Chapter 31 NOT JUST AN ILLUSION

Chapter 31 NOT JUST AN ILLUSION
“Are you okay, My Future Wife?” Brian asked, his voice soft, but Athena was surprised, her eyes bulging—Brian laughed cutely at her expression.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to tease you, it’s just… I just wanted to reduce the awkwardness between us a little,” Brian said again.

Athena laughed stiffly, then nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just talking with Xavier for a bit.”

“Talking about campus?”

Athena nodded. “Since I just got back home after so long, I haven’t been on campus for a few days.”

Brian took Athena’s hand, then invited her to talk on the main balcony on the second floor of the magnificent mansion. “I thought you weren’t that close to Xavier,” he said, his tone sounding a little interrogative.

Athena thought for a moment, still reluctant to be honest… it was because she wanted to start everything as if there was nothing between the two of them.

“As I said before, Xavier is just my senior. He’s friends with my best friend too,” Athena said.

“Thank Goodness… I don’t need to be overly jealous.”

Athena laughed. “Jealous? But he’s your cousin, right?”

“Even so, he’s still an ordinary guy who looks like he wants to kiss the girl he loves under the stars,” Brian argued.

Athena blinked. She didn’t know what was happening to her mind, which suddenly remembered the night of the dance before Xavier just left.

That night, on the balcony of the ballroom building… Xavier’s kiss really made her fall in love with a misleading feeling. She wasn’t being hypocritical, but if only time could be turned back… Athena didn’t want to repeat that incident again.

“Hey!” Brian reprimanded, making Athena rub her pounding chest. “Why are you daydreaming? Are—“

“Brian… Ah, I mean… My Future Husband, I think I have to go home now,” she said nervously, her hands hesitantly raised, but finally hugged Brian.

A brief movement, but it made Brian's face turn red with embarrassment. He watched Athena leave, watching her graceful and adorable steps.

The man with jet-black hair made an impulsive declaration in his heart. "She's beautiful, funny, and... I like her."



Sovia's car arrived in the yard, Athena immediately opened the door, and ran into the house. Not caring about Sovia's screams calling her name repeatedly.

The girl's ears seemed deaf, she opened the bedroom door, then immediately locked it quickly. "Ah, damn...!" she muttered softly, while regulating her irregular breathing.

The girl sat under the door, took off her heels, and the hairpin that decorated her hair bun. Her eyes were closed, remembering the family gathering that she thought was boring, and of course it wasn't just about discussing matchmaking, but also business.

However, another thing that was the center of Athena's mind now was... her meeting with Xavier in an unexpected situation.

"I love one man, but I'm going to marry his cousin," she muttered while taking a deep breath.

“Oh, my God... why is he so handsome tonight.” Athena smiled faintly remembering Xavier, including the smell of his perfume that she really liked.

“Wow, how could I marry someone who is related to the man I love?”

Athena screamed softly, then lay down in front of the door while messing up her own hair. “What if I go back to campus? But I’m not ready to meet Xavier again, especially his three friends who are just as crazy as him.”

She bit her lip, thinking about all the worst possibilities if she faced them... one of which was if Auree suddenly appeared. The girl was not her rival, but for some reason when facing her, it felt like she was getting ready to enter the boxing ring.

“Ah, I have an idea... it seems like this won’t be a big problem.”

The sound of a knock on the door surprised Athena, she quickly got up, then turned the key, her head appeared from the door that was only slightly open.

“Miss Athena, thank God you haven’t slept yet,” said Rod, the housekeeper standing far from the door.

“What’s wrong, Rod?”

“A guest has arrived.”

Athena’s forehead frowned. “Guest? Who?”

“Mr. Xavier Lancester.”

Athena gasped, her eyes blinking in disbelief... the man she was thinking about suddenly came to this house. Rod bowed his head for a moment before making room at the door. The footsteps of leather shoes were clearly heard in the long corridor, until Xavier's figure in an elegant black suit appeared at the side of the wall.

His eyes stared serenely, with a thin smile that made Athena forget herself.

"Athena," he greeted softly.

Athena swallowed, then glanced at Rod who was still standing in front of the door. "Let us talk alone."

Rod bowed his head, then invited Xavier to enter the room, while he waited in front of the door.

Athena closed the door slowly, as soon as the click sound was heard, silence immediately enveloped the room for a moment.

"You..." Xavier started to speak, but his voice stopped. His eyes looked around the room, then looked back at Athena. "So this is your house."

Athena crossed her arms in front of her chest, her chin raised arrogantly. "Why did you come here?"

"No need to be angry," Xavier replied and gave Athena a goodie bag. “You left your coat behind, Brian couldn’t come here, so he sent me to give it to you.”

Athena sighed, accepting the goodie bag with trembling hands, then checked its contents. She winced a little, regretting how careless she was for leaving important things at someone else’s house.

“Th-Thank you,” Athena said stiffly.

“Give me a kiss,” Xavier replied.

“Uh?”

“Replace your thanks with a kiss, Athena.” Xavier closed the distance between them, making Athena step back slowly until she hit the wall.

Their breaths met, Athena unconsciously closed her eyes. Really... she didn’t want to lie to her own feelings for Xavier. She also missed this man so much... and couldn’t resist hugging him one more time.

The soft kisses touching Athena’s lips, the touch of Xavier’s hand behind her back, and the gentle caresses on her hair and cheeks were so intoxicating. Athena wrapped both of her arms around Xavier’s neck, making it easier for him to deepen their kiss.

“This is crazy. I have to refuse. But why does my body demand more?”

Xavier broke the kiss, a faint smile appeared on his lips, his eyes sadly looking at Athena who was catching her breath. “You can’t lie to your feelings, my Athena. We’ve loved each other for a long time.”

It was silent, but then Athena pulled Xavier’s chin and kissed him once more. The kiss became more brutal and thrilling, until they both didn’t realize that they were now on the bed.

“Athena… don’t belong to anyone, not Brian, or any other man,” Xavier said, sounding like a demand that could not be violated.

Athena stared deeply into the man’s eyes, implying an extraordinary love… and a feeling of wanting to give everything to Xavier tonight.

“Xavier… I—“

There was a knock on the bedroom door… Athena blinked rapidly, as if she had just been pulled from a nightmare. Xavier and his soothing kiss… too beautiful to be just an illusion.

Athena shook her head slowly, her eyes closed for a moment, gathering the rest of her consciousness that had been lost.

Right... Xavier didn't come tonight... but, why did it feel so real?

"Miss Athena, are you asleep?" Rod's voice was heard outside the room.

At that moment, Athena hugged herself who was still under the door... crying over her torturous longing.