Her Rise 293

Athena suspects that Roxanne, a doctor at the medical institute, is connected to Maya and may have leaked a damaging video. She asks Zaden to investigate Roxanne’s ties to Maya without alerting Roxanne, as Athena has a plan to handle the situation discreetly. Zaden confirms that Roxanne and Maya graduated from the same school, confirming Athena’s suspicions.

Soon after, Athena is called to the operating room where Roxanne is waiting anxiously for her. Roxanne pressures Athena to start a simulation surgery immediately, but Athena calmly refuses and insists on postponing it until the afternoon. This frustrates Roxanne, especially since visiting professors are scheduled to attend the morning session. Roxanne tries to convince Athena that her nervousness is just a mental hurdle she needs to overcome.

Athena, aware of Roxanne’s true motives and connection to Maya, remains composed and politely declines to proceed with the surgery until later. Roxanne is caught off guard and realizes she cannot force Athena’s hand without raising suspicion. She decides to hold back for now but plans to send the incriminating video to Maya later to cause more trouble.

After the confrontation, Athena returns to her hotel to rest and calls Zaden, who is away at a meeting. Zaden reassures her that he will handle the situation with Roxanne and advises Athena to stay put for the time being. Throughout the chapter, Athena remains vigilant and cautious, aware of the hidden dangers surrounding her even while abroad.

293 Hidden Motives

“Go ahead,” Zaden instructed quietly.

Athena didn’t waste time getting to the point. “Can you dig into Roxanne’s connection with Maya? I have a strong feeling she’s the one who leaked that video.”

Zaden’s expression darkened instantly, tension tightening his jaw. The medical institute was the very place he had arranged for Athena, yet now it seemed like a mole had infiltrated the ranks. The thought that he might have unknowingly put her in harm’s way gnawed at him relentlessly.

“Alright,” he muttered in a low voice, “I’ll find out immediately. If it’s her, I’ll have the director fire her on the spot.”

Athena quickly held up a hand, stopping him. “Wait. Don’t jump to conclusions yet. First, confirm if she really has ties to Maya. If that’s true, we can’t alert her just yet—I have other plans to handle this.”

Zaden nodded silently, understanding the gravity of the situation.

After ending the call, Athena exhaled deeply, the weight of the situation pressing down on her. Even when she was abroad, there was no safety, no respite. Maya’s influence stretched far and wide, and Athena knew she had to remain vigilant, constantly on guard.

About five minutes later, her phone buzzed with a message from Zaden.

“Dr. Wood’s full name is Roxanne Wood. She and Maya graduated from the same school.”

Reading the message, Athena’s brows knitted together, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. Just as she had suspected—Roxanne was the one behind it all.

Suddenly, a voice broke through her thoughts. “Athena! What are you doing here? You need to get to the operating room. Dr. Wood’s been searching for you everywhere!”

It was one of the interns, rushing over with a nervous urgency. “Seriously, Dr. Wood’s been calling several times. The simulation surgery has to start immediately. You better hurry—don’t keep her waiting.”

Athena’s lips curled into a mocking smile. “Got it,” she replied coolly.

When she finally entered the operating room, dressed and ready for the procedure, Roxanne was already there, waiting. Her face bore a flicker of irritation, but as soon as she spotted Athena, her frown softened slightly—though the annoyance in her eyes remained unmistakable.

Wearing a carefully crafted fake smile, Roxanne approached, feigning concern. “Athena, where were you just now? We’ve been searching everywhere! Time’s running out. We need to start the simulation surgery right away.”

Her voice was sharp, laced with anxiety, as if she feared something and was desperate to get the procedure underway.

Athena responded calmly, “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t feel up to starting this morning. Let’s postpone it until the afternoon.”

Roxanne froze for a moment, caught off guard.

She had assumed Athena had fled earlier out of nervousness or fear, which secretly pleased her; after all, nervousness often led to failure. But she hadn’t expected Athena to cancel the session entirely.

The visiting professors were scheduled to attend in the morning. If Athena delayed until the afternoon, they’d miss the entire simulation.

Roxanne’s lips pressed into a thin line, clearly displeased. “Athena,” she said firmly, “we’re all set. Everyone’s been waiting. Are you seriously planning to waste everyone’s time?”

Her tone sharpened, growing more insistent.

The firmness in her voice was enough to make the nearby interns shiver, fear flickering in their eyes.

But Athena remained composed. “Dr. Wood, performing the simulation this afternoon shouldn’t be a problem for you, right? Or is there something you’re not telling me? If there’s an issue, let’s discuss it.”

Roxanne clenched her jaw, biting back words that nearly slipped out.

She was only responsible for guiding Athena through the simulation. If anything went wrong, it would be Athena’s failure—not hers. How could she be held accountable?

Taking a steadying breath, Roxanne masked her irritation with a veneer of concern. “Athena,” she said softly, “I know you’re nervous—that’s normal. This is just a mental hurdle. Once you push through it, you’ll be fine.”

Athena fixed her with a faint, mocking smile.

Had she not learned from Zaden about Roxanne’s connection to Maya, she might have been fooled by this act of false kindness.

But now, knowing the truth, she had no intention of playing along.

“I’m sure you’re right,” Athena said lightly. “I am nervous, so I’ll need to wait until this afternoon to perform the surgery. Thanks for understanding, Dr. Wood.”

Roxanne’s expression froze in shock. She hadn’t expected Athena to insist on postponing after all her efforts to persuade her.

Pressing the issue further would only make Roxanne appear suspicious.

Swallowing her frustration, she forced a smile. Fine—if she couldn’t trip Athena up today, she’d just send the video to Maya later. That would stir enough trouble on its own.

Athena returned to her hotel room to rest.

Zaden wasn’t there.

She grabbed her phone and called him.

“Where are you?” she asked.

“I’m in a meeting at Storm Group’s overseas branch,” Zaden replied, sounding surprised. “Did something happen? Stay at the hotel for now. I’ll handle that doctor later.”

The chapter closes with Athena standing firm amid the hidden dangers lurking around her. Though burdened by the knowledge of Roxanne’s betrayal and Maya’s far-reaching influence, she maintains her composure and strategic mindset. Athena’s decision to postpone the surgery, despite the pressure, signals her refusal to be manipulated or rushed, underscoring her resilience and growing strength in navigating this treacherous environment.

At the same time, Zaden’s unwavering support and determination to uncover the truth provide Athena with a vital sense of security, even as he remains physically distant. Their silent alliance, built on trust and shared purpose, reinforces the emotional core of the chapter—where vigilance, patience, and quiet defiance become the weapons Athena wields in her rise. The tension remains palpable, but so does the promise of Athena’s steady ascent, undeterred by the shadows cast by those who seek to undermine her.

Next chapter promises to deepen the tension between Athena and Roxanne as hidden agendas come to light. Athena’s calm defiance in postponing the simulation surgery hints at a strategic game unfolding beneath the surface, where trust is scarce and every move is calculated. The subtle power struggle will likely intensify, revealing more about Roxanne’s true intentions and her ties to Maya, which could complicate Athena’s efforts to maintain control.

Meanwhile, Zaden’s absence at a critical moment adds a layer of uncertainty, leaving Athena to face the mounting pressures largely on her own. The emotional weight of isolation and the looming threat of betrayal will test her resilience and resolve. Readers can anticipate a gripping exploration of loyalty, deception, and the lengths Athena will go to protect herself and those she cares about. The next chapter will surely keep hearts pounding as alliances shift and secrets threaten to unravel.

Sara Lili

Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.