**Her Rise 359: Noise Complaint**
Zaden’s brow furrowed in annoyance. “Yeah, it’s really loud,” he muttered, the irritation evident in his tone.
Athena, perched on the edge of her seat, thought he was about to rise and confront Maya directly. But to her surprise, he simply pulled out his phone, his fingers dancing over the screen as he dialed a number.
“Hello, I’d like to report a noise complaint,” he stated firmly, his voice steady and authoritative.
“Yes, the address is…”
As she listened, Athena’s heart raced with a mix of disbelief and amusement. Was Zaden really calling the police?
He was actually reporting Maya for disturbing the peace? It struck her as utterly hilarious.
Moments later, Zaden ended the call, looking at Athena with a sense of satisfaction. “It’s handled. They said they’ll be here soon.”
Athena felt a surge of gratitude and wanted to express her appreciation, but all she could manage was a playful smile.
“Thanks, Mr. Storm, for putting justice above family,” she teased, her tone light yet pointed.
“Hold on a second. What do you mean by ‘putting justice above family’? You’d need to be family for that to count. I’ve got nothing to do with Maya anymore. If she’s bothering us, it’s my responsibility to deal with it,” he replied, his expression serious but a hint of a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.
“Alright, alright, Mr. Storm, you’re the wise one,” Athena replied, unable to suppress her grin.
Zaden nodded, clearly pleased with her response.
Just then, the incessant piano sounds from next door abruptly ceased. Maya must have finally been dealt with. A small smile crept onto Athena’s face—there was no way she was going to let Maya off the hook that easily.
If Maya wanted to disrupt the neighborhood, Athena was determined to ensure everyone knew about it.
Zaden stood up and approached her, his gaze softening as he spoke. “Athena, I took care of Maya for you. So, are you coming back to our room tonight?”
Before he could finish his thought, Athena interrupted him. “Teri’s looking for me. I’m heading back to my room.”
With that, she pivoted on her heel and left, her steps confident and resolute, leaving Zaden watching her retreat with a sigh.
Even though they were technically Mr. and Mrs. Storm now, there remained an invisible barrier between them. Athena had yet to fully open her heart, always keeping a slight distance, never allowing him to truly enter her world.
He pondered when she would finally embrace him completely, when she would let down her guard and allow their relationship to flourish.
Meanwhile, Athena made her way back to Teri’s room. The little one was already nestled in bed, her small form cocooned under the blanket. Athena gently tucked the edges around her and settled beside her, watching her sleep.
Teri’s brows were still knitted together, and in her dreams, she mumbled, “The piano lady’s so loud…”

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