novelxo Chapter 20
Chapter 20
Athena was hovering over Kevin like a mother hen, gripping the nape of the little one’s neck in her arms. She swallowed hard, her slender shoulders shivered, and a chill gathered in her eyes as she looked at Anna.
“Anna, what are you doing here?”
Anna was like a cat on hot bricks when she saw Athena.
The memory of being walloped by Athena five ye
years ago, a lesson she learned the hard way, was etched deep into Anna’s bones.
“I was just passing by.”
Athena snorted coldly, “Just passing by?”
Anna’s heart was pounding like a drum, but she tried to keep her cool as she explained, “I’m here as the star student of Jerry. I came to apply for the position of Mr. Payne’s family doctor! Athena, I’m just here for the job, you wouldn’t kick me out, would you?”
Athena’s lashes fluttered downward as she asked her little Kevin, “How did you end up in the water?”
“Someone pushed me!” Kevin’s voice was eerily different than usual.
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Meanwhile, Payne, hiding behind Newman, pointed at Anna, his voice altered too,
“It was that bad woman! She told a bad uncle to push me into the water. They found me and Kevin eavesdropping, and the bad guy rushed over and shoved Kevin into the pool!”
Kevin in Athena’s arms was nodding like crazy.
Athena looked down silently at Kevin.
Newman glanced away, eyeing the little tyke hiding behind him.
Why did his baby’s voice sound off?
Both of them wondered if their own Kevin had caught a cold?
Payne and Kevin were both hoping their parents wouldn’t twig to the fact that they’d swapped identities earlier..
Newman’s frosty gaze shifted towards Athena, and she quickly pressed down on Kevin’s little head to prevent showing his true face.
Kevin from
Anna, feeling like she’d stepped on a landmine, cried out, “I didn’t do anything! It’s not my fault this kid fell into the pool!”
She was also fuming–what were the Dempsey family’s bodyguards doing, letting Athena’s kid get pushed into a pool? If it had been Mr. Payne, she might have had a chance to explain herself in front of Newman, but messing with Athena’s child.
“So you’re saying my son is lying?” Newman’s deep, refined voice cut through colder than the biting wind.
Anna shivered, “Mr. Newman, that’s not what I mean. There must be some misunderstanding
Before Anna could finish, four of the Bradshaw family’s bodyguards brought over a man.
In an instant, Anna’s face went from pale to purple!
“Mr. Newman, we caught this guy sneaking around! The Bradshaw family’s bodyguards were searching for their little overlord when they spotted this man acting shady and nervous.
Athena saw the man, dressed in a Dempsey family security uniform, and her beautiful face turned deadly
Payne clung to Newman’s leg and cried out, “Daddy! It was him, he’s the one who pushed Kevin into the water!”
Anna just wanted to distance herself from the mess, her voice slightly hoarse, “Athena, you should discipline your own people for pushing your son. I just happened to be passing by. Don’t use our past beef to take a dig at mel
As Anna spoke, she made to leave, but one of the Bradshaw family’s bodyguards handed Newman a lady’s wristwatch.
“Mr. Newman, we found this on the suspect. We think he’s a thief, so we tied him up and brought him here.”
Athena handed Kevin to Linda, telling her to take Kevin away first.
The daylight fell on Athena’s face, casting a thin layer of frost on her skin.
Newman had Kent take Payne away too, sensing that what was about to unfold might not be kid–friendly
Athena took the lady’s wristwatch from the bodyguard, her voice frosty, “This watch looks Grandpa had specially made for you, with something engraved on the back.”
s like the platinum Cartier chain watch
Chapter 20
Athena read aloud from the back of the watch: “Annahoppybirthday.”
Anna was petrified. The watch was a gift from her grandfather, a pricey limited edition she’d used to bribe the Dempsey family’s bodyguard.
But she’d completely missed her name engraved on the back!
“Miss Anna, save me! Please help me, Miss Annar The Dempsey family’s security guard called out to Anna for help.
Athena dangled the watch chain in front of Anna, her voice devoid of any warmth:
“Miss Anna is in hot water herself, she can’t save you!”
“Athena, listen to my explanation.”
Before Anna could finish, Athena’s hand had already slapped her face, her scream accompanied by the taste of blood as her teeth nicked the inside of her mouth.
Furious and about to roar, Athena slapped her again!
“Five years ago, after I caught you poisoning me, you said the same thing, ‘Athena, listen to my explanation. To hell with your explanations! I don’t want to hear the sob story behind a murderer’s crimes! I just want you to go straight to hell!”
Anna screamed, and Athena showed no mercy.
“Anna! It looks like you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! You think you’re fit to be a doctor, to heal and save lives? You better go fix your own head first!”
“Athena! Stop hitting me! I dare you to hit my face again?”
Before Anna’s screams could subside, Athena punched her right in the nose!
In an instant, Anna’s nose was bruised and bleeding, her lips stained with blood.
“Mr. Newman, the police are here.”
After the Bradshaw family’s bodyguard caught that sneaky Dempsey family security guard red–handed, they called the cops.
Anna’s legs gave out and she collapsed to the ground, clutching her bloody face.
Athena took a wet wipe from the servant and started cleaning her fingers, then she laid down the law. “Take Anna to the police station and from now on, she’s banned from setting foot in Mystic Ridge Villa!”
To Anna, the latter part of that statement was a fate worse than a trip to the station.
“Athena, you think you can just send me to the cops? Aren’t you scared Grandpa will give you hell for this?” Anna shrieked without holding back.
That was when Newman’s voice cut through, icy and detached, “If Simon asks, tell him I ordered this woman to be taken to the
station.”
Just like that, Anna’s heart sank.
“Newman! Jerry recommended me to be your son’s family doctor! I have the prescription to treat him!”
A chill seemed to seep into Newman’s eyes, radiating a vibe that screamed ‘stay away.
“Take your prescription and hit the road!” Anna couldn’t even take a proper pulse; how could he possibly trust this woman with any medicine?
Anna was in despair, and as she tried to argue further, the Bradshaw family’s bodyguard stepped up, grabbed her hands and shoulders, and handed her over to the police.
Once Anna was carted off, Athena finally got some peace and quiet,
Her legs, soaked from the pool water, felt like they were about to freeze solid – no wonder she didn’t pack much of a punch when she was hitting Anna
All ten of Athena’s toes were numb; she might as well ditch her shoes and the drenched socks.
Barefoot, she stepped on the pebbles and dirt, which helped her keep her balance.
Newman noticed a rose–colored crescent scar on Athena’s left heel.
Out of the blue, he recalled a time when he didn’t want to take his medicine and smashed the bowl, and how a silly girl cut her heel on the shards.
Chapter 21