Chapter 35 I AM YOUR MOTHER’S PROSPECTIVE SON-IN-LAW, ATHENA

Chapter 35 I AM YOUR MOTHER’S PROSPECTIVE SON-IN-LAW, ATHENA
Athena stared at the tablet screen in Brian’s hand with a stunned expression. “You… rented the same apartment unit as the one I live in?” she asked, as if she needed reconfirmation.

Brian nodded lightly, as if it wasn’t a big decision. “I thought you’d be more at ease if I was by your side 24/7.”

Athena stared at him for a long time. “You did this for me?”

“For us,” Brian answered without hesitation. “I don’t want you to go back there alone, feeling like a small candle surrounded by winds from all directions and afraid of dimming.”

That sentence made Athena’s chest feel tight, but not because she was sad. She fell silent, looking down, hiding the faint smile that appeared at the corner of her lips.

“This apartment has two rooms. You can stop by or stay there occasionally. It’s up to you, I won’t force you to do anything.”

Athena took a deep breath. “You know, Brian... I never really felt like I deserved this kind of treatment. After what happened to me... sometimes I wonder, did you really choose me?”

Brian looked at her seriously. “Athena, I appreciate your courage for what happened. The heartache and trust you once built for someone you liked. Even though it was destroyed, you chose to leave to survive.”

Athena’s eyes began to water. “You make me even more scared, Brian. Afraid that I will never be able to love you as much as you deserve.”

Brian gently stroked her cheek. “Because you still have Xavier in your heart, right?” Brian guessed, but his face didn’t show jealousy or disappointment. “You have the right to your own feelings, Athena. It’s not your duty to love me.”

Athena finally shed tears. Brian’s hug felt soothing, making her recover slowly. “Then... you should talk to my mom first. I think she doesn’t really want me to go back to Westbrook.”

Brian nodded. “Okay, let me meet her. You better get ready, pack your clothes in your suitcase.”



Brian sat on the chair in the main room, rubbing the back of his neck which was slightly wet with nervous sweat. Although he was known to be calm, talking to a woman as strong as Sovia about Athena still made his heartbeat unstable.

Sovia opened the door, wearing a simple white shirt and a black skirt, her hair always neatly tied up, her gaze sharp as usual, but unable to hide the tenderness when looking at Brian.

“What’s wrong, Brian? Rod said you wanted to talk to me. Did Athena cause any trouble?” she asked while sitting on the sofa not far from the man.

Brian straightened his back, fixing his sitting position, like a young man who was about to convey a request to a daughter’s guardian.

“I want to talk about Athena,” he said slowly.

Sovia crossed her arms, waiting.

“Since yesterday’s meeting until today… I have never been able to hide my admiration for her,” Brian said honestly. “I want to show my seriousness before we actually get married.”

Sovia smiled in satisfaction, her palms clapping slightly. “My suspicions were right. You will definitely fall in love with her. Yes, even though she is a stubborn, demanding girl, she is actually very sweet. You may have just met her, but I assure you... you will fall in love for a very long time.”

Brian nodded. “You are right, she has a magical gaze and smile. That is why... I started to worry if she was far away from me.”

Sovia raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean? Are you worried if she returns to Westbrook?”

The question was right on target. Brian took a breath, not wanting to say the wrong thing. “Right. I thought, what if I rent the same apartment as Athena, I will live there, accompany her every day, without worrying about the job I left here.”

Sovia stared at him for a long time, then stood up and walked to the kitchen to pour two cups of tea. When she returned, she sat down in front of Brian. “Are you sure you will feel comfortable living in that shabby place?”

“You mean, that apartment?”

Sovia nodded. “Athena is a strange girl, she left the comfort here just to be a simple girl. We as her parents were once very disappointed in her, but she is an adult... she has the right to judge the bitter and sweet life she lives.”

“Actually, I don’t agree with her returning to Westbrook—even though the campus belongs to your family. But, after you said you want to accompany her every day... I don’t think it’s a bad idea.”

The breath that had been held finally exhaled in relief. Brian smiled slightly at that answer.

“Please take good care of Athena. Don’t hurt her even a little,” said Sovia, while sipping her tea.

“Of course, ma’am. I want her to feel comfortable with me, not lock her in a safe cage. You said, she’s a strange girl who changed her own path, right? Then I’ll make her know the real life...”

“Don’t worry, I just want to accompany her, not drive her life,” Brian said excitedly and carefully.

Sovia put down her cup slowly. “You love her, right?”

“Yes. Love in a way that I can’t even explain,” Brian answered honestly. “Although maybe she doesn’t have the same feelings as me yet.”

Sovia nodded slightly, then looked out the window. “Take her slowly, don’t force her to talk if she’s not ready. You have to be patient with her.”

Brian smiled in relief. “Thank you, ma’am Sovia.”

The woman smiled thinly. “I trust you.”



Athena informed Zara that she would be returning to the apartment today, but she hadn’t said anything about Brian. Never mind, she would explain later why Brian lived in the same apartment as them.

The farewell between Athena and Sovia was done briefly, there was no drama of tears or words that made the atmosphere emotional. The relationship between mother and son had indeed been close—before Athena isolated herself.

“You’re great. You were able to convince my mother to let me return to Westbrook,” Athena said.

Brian chuckled. “I’m her future son-in-law, she has to trust me, right?”

Athena just lowered her head with a small smile. Brian had made several small efforts to position himself as a future husband, but until now... Athena had not given that place to Brian.

Aside from the sudden matchmaking, she still considered Brian as a friend... a friend who would one day marry.

The car stopped at the apartment valet. Brian looked at the tall building with a contemporary techno design. Instantly his forehead wrinkled—remembering what Sovia said about the shabby apartment, even though this apartment wasn’t that bad. Athena helped carry Brian’s suitcase, walking beside the man to the 12th floor.

“My unit is on the tenth floor,” Athena informed him.

When they entered Brian's minimalist unit, they were greeted by a living room filled with sofas and bookshelves, two bedrooms each given a neutral nuance, a small kitchen complete with cooking utensils, a refrigerator, and a microwave.

"This is like a hiding place," Athena muttered.

"A sanctuary," Brian corrected with a smile.

Athena laughed softly, looked around, then approached the large window overlooking the small garden below. The afternoon wind fluttered her hair, and Brian who was standing behind her just stared in silence.

"I hope you feel at home here," Athena whispered.

Brian approached, without hesitation his arms wrapped around Athena's stomach, hugging her from behind. "As long as you're here... maybe someday I'll decide to buy a house so we can live together."

Athena lowered her head, her body shaking lightly, her nape goosebumps feeling Brian's breath behind her. A thin smile appeared on her lips, not because she blushed at those words... but because Brian's attitude was too sweet.

The sound of the bell rang, spontaneously making them turn towards the door. At first, Brian chose to ignore it, because he thought he was new to the place, and there was no way anyone would know about his existence.

However, the bell sounded again... this time more demanding.