hear his mocking voice, his belief that he was entitled to something that belonged to her. He’d been so certain, so sure of himself. But Athena couldn’t allow herself to be swayed. She had to stand firm.
She glanced at the bodyguards, still stationed near the street. Their presence was comforting in a way, but also a reminder of how much had changed. Once, she’d felt safe here—surrounded by family, by love. Now, everything was uncertain.
As she fumbled with the lock, she heard the faint sound of footsteps approaching. She turned around to see Jaxson walking toward her, his expression unreadable.
“Need help?” he asked, his voice low but steady.
“No, I’ve got it,” Athena replied, though her hands betrayed her, shaking slightly as she turned the key in the lock. The door creaked open slowly, revealing the overgrown courtyard inside. The once-tidy garden had become wild, with weeds sprouting everywhere. The remnants of her childhood home stood before her, unchanged in structure but completely transformed in atmosphere.
She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the familiar yet distant surroundings. The garden where she had once played with Romy seemed so much smaller now, the trees that had once provided shade now towering overhead, casting long shadows on the ground. The stone path that led to the house was cracked and weathered, as if it, too, had aged with the years.
“Are you alright?” Jaxson asked, following her inside.
Athena nodded but didn’t speak. She couldn’t find the right words to express what she was feeling. The weight of the situation, of everything she was about to lose or gain, pressed heavily on her chest.
“I’ll wait outside,” Jaxson said after a moment, sensing her need for space. “Take your time.”
“Thank you,” Athena murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
As he stepped back outside, Athena found herself standing in the center of the courtyard, surrounded by the fading remnants of her past. The house, though old and in need of repairs, still held the echoes of the people who had once filled it with life. But now, there was only silence.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there, lost in thought, but eventually, she walked toward the door, the weight of the moment settling over her like a heavy cloak.
The house was still hers, for now. But as Tyler had made clear, the future was uncertain. Athena had to find out the truth—whether this man was truly part of her family or just another opportunist. And whatever the result, she would need to be strong enough to face it, to protect what was hers.
She took one last look around before closing the door behind her, stepping back into the unknown with a resolve that had been forged in the fire of her past. The test results would come soon, and with them, the answers she so desperately needed. But no matter what happened, she would stand tall, no matter what anyone else thought or said.
The future was hers to shape, and she wouldn’t let anyone take that away from her.