From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 349

**TITLE: Her Rise 349**
**Chapter 349 Teri’s Wish**

Athena was at a loss for words. The weight of Preston’s revelation hung heavily in the air; she couldn’t even bring herself to share with Zaden that she had overheard him or that Teri might very well be Maya’s child. The thought churned within her, a storm of emotions threatening to spill over. How could she navigate this delicate situation without causing a rift?

As she stood there, lost in her thoughts, the balcony door creaked open, and Teri emerged, her small figure clad in soft pajamas, her eyes still heavy with sleep. “Mommy,” she mumbled, rubbing her eyes, “didn’t you say you’d come back to me after using the bathroom? I fell asleep waiting. Why haven’t you come?”

Athena felt a rush of relief at the perfect timing of Teri’s appearance. It provided her a brief respite from the turmoil in her mind. “Oh, sweetie,” she replied, forcing a smile as she turned to Zaden. “I’m going to tuck Teri in. Don’t overthink it.”

Taking Teri’s tiny hand in hers, she added, “Yeah, I was just having a little chat with your dad. Come on, let’s get you to bed. I’ll stay right by your side.”

Once they exited the room, Zaden’s brow furrowed in contemplation. The peculiar sensation that had been gnawing at him returned, stronger than before. It was as if an unseen threat loomed between him and Athena, an emotional landmine that could detonate at any moment. The tranquility they shared felt like a thin veneer, easily shattered.

In the dimly lit bedroom, Athena and Teri settled into the cozy confines of the small bed. The room was cloaked in darkness, save for the soft glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. Teri, still wide awake, turned her gaze toward Athena, her voice barely above a whisper. “Mommy, our school is having a parent-kid carnival, and they need one parent to come as a representative. Can you go?”

Athena’s heart skipped a beat, caught off guard by the request. Memories flooded back of the last time Teri had started school, when she had attended with Zaden by her side. Since then, she had never stepped foot in the school again. Zaden had taken on that role, engaging with the teachers and being an ever-present figure in Teri’s school life.

Typically, such events would have been announced well in advance, and it was expected that Zaden would be the one to attend. So, Athena was taken aback by Teri’s wish for her presence. She swallowed her thoughts and asked softly, “Don’t you want your dad to go?”

Teri shook her head vigorously. “Daddy went to all these events before. My mom has never come. Sometimes, the other kids ask me why my mom doesn’t come, and I don’t know what to say.”

Athena felt a pang in her chest as Teri spoke. She was referring to those early kindergarten days when Zaden had been the sole parent present, a role he had embraced wholeheartedly. Back then, Teri didn’t even know who her mother was; it had always been her father who filled that space. But now, Teri longed for her mother’s presence, a desire that tugged at Athena’s heartstrings.

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