From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 342

**TITLE: Her Rise 342**
**Chapter 342 Where’s Athena?**

Zaden couldn’t suppress a chuckle at Athena’s playful remark. “I’m genuinely worried you might decide to run away,” he teased, a smirk dancing on his lips. “What would I do then?”

Athena let out a resigned sigh, her shoulders slumping slightly. “Alright, fine. Just come pick me up after work, okay?” There was a hint of exasperation in her voice, but also an undercurrent of affection that Zaden couldn’t ignore.

With a reluctant nod, Zaden finally released her hand, the warmth of her touch lingering on his skin. “Have a great day at work,” he said, his voice softening.

Athena nodded in response, a small smile breaking through her earlier frustration. She turned and opened the door to the lounge, stepping out into the bustling hallway. As she walked away, Zaden felt the tightness in his chest begin to ease, a wave of relief washing over him.

At least that little confrontation was behind them. He thought to himself, women could be quite formidable when their tempers flared.

Zaden lingered in the hospital for a moment longer, his mind racing. Instead of leaving immediately, he headed straight to the administrative office, seeking out the person in charge. “I need you to assign Ariana a new attending doctor,” he instructed firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.

The administrator, sensing the urgency in his request, didn’t hesitate. “Of course, Mr. Zaden. I’ll take care of it right away.”

Once everything was set in motion, Zaden felt a weight lift off his shoulders. Athena had suffered enough this time, and the guilt gnawed at him like an insistent hunger. He couldn’t bear the thought of her enduring any more pain because of Ariana’s actions.

He decided to wait for Athena in his office until her shift wrapped up. The minutes ticked by slowly, each second amplifying his anxiety.

Meanwhile, Ariana had just returned to her ward after a routine checkup, her mind still swirling with the events of the day. She hadn’t intended to push Athena earlier; it had been a reflex, a reaction born from a deep-seated resentment that she couldn’t quite understand.

As she recalled the pale expression on Athena’s face and the way her brows had knitted together in distress, a sudden pang of guilt pierced her heart.

Did I really hurt her?

Turning to Clara, the maid standing dutifully beside her bed, Ariana asked, “Clara, when I pushed Athena earlier, she didn’t look well. Do you think she might have gotten hurt?”

Clara shook her head quickly, her voice steady. “Mrs. Ariana, I haven’t heard anything about her being injured. I’m sure she’s fine.”

Ariana let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding, relief flooding her senses.

“Perhaps nothing happened after all,” she murmured, though doubt still lingered in her mind. After a brief pause, she asked hesitantly, “Clara, do you think I’m being unreasonable? Like, am I someone that everyone hates?”

Clara almost chuckled at the question. She knew Ariana well—tough as nails on the outside, yet soft-hearted within. Once Ariana accepted someone into her circle, she would defend them with fierce loyalty.

At this moment, her feelings toward Athena were anything but warm, which explained the coldness that had seeped into her demeanor. But Clara understood that if those feelings shifted, the entire dynamic would change.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify