FULL NOVELXO Chapter 55
Chapter 55
When Athena called out his full name, Kevin knew mom was steamed.
“Mommy, what happened?”
Athena told him, “The homework you did, It’s all wrong.”
Kevin clutched his head with both hands, tugging at his hair, “I haven’t revised what the teacher taught me yet, but I promise I’ll correct them!”
Athena busted him again, “Kevin, the homework you just flubbed, you had them down cold on the test a few days ago.”
“1.”
Before he could say more, he saw the mood in Athena’s eyes go south, and Kevin immediately hung his head, not daring to meet her gaze.
“Kevin, you can have your little secrets, keep stuff under wraps from mom, but you can’t lie to me, spinning yarns one after the other!”
Athena was all heart and soul with her words. Her son was as mischievous as a monkey. Back in the day, if Kevin wasn’t kept a close eye on, he’d be up to no good, causing a ruckus. But this time, it was more serious than his usual pranks.
“Kevin, come clean to mom, how did you ace that test the other day?”
Kevin’s voice dropped, “I had Pineapple help me out.”
“Mr. Payne Bradshaw helped you cheat?”
“Yeah.” Kevin fiddled with his head, lifting his long lashes, nervously gauging Athena’s expression,
“Mommy, it was my idea to ask Pineapple for help. I heard other kids in the kindergarten saying that if I flunk, I’d get kicked out and end up in a school for special kids, and that you’d be
ridiculed because I’m too dumb. I didn’t want that.”
Athena thought “help with the test” meant the two kids were cheating remotely via
smartwatches.
Athena told him earnestly, “Kevin, I told you ages ago, if you’re ever bullied, mom’s got your back! Even if you’re expelled, mom will get you into a better school, with a top–notch education! But you lied to mom, and to lots of other people, and you roped in Mr. Payne Bradshaw into your web of lies.”
Tears welled up in Kevin’s eyes, “Mommy, I’m sorry, I know I messed up. I’ll go tell the teacher that my test score wasn’t legit.”
Athena reached out to wipe the tears from the corner of Kevin’s eyes.
Chapter 55
Sniffling, the little one asked her. “Will mommy stop loving a kid who lies?”
Athena firmly said. “Yes, mom doesn’t like it when a kid is full of lies.”
Athena thought about Newman getting suspicious about her and that silly girl, and she held her son’s arm, telling him.
“Kevin, from now on, don’t go running off to the public hot springs, okay? Mom will arrange to divert water to our villa, so you can enjoy hot springs at home. And try to keep your distance from Mr. Payne Bradshaw, alright?”
She worried that Kevin hanging out with Mr. Payne Bradshaw all the time would make it easy for Newman to spot them, and if Newman noticed how much Kevin looked like him.
Athena’s heart was pounding.
Sweat popped out on Kevin’s head. What to do! Mommy didn’t want him to see Payne anymore! After Athena dropped Kevin off at kindergarten, he’d have to find another chance to strategize with Payne..
Two days later.
Leveraging the occasion of her 70th birthday, Belinda organized a charity auction where most of the lots were from her decades–long collection, and the proceeds were destined for charity. Anyone who was anyone in Stardale City was on the invitation list for this charity auction.
A professional styling team came to Mystic Ridge Villa to give Athena her evening makeup, do her hair, and match her dress.
When she stepped out of the dressing room, the awaiting styling team gasped in admiration. Even Zora, who had seen Athena in all sorts of looks over the years, couldn’t help but exclaim, “Absolutely stunning!”
Her thick, seaweed–like hair set off her delicate, egg–shaped face, her impeccable features like a rose blooming in the snów. Not to mention the swan–like neck, perfectly curved shoulders, and the alluring waistline.
Athena’s beauty was undeniable, and no one questioned how she had earned the title of Stardale City’s top socialite before turning eighteen.
Indeed, the once–celebrated beauty, who had been treated like a princess by countless wealthy families, had seen her reputation plummet after becoming pregnant before marriage, much to the chagrin of many.
Athena, looking at her reflection in the full–length mirror, caught sight of Newman standing at the door.
The tall man, nearly six feet two inches, was wearing a waterproof apron, holding a mop, with a bucket of dirty water at his feet. This was Newman’s daily routine, reduced to Athena’s slave, summoned to clean the villa.
Athena turned around, her dress’s layered, petal–like skirt sparkling with dazzling rhinestones.
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Chapter 55
She walked towards Newman, proud as a queen, breathtakingly beautiful.
Even Newman, who stood at the pinnacle of Everglade City, had to admit Athena’s unparalleled beauty, having tasted the incredible delights of this woman himself.
“When are you planning to head to the Luxe Auction Emporium?”
After cleaning the villa, Newman had to change into clean clothes and switch to the role of chauffeur to take Athena out.
Athena’s rosy lips moved; her soft voice came, “Leonard will come to drive me.”
As she spoke, Athena seemed to remember something, adding, “I think I forgot to formally tell you, you don’t need to be my driver anymore. I’m looking for a new one these days.”
Unfazed by Athena’s rejection, Newman’s face remained impassive. In a low voice, Newman followed up on Athena’s statement, “That works out. You’re off to the auction with the Bishop family, and I’ll discuss with Simon the date for your and Zoey’s wedding.”
Newman was all eyes on the woman in front of him, who looked like a snow–white bunny cornered and flashing her tiny fangs, ready to take a bite at the hunter chasing her.
“Newman, you promised me three days to think it over, and the time ain’t up yet, you can’t.”
“So, you’re ready to spill the beans, huh?” The invisible pressure emanating from the man once again weighed down on Athena.
Athena scrunched her brows, clearly displeased, “You think I’m gonna marry Zoey? You’re dreaming!”
The man let out a cold snort, “Seems like you’ve got plans to bed with Leonard tonight, huh?”
Athena tilted her oval face forward, her pale, cool fingers latching onto the man’s chin. Newman’s eyes darkened, his body tensing involuntarily at her touch.
Athena’s glam squad, peeking out from the makeup room, couldn’t help but think Athena was flirting with the pretty–boy janitor.
Athena narrowed her eyes, dripping with sarcasm, “What’s with you, always thinking about what’s between the legs? Even if I hopped into bed with you, it’d be pointless. Dragging the Bishop family into this, you think that’ll do any good?”
Newman’s gaze grew icy, his sneer dripping with contempt, “As long as you know spreading your legs won’t do squat for me, you’d better cough up the info I need, or else.”
Athena pushed his chin away and, with a look of utter distaste, wiped her hands with a wet wipe, “I heard you’ve been into Christianity for five years now. What, did it all vanish in the air?”
The emotions in the man’s eyes turned stormy, “If I don’t lay down the law, how would you see my saintly side?”
Before long, Leonard’s white Lincoln rolled up to Mystic Ridge Villa.
Newman watched as Athena got into Leonard’s car, settling into the passenger seat and quickly getting chatty and giggly with him.
As the car drove off into the distance, Newman took out his phone and glanced at it before making a call.
“How’s the digging going?”
On the other end, a cheeky male volce replied, “Ha, I’m just about to hit up the auction. Let’s have a chat after it’s over.”
The man took a deep breath and said, “Perfect, ‘cause I’m heading to the auction, too.”