From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 53

From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life

Chapter 53 The Past Unfolds

Zaden smiled faintly. “I’ll be careful.”

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Athena looked at his calm, unbothered expression. It almost felt like he didn’t take Lewis seriously at all. There was even a trace of superiority in his eyes, like he was standing high above everyone else.

With Zaden’s background and his family behind him, Lewis probably couldn’t do anything to him anyway.

Athena finally relaxed a little. “Let’s go,” she said.

They drove back to Harriet’s house together.

On the way, Athena suddenly remembered something. “Can we stop by my place? I need to grab some of my things.”

“Lewis is probably looking for you,” Zaden said. “If you go home now, you might run into him.”

Athena frowned. He was right.

“You should go to Harriet’s for now,” he added. “I’ll have someone bring some essentials for you.”

“Thank you,” she said softly. Zaden had helped her so much that she didn’t even know how to repay him.

Maybe he was doing this because of Teri.

Thinking of that little girl, Athena’s heart softened.

She didn’t know why, but she had a natural affection for her.

Harriet texted Athena the code for her front door. The two entered into the house smoothly.

The place was small but cozy–a two–bedroom apartment with everything neatly in place. It felt warm and homey.

Athena sank onto the couch and finally let herself relax.

“I already asked my assistant to send your things. They’ll be here soon,” Zaden said as he sat beside her. Then, in a calm voice, he asked, “Lewis knew that woman before he married you, didn’t he? You never noticed anything?”

If it were anyone else asking, Athena wouldn’t have said a word.

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Chapter 533 The Past Unfolds

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But Zaden had helped her so many times that she truly felt grateful. That’s why she didn’t mind telling him about the past.

“I don’t know.” She gave a small, bitter smile. “It’s funny when I think about it now. He used to treat me really well. Back then, I was still working at the hospital. One night, after a late shift, I ran into a robbery.”

“He saved you?” Zaden asked.

Athena nodded. She used to remember that moment as a debt of gratitude. But now, thinking back carefully, it all seemed strange. Her neighborhood had always been safe; nothing like that had ever happened before.

Maybe those robbers were sent by Lewis himself.

“Then that’s how we met,” Athena said softly. “After that, he started pursuing me like crazy. Eventually, we got together.”

She sighed darkly at this.

Lewis might be a terrible person now, but back then, he was charming–handsome, young, rich, and confident. When a man like that pours all his attention on you, not many women can

say no.

“A month after we started dating, it was his birthday. He threw a party at the King Bar. I got drunk that night, and we ended up together. Later, when I found out I was pregnant, we naturally got married.”

Athena didn’t hide anything. She decided to tell the whole story.

Zaden frowned slightly, his eyes clouded with a trace of confusion. He didn’t speak for a while.

“What’s wrong?” Athena asked when she noticed his expression.

“Nothing,” Zaden said, shaking his head.

It just felt like a strange coincidence. He had also met that woman at King Bar once, which made the name stick in his memory.

She had taken the money and disappeared afterward, so there was no reason for her to ever come back. Still, hearing the name again triggered an odd reaction in him.

Athena gave a weary smile. “You probably think everything sounds a little too convenient, don’t you?” Then she added, “The truth is, the person Lewis took me to meet that night wasn’t his friend at all.”

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Chapter 53 The Past Unfolds

She had never met any of Lewis’s buddies; everything about that night had been a lie.

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“Nina was pregnant, and his family didn’t approve of their relationship. So Lewis used me to shift the attention away from her. From the very beginning, everything was all part of his plan.”

Her voice was calm, but the bitterness ran deep. “Anyway, I’m divorcing him. I refuse to let them use me again.”

Zaden nodded in agreement. “You’re right. He’s not a good man. Leaving him is the best decision.”

Just as Athena was about to ask about Teri, Zaden’s phone rang. She froze for a second. His ringtone was “Listen,” an old song she hadn’t heard in years.

Back in college, Athena had learned that the singer only recorded a short demo before selling the rights. Nobody ever found out who the artist was.

She didn’t expect someone like Zaden to listen to such a nostalgic song. It didn’t match his image at all.

Zaden picked up his phone and handed it toward her. “It’s Lewis. Do you want to take it?”

Athena’s face hardened. She nodded. “Go ahead.”

Zaden didn’t pass the phone to her. Instead, he answered it himself. Zaden turned on the speaker and set it down on the coffee table.

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