Chapter 278 The Cute Mia
Athena looked at Aiden, surprised by the question. “Packed your suitcases already? You must be excited for the trip,” she said, smiling softly at her son.
Aiden nodded with his usual seriousness. “Of course. I have everything ready. I want to go to the island now.”
Athena laughed, ruffling his hair. “You’re always ahead of the game, aren’t you? We’ll leave soon, just let me finish up a few things here.”
Logan, still sulking on the sofa, looked up at his son. “Don’t go and leave me here with Athena to deal with all the work, okay?”
Aiden raised an eyebrow. “You said you wanted a challenge, right?” He shot a quick glance at Logan, who was now fidgeting uncomfortably in his seat. “Looks like I’ve already given you enough to handle today.”
Athena chuckled at the playful exchange between father and son. She always found it amusing how Logan and Aiden could argue, but there was no denying the bond they shared. Even if Logan didn’t always show it, he clearly adored his son.
“All right, all right,” Logan said, finally getting up. “I’ll take a break from being defeated. Just don’t expect me to let you win next time, Aiden.”
Aiden gave him a little smirk. “We’ll see about that,” he said, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth.
After a moment, Athena’s smile faded slightly as she thought of the trip. It was supposed to be a reward, a time to relax and unwind, but there was something that kept lingering in her mind—something unresolved. She glanced over at Logan, who was pacing the room with a frustrated look still on his face. It was clear that the stress of work and his recent defeat at the game had been weighing on him more than he was letting on.
“Athena,” Logan said, catching her gaze, his tone softer now. “When are we really going to talk about things?”
She knew exactly what he was referring to, and her heart sank a little. Their relationship hadn’t been easy in recent months, despite their shared moments of happiness. Athena had been focused on the business, their children, and everything else in life, but the tension between them was undeniable.
“I know, Logan,” she replied quietly, her voice filled with a mix of fatigue and tenderness. “I promise we’ll talk soon. I just need to focus on the trip right now. For the kids, for us… it’ll be good.”
Logan nodded slowly, though his expression remained troubled. “Yeah, okay,” he said, though his voice betrayed a lingering doubt. “But don’t keep putting it off.”
Before she could respond, Aiden’s voice cut through the moment. “Mom, can we go now?”
Athena smiled at her son’s impatience, grateful for the distraction. “Yes, Aiden, we’re going. Just give me a moment.”
Turning to Logan, she added, “We’ll talk, I promise. Let’s not ruin today. For the kids.”
Logan didn’t reply immediately but gave a small nod, acknowledging her request. The atmosphere in the room lightened just a little, but the underlying tension between them still lingered.
Later, as Athena, Logan, and the kids made their way to the airport, the reality of the trip started to set in. The sun shone brightly outside, a perfect day for their getaway. Mia, always the energetic one, was bouncing around in excitement. She had been so eager for the trip that she could hardly sit still, constantly asking when they would finally leave.
Evie, on the other hand, was at home, still processing the strange conversation she had overheard earlier that day. Byron’s words from their earlier exchange continued to haunt her, and she couldn’t help but wonder if she was making the right choices in her life.
She had wanted to forget everything about Byron, to move on from the past, but the lingering emotions—so strong and so painful—were difficult to ignore.
As she watched Mia and Aiden argue playfully in the backseat, Evie knew one thing for sure: no matter how hard it got, she couldn’t keep running from the truth forever.
Back at the hospital, Ada Cross, still resting in her bed, smiled softly as she thought about her conversation with Evie earlier. Her granddaughter was strong and independent, but Ada knew the weight of family expectations could be heavy. She just hoped Evie would find peace in her decisions, and that someday she would be able to create the family that Ada knew she longed for.
“Mia’s quite the handful, isn’t she?” Ada said, her voice tinged with affection.
Evie smiled, her thoughts momentarily distracted. “Yes, she’s a lot like her mom in that sense. Always keeping things interesting.”
“Well, you’ve done well raising her,” Ada added. “And don’t worry, Evie. Everything will work out the way it’s meant to.”
Evie wasn’t sure if she believed in fate or destiny, but in that moment, Ada’s words brought her a bit of comfort. She kissed her grandmother’s cheek, then left to catch up with the others.
As she made her way to the door, she looked back one last time, the weight of the future pressing on her mind. She wasn’t sure how it would all play out, but maybe, just maybe, this trip could offer some clarity.
As the door clicked shut behind her, Evie took a deep breath. It was time to face whatever came next.