From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 302

Chapter 302: A Test of Trust

Athena stared at Zaden, utterly taken aback by what he had just proposed. She hadn’t anticipated that he would actually go through with such a bold plan. The sheer seriousness in his eyes caught her off guard.

Despite her surprise, Athena remained resolute in her beliefs. To her, people like Roxanne—cunning and deceitful—lacked any real honor. They were like a bad apple spoiling the whole barrel. Removing Roxanne was, in Athena’s mind, the best outcome for everyone involved.

Yet, as she observed the earnestness etched on Zaden’s face, a flicker of warmth softened her heart. Still, she kept her voice sharp, unable to mask her skepticism. “Oh, come on. If you’re so capable, why don’t you take care of Maya instead? Dr. Wood is just a minor player. There’s nothing impressive about that.”

Zaden fell silent for a moment, then pulled out his phone and dialed his assistant. “Tommy, handle Maya—”

Before he could finish his sentence, Athena quickly grabbed his wrist, her eyes wide with disbelief. Was he really going to go through with this? He wasn’t bluffing at all! Paradoxically, that made her heart melt even more. He was doing this just to make her happy.

On the other end of the line, Tommy’s voice was tinged with confusion. “Mr. Storm? Sorry, the call dropped. What did you want me to do about Ms. Rice?”

Athena shot Zaden a sharp glare and said, “Alright, alright! I believe you, okay? I was just teasing. You don’t have to do anything.”

Zaden’s lips curled into a faint smile. “It’s nothing, Tommy,” he said before ending the call. Then, turning back to Athena, he wore a playful half-smile.

“I’m only trying to make you happy,” he teased. “You stopped me, so don’t blame me for holding back.”

That mischievous grin told Athena everything—he had done it deliberately, fully aware she would intervene.

Damn him!

Athena exhaled sharply and folded her arms across her chest. “You act like you don’t care about Maya, but I still have my doubts. I’ll handle it myself. You don’t need to get involved.”

Frederick, who had been quietly observing, let out a soft sigh. There was a trace of helplessness in his eyes. He didn’t fully understand the complicated emotions women had when it came to romantic rivals, but one thing was clear: Athena wanted to win this battle on her own terms.

Zaden, for his part, had no intention of standing in her way. He supported her completely and was ready to step in if she ever asked for help.

—

“So,” Zaden said with a teasing smile, “does that mean you’re not mad anymore?”

Athena opened her mouth to respond but stopped herself. She didn’t want to let him off the hook so easily, yet deep down, everything she had just said implied exactly that.

Instead, she let out a soft hum and looked away.

“Tomorrow, I have my final simulation test,” she said quietly. “Once I pass, we can head back to Vlephia.”

“That’s good,” Zaden replied warmly. “I hope you ace it.”

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