Chapter 56 Moving In
Harriet thought her idea was pure genius.
:
What a perfect way to bring Zaden and Athena together–no one would even notice! Harriet was practically patting herself on the back.
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When those two finally got married, she told herself she deserved a big gift for being such a great matchmaker.
Athena, however, didn’t think it was such a great plan. Her brows furrowed as she tried to stay calm. She had only planned to wait quietly until the court date, but now things were getting complicated.
Living at Zaden’s place? That’s basically the same as moving in with him.
It didn’t feel right.
For one, she wasn’t even divorced from Lewis yet. People would surely judge her for it.
If Lewis found out, he could twist it around and accuse her of cheating on him first. Then no matter what she said, no one would believe her.
Worse, Lewis’s place wasn’t far from Zaden’s. She didn’t want to risk running into him at all.
Just as her thoughts spun, Teri suddenly clung to Athena’s leg. “Athena, my house has so many rooms. You can live there, don’t worry! My dad won’t mind. And then I can see you every day!”
Harriet almost laughed out loud at Teri’s word. She quietly gave her a thumbs up.
What a smart kid! Teri was definitely helping to match the two.
It was obvious now; Teri really liked Athena. The little girl was trying hard to make her her real
mom.
Athena opened her mouth but couldn’t find the right words. She didn’t know what to say or how to respond.
Just then, Zaden finally spoke.
His tone was calm, his eyes gentle as he looked at her. “I have a house in the outskirts,” he said slowly. “You can stay there for a while. Think of it as a place to lay low.”
He made it sound so natural, like it was just a friendly favor. Even though Athena was the one needing help, he spoke in a way that didn’t make her feel pressured or pitied.
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Chapter 56 Moving In
Finished
“If you’re still worried,” Zaden added, “I can transfer the house to Harriet’s name. That way, it’s her helping you. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
Harriet was cheering for her cousin inside.
Wow, brilliant move! Maybe Zaden isn’t as indifferent toward Athena as he looks. Otherwise, why would he go this far?
This is promising. Really promising.
Hold on! Isn’t Zaden supposed to be totally clueless when it comes to romance?
Since when did he become so thoughtful and smooth?
Maybe he does like women, but he just hadn’t met one who could stir his heart.
At first, Athena hesitated. But Zaden’s sincerity left her with no reason to refuse. He wasn’t doing this out of bad intentions, and it was only temporary.
This arrangement should be fine.
She took a deep breath and said, “Alright then. You don’t need to go through all that trouble. I’ll stay at your place for now, and once everything is settled, I’ll move out right away.”
“Great! Let’s move in right now,” Harriet said eagerly.
She secretly gave Teri a thumbs–up. Teri grinned and returned the gesture.
Zaden glanced at the two of them with a knowing look.
“Ahem, I’ll help Athena pack,” Harriet said quickly, clearly feeling guilty and trying to sneak away. “There’s a lot to bring, Teri; come help me.”
Athena was speechless.
She didn’t have much to pack.
When she first arrived, she brought nothing. Most of her things were gifts from Zaden. The clothes she wore were borrowed from Harriet.
Athena turned to Zaden politely. “Thank you for the trouble.”
“It’s no trouble,” he replied calmly.
Inside the room, Harriet leaned down and whispered, “Teri, do you want Athena to be your
mom?”
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Chapter 56 Moving in
“Yes! I like Athena!” The little girl nodded quickly, her eyes sparkling.
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“Alright,” Harriet said with a grin, “from now on, we’re partners. I’ve already tricked Athena into moving into your house. Now it’s up to you to make your dad take the next step.”
Teri blinked, not really understanding what Harriet meant.
Her thoughts were still simple and pure; she couldn’t grasp the hidden meaning behind an adult’s words.
Seeing Teri’s blank face, Harriet patted her shoulder and explained, “Okay, let me put it another way. Athena is living in your house now, but your dad stays somewhere else. They hardly see each other. If you want Athena to be your mom, you need to find a way for her and your dad to live together. You know what they say when two people spend time together, things just happen. Ahem! Anyway, you get the idea?”
Harriet quickly stopped herself. The next part definitely wasn’t something she should be explaining to a kid.
Teri blinked her big, round eyes. She nodded seriously. “I understand! I’ll find a way to make Athena my mom!”
That afternoon, Athena moved into Zaden’s house. It was a quiet villa on the outskirts of the city, guarded by security at the entrance. Only residents were allowed through the gate.
Seeing how secure the place was, Athena finally felt at ease.
Send Gifts
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