Chapter 212 Was Athena Pregnant?
“If you think he’s annoying, just ignore him,” Athena said casually, her tone light. “You don’t need to cross paths with him.”
Evie, however, wasn’t so quick to dismiss Baxter. “I’m just reminding you. He might try to reach you another way,” she warned, unaware that Baxter was sitting in a restaurant across the street, listening intently to their conversation.
Baxter had become a shadow of his former self since their last encounter. He hadn’t returned to the laboratory, and his appearance had grown sloppy—his beard unshaven, his clothes wrinkled. He couldn’t stop thinking about Athena, the woman he still longed for, and the future he believed they should have had. Since then, he’d kept a close watch on her, hoping for another opportunity to persuade her to leave the country with him.
He’d made his way to the gates of both Imbe Group and Crawford Group, keeping an eye on Athena’s movements. He knew that Evie had been angry at first, but for reasons Baxter couldn’t understand, she had softened. She’d stopped interfering in his life, telling him not to worry about others, yet Athena was far from just another person. If it hadn’t been for Byron’s interference, Athena would have already been with him.
At first, Athena had been so focused on her future—on her studies, her career—but after Byron came into the picture, she had graduated hastily. She had been on the path to something greater, something Baxter believed they could have together, yet Byron’s pull had changed everything. Now, Baxter couldn’t help but wonder: if Byron truly cared for Athena, why hadn’t he let her pursue a better future? He wasn’t interested in her mind, just her body. Once she was old enough, once the allure faded, Byron would toss her aside for a younger, prettier face. By then, Athena would be nothing more than a memory, discarded.
Baxter’s jealousy burned as he followed Evie that afternoon. He never expected to run into Athena so soon, but there she was, shopping with her friend as if nothing had changed. His hands shook with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Athena and Evie spent their afternoon shopping, and it was clear that Evie was indulging herself. She’d recently secured a major project for her company, and to celebrate, she was buying dresses for the upcoming commendation event. What started as one dress quickly turned into six.
Evie also picked out several items for her apartment, but when they passed a mother and baby store, Athena paused, staring at the display window. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the tiny clothes inside. She hadn’t found out the gender of her babies yet, and the sight of the little outfits stirred something inside her.
“Like them?” Evie asked with a knowing smile.
“Yeah,” Athena replied, her voice soft.
“Then let’s go in and have a look!” Evie exclaimed, grabbing Athena’s hand and pulling her inside the store.
Inside, Athena carefully picked out two baby T-shirts and a pair of little shoes, smiling as she imagined them fitting her babies.
As Athena and Evie were lost in the joy of their shopping, a figure entered the jewelry store nearby. It was Heather, the woman who had once hoped to marry Byron and secure a place in his life. However, things had not gone as planned. Her family’s reputation had crumbled, and she was left grappling with the fallout. She hadn’t completely given up on the idea of being with Byron, though, and in a last-ditch attempt, she had ordered a diamond necklace for Lola, thinking perhaps the young girl might help her cause.
As Heather exited the store, her eyes caught sight of Athena across the street, walking out of the mother and baby store with a shopping bag in hand. The store was a well-known, high-end brand, and Athena’s presence there puzzled Heather. Why would Athena, of all people, be shopping for baby items?
Heather’s mind flashed back to the last time they had met, when Athena had been ill, vomiting in front of her. She hadn’t given it much thought at the time, chalking it up to Athena just being rude. But now, seeing her leave a store filled with baby products, an unsettling thought took root in Heather’s mind.
Could it be? Was Athena pregnant?