Chapter 68 George Klein
“Mom, I want to become very strong!” Gabe suddenly said with a serious expression, his gaze intense. “I want to be stronger than Dad!”
Sadie was taken aback. “Can I ask why?”
Gabe was silent for a moment, his eyes distant as he pondered. “So that in the future, I can marry whoever I want without having to sacrifice my marriage just to strengthen the family business.”
Sadie was moved and couldn’t help but laugh. “My son is truly a man now!” she said, her voice filled with pride.
Gabe didn’t expect such a response from his mother. He thought for a moment before asking, his voice tentative, “Mom, if the person I like isn’t from a wealthy family, would that be okay?”
“Of course,” Sadie replied without hesitation. She walked over to him and affectionately rubbed his hair. “You are my son, not just a pawn in the game of wealth,” she said lovingly.
Gabe felt his anxious heart calm down as he looked out the window, as if trying to catch a glimpse of someone far away. He whispered to himself, “Athena… I will grow up fast. I will be powerful.”
The next day, Athena went to the Women’s and Children’s Hospital for a checkup. She created a medical file for her child, feeling a sense of calm and reassurance. Logan’s grandfather had been taking good care of her, and her recent mood lifted her spirits. The test results were not alarming, but the doctor did mention that her body was still weak.
As Athena wrote down the doctor’s recommendations, she prepared to head home. But suddenly, she heard someone call her name.
“Athena?” A male voice came from behind.
Startled, Athena turned around. She saw a tall man in a white lab coat running toward her. His presence exuded confidence, and there was something oddly familiar about him.
“Athena, is it really you?” The man reached her and greeted her with a warm smile that revealed dimples at the corners of his mouth. Athena’s eyes widened in recognition.
“George? George Klein?” She called out the name, her memory sparking.
George had been a neighbor when Athena was younger. He had lived right across the hall. He came from a family of doctors, a legacy that had been passed down for two to three hundred years, according to Romy. After Athena’s mother passed away, George’s family had moved away, and the two families lost touch.
When her grandfather passed, Athena and Romy left Greeli City to study in Girard City, severing their connection with George.
“Athena, you’ve grown into quite the woman,” George remarked, noticing her height.
Then, his gaze shifted to the medical report she was holding. His smile faltered slightly, and his face paled. He hesitated before looking at her again and asked with a forced smile, “Are you married?”
Athena felt a pang of uncertainty. She didn’t know how to answer. Byron had always assumed that Baxter was her secret sweetheart, but if he truly knew about her childhood sweetheart, it would be George.
Back then, Athena had been young, a bit awkward, and not very engaging with the older children in the neighborhood. But George had been different. He was handsome, gentle, and kind. Every day after school, he would help her with her homework, patiently teaching her whenever she struggled. He never once blamed her for not understanding, always offering encouragement and guidance.
Yet now, their reunion felt so distant. Athena felt a touch of sadness.
“George, what about you?” she asked, wanting to know how he was doing.
“As a doctor, there’s never much time for me to think about love or marriage,” George replied, his smile tinged with a hint of regret.
Athena’s expression softened. “How is your grandma? Is she doing better?”
George’s smile faded, and Athena could see a flicker of sorrow in his eyes. “She passed away half a year ago,” he said quietly. “She had been ill for several years. Her passing is a relief, in a way.”
Athena’s heart tightened, and she lowered her gaze. The mention of loss made her eyes well up slightly, but she didn’t want to show her vulnerability.