Her Rise 296

Athena received a compliment from Miranda, which brought a subtle smile to her lips, though she remained composed. She promised to return the next day for another simulation session, determined to improve. When she turned on her phone, she saw multiple missed calls from her husband, Zaden, who was likely worried. Athena informed Miranda about her marriage, surprising her, and Miranda expressed a mix of astonishment and mild disappointment, having hoped to introduce Athena to her nephew. Despite this, Miranda admired Athena and hoped to get closer to her.

Athena felt warmth when speaking of Zaden, acknowledging their shared hardships and the rare destiny that had reunited them. She invited Miranda to meet Zaden someday, which Miranda accepted with a warm smile but a hint of resignation. After leaving the hospital, Athena returned to her hotel, only to find Zaden waiting anxiously. His worried expression turned to anger as he questioned her whereabouts, upset that she had gone off without informing him.

Athena explained she had been at another hospital for a surgery simulation, which Zaden had told her to let him handle. His sharp words surprised her, and she felt hurt and frustrated, especially since she had sought another place to practice after discovering Roxanne spying on her at the research institute Zaden recommended. She defended her independence, revealing the spying incident and expressing her displeasure at being accused unfairly. As she tried to leave, Zaden grabbed her hand, but she pulled away, feeling misunderstood.

Zaden, exhausted and remorseful, explained that he had been frantic after failing to find her and seeing her phone off, fearing something terrible had happened. Realizing his harshness, he apologized sincerely. Athena’s anger softened somewhat but remained, as she was still upset by the earlier spying incident and Zaden’s reprimand. Feeling drained, she warned him that if he was tired of her, she would retreat to her room and avoid him altogether, highlighting the tension and emotional strain between them.

296 A Glimpse of Warmth

Miranda’s compliment brought a subtle smile to Athena’s lips, though she carefully kept it restrained. She nodded her thanks with grace and assured Miranda she would return the next day for another session of simulation. This was just the beginning, after all, and Athena was determined to improve with every practice.

As she gathered her belongings, Athena suddenly realized her phone had been off the entire time. Earlier, she had switched it off deliberately to avoid distractions. Now, turning it back on, she noticed multiple missed calls from Zaden.

He must be frantic, searching for her.

“Professor Gordon,” Athena said hurriedly, “my husband has been trying to reach me. I should probably go before he gets too worried.”

Miranda’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wait—you’re married?”

Her voice carried a mix of astonishment and a slight hint of disappointment. “I was just thinking that someone as incredible as you deserved an equally amazing partner. I even considered introducing you to my nephew! But it seems someone else already beat me to it.”

Meeting a talent like Athena was rare, something Miranda recognized instantly. She admired Athena deeply and had secretly hoped to draw her closer, perhaps even welcome her into her own circle.

Athena chuckled softly at Miranda’s words, feeling a warmth in her chest. Zaden was, indeed, extraordinary. Both of them had endured heartbreak and setbacks, yet fate had somehow brought them back together. To Athena, that felt like a rare and precious destiny.

“Professor Gordon,” Athena said with a genuine smile, “my husband is truly remarkable. If the chance ever arises, I’d love for you to meet him.”

Miranda caught the light in Athena’s eyes when she spoke of Zaden. It was unmistakably the look of someone who loved deeply and was loved in return. Resigned, Miranda sighed quietly and let the thought go.

She smiled warmly. “Alright then. I’ll look forward to meeting him someday.”

With a polite goodbye, Athena left the hospital and headed back to her hotel.

—

When Athena opened the door, she froze in place. Standing there was Zaden, his expression tight with concern and worry. The moment he saw her, his voice sharpened. “Where have you been?”

“I…” Athena hesitated briefly before deciding to be honest. “I went to another hospital for a surgery simulation.”

Zaden’s brows knitted together even more deeply.

“Didn’t I tell you to let me handle these things? You went off on your own without even telling me. You don’t trust me, do you?”

Athena stood still, stunned by his sudden anger. She had never witnessed Zaden this upset before.

For a moment, silence hung heavily between them.

But as his words sank in, a tightening sensation gripped her chest—frustration, mingled with hurt.

She recalled how she had sought out Kate and found a different place to continue her practice—not because she doubted Zaden, but because she had discovered Roxanne spying on her at the research institute Zaden had recommended.

And now, without any explanation, Zaden was accusing her. The unfairness stung sharply.

Her expression darkened. “I’m not a child, Zaden. I don’t have to report every single thing I do. Besides, the research institute you sent me to had Maya’s people spying on me. And we haven’t even begun to talk about that yet.”

With those words, she turned to leave.

Before she could step away, Zaden quickly grabbed her hand. Athena frowned, pulling back slightly. “Why are you holding me? You already think I’ll run off without telling you, right? Fine. I’ll go now so I won’t bother you anymore.”

Zaden rubbed his forehead, looking exhausted and helpless.

After finishing his emergency meeting earlier, he had rushed to find Athena. But when he arrived at the research institute, she was nowhere to be found, and her phone was switched off.

In a strange city where she knew almost no one, the thought of her vanishing like that had thrown him into a panic.

He had spent the entire afternoon searching, sending people everywhere, fearing something terrible had happened to her.

By the time he finally saw her, his nerves were frayed, and his words came out sharper than he intended.

—

Realizing this, Zaden softened his tone. “I couldn’t find you, and your phone was off. I was worried. I’m sorry for being so harsh earlier.”

Athena’s anger softened a bit, though it didn’t disappear completely.

She was still upset—no one liked being scolded without warning.

“I was in a surgery simulation this afternoon,” Athena said stiffly. “I turned my phone off so I wouldn’t be disturbed.”

Zaden recognized his mistake. His anxiety had clouded his judgment, causing him to jump to conclusions.

“I’m sorry,” he said immediately. “That was my fault.”

But Athena remained distant, crossing her arms and looking away. The earlier encounter with Roxanne had already left her feeling drained, and now Zaden’s reprimand only deepened her frustration.

She glared at him, her voice flat. “If you’re already tired of me, I’ll just go to my room. You won’t have to see me anymore.”

The chapter closes on a poignant note, capturing the fragile balance between love and misunderstanding that defines Athena and Zaden’s relationship. Athena’s determination to grow and prove herself is met with Zaden’s protective, yet flawed, concern, revealing the deep emotional currents beneath their interactions. Their shared history of hardship and devotion is evident, even as tension threatens to pull them apart, underscoring the complexity of their bond.

Despite the strain, there remains a thread of hope woven through their exchange—a recognition of each other’s fears and the desire to bridge the gap between them. The warmth Athena felt earlier, sparked by Miranda’s admiration and her thoughts of Zaden, contrasts with the coldness of their current conflict, highlighting the vulnerability that comes with love. In this delicate moment, both are reminded that understanding and patience are essential to weathering the challenges ahead.

Tensions simmer as Athena and Zaden confront the cracks forming beneath their relationship’s surface. The next chapter promises to delve deeper into their emotional turmoil, exploring how trust and communication—or the lack thereof—can strain even the strongest bonds. Readers will find themselves caught in the delicate balance between love and frustration, wondering if these two can find common ground before misunderstandings drive them further apart.

Meanwhile, Athena’s determination to grow and prove herself continues to shine, but the shadows of external threats and hidden agendas loom larger. The subtle hints of surveillance and betrayal suggest that obstacles beyond their personal struggles may soon demand their attention. As Athena and Zaden navigate their individual battles, the question remains: will their shared resilience be enough to weather the storms ahead?

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.