Chapter 37 DON'T TOUCH MY FUTURE HUSBAND

Chapter 37 DON'T TOUCH MY FUTURE HUSBAND

“Don't touch my future husband, Xavier.” Athena's small hand held his wrist tightly.

Athena's voice was soft but sharp, sounding like a slap, her breath hitched, her eyes staring directly into Xavier's eyes that widened in surprise. In an instant, time seemed to stop in the middle of the argument.

Xavier looked down, saw Athena's hand holding his, then looked at the girl's face—full of determination, and a little disappointment.

“Athena...,” he whispered, almost inaudible.

Athena slowly released her grip, but the look in her eyes remained unwavering. “I won't let anyone hurt her, not even you will touch her as long as she is with me.”

Brian stood silently, almost in disbelief. This was not just an impulsive defense, but sounded like an unintentional confession.

“Sorry, Xavier, I don't hate you...,” Athena said, “but you two better not make a scene in this small apartment.”

“I asked Brian to come and stay here temporarily, because he’s the only one who makes me feel safe. At least, until I can forgive everyone who has hurt me.”

Xavier swallowed, as if he had just been hit by a sentence that was harder than a punch.

No… Xavier hadn’t lost yet.

Brian, finally stepped closer, touching Athena’s shoulder gently. “Athena, come on. And Xavier, see you again… maybe one day, we can have a casual chat while drinking coffee.”

However, before they left, Xavier said, “I’m not afraid, Athena!”

Athena stopped, but didn’t turn around.

“Do you think that simple sentence will make me stop stealing you from Brian?” Xavier chuckled. “No, Athena… I know who’s in your heart. Even if you pretend not to realize it.”

Athena closed her eyes, this was really unexpected. She had only accidentally heard Brian and Xavier’s conversation, then appeared when the situation started to get out of control. However, Xavier’s words managed to make her waver, but she was reluctant to turn around.

She couldn't reply to Xavier's words—more precisely, she didn't want to look weak. Athena put her arm around Brian's waist, leaned her head on his shoulder, and continued walking. Leaving Xavier standing frozen.

As soon as the apartment door closed, Athena leaned behind him for a moment. Her breathing was heavy, her hands shaking slightly—not because of fear, but because of all the emotions she had just suppressed in front of Xavier.

Brian watched her from the side. Without saying anything, he took off his jacket, then draped it over Athena's shoulders. "Do you want me to take you to your apartment?" he asked.

Athena shook her head. "Can I just stay here?"

Brian smiled, gave a light nod, then led Athena to sit on the sofa. The man didn't say much, he made a simple hot drink, then tidied up his suitcase in the room.

"I'm sorry... maybe it's too soon for me to come back here. I didn't expect Xavier to follow us either," said Athena.

"He loves you, I don't think that's strange. This is the first time he's fallen in love, Athena," replied Brian.

Athena's eyes widened, staring at Brian—as if she had a lot to ask.

"I should be the one apologizing, because you heard everything. We didn't mean to make you a bet, it's just... I felt challenged when Xavier said he wanted to take you away from me," Brian said.

"No... I'm not angry. It's not a big deal for me," Athena replied. "As long as you don't see me as Auree, I think that's enough for me."

Brian, who was folding clothes, paused for a moment.

"As for Xavier... all the words he said sounded like lies. Maybe I was being too excessive, but when he was about to hit you because you talked about Auree... everything became clear," Athena said.

"Even though I love Xavier, I can't possibly be with someone who can't easily let go of other women."

Brian approached, then bent down in front of Athena. He grabbed the girl's chin, then his lips touched the surface of her lips without permission.

Just a normal kiss, with a soft, undemanding lick. Athena's body suddenly stiffened, as if paralyzed by an unexpected shock, as her mind tried to understand the situation she was currently facing.

Brian smiled, then gently rubbed Athena's cheek with his thumb, kissing her lips and cheeks repeatedly while saying, "I think... I'm starting to fall in love with you."

Athena was shocked. "Brian—"

"Shhh... you don't have to rush to return my feelings. It's not a must. Xavier is right, you have the right to your own feelings."

Brian pulled her from the chair, put both of her wrists behind his neck, while his two strong hands hugged Athena, rubbing her back slowly.

"But there's nothing wrong if you start to understand the feeling of love for your future husband." Brian kissed Athena's lips again.

Now deeper, more demanding, but very gentle.

Athena's eyes closed, there was rejection in her heart, but deep inside... what annoyed her was not the kiss, but the fact that Brian's lips felt too familiar.

Fighting against time, Athena broke the kiss when her breath started to become irregular. She chuckled as she looked down. "That's enough. I think this is like in the movies."

Brian laughed too. “Unfortunately this isn’t a movie. I know, this kiss is too sudden and you’re definitely not ready, right?”

Athena nodded. “Yes, you’re right...” Moreover, this kiss was too similar to Xavier. “But thank you, you’ve changed my heart rate from beating restlessly, now it’s softer.”

Brian released the hug, turned around and continued folding clothes. “You still want to stay here, right?”

“Yes, tomorrow morning I’ll meet Zara and get ready to go to campus,” Athena replied.

Brian smiled lopsidedly. “Then... you should get ready. Because you’ll have trouble sleeping until morning...”

Xavier was still in the car—in front of Athena’s apartment building. Silent, with heavy breathing, he occasionally glanced at the lobby door, hoping Athena would come to see him.

However, maybe no matter how long he stayed there, Athena would never come to him. The pain was still there, disappointed by Athena’s change in attitude, and regret for his own actions in the past that made the girl stay away.

Athena’s sentence kept repeating in his head. “Don’t touch my future husband.”

Her tone was not a bluff, nor was it an impulsive and pretend sentence that was deliberately said so that there would be no argument. It was real and firm. Athena spoke with a look of anger, as if Brian was her toy that should not be broken

But this was not a toy, maybe... Athena had indeed chosen who to give her heart to.

“Did you really never love me, Athena?” Xavier muttered.

“Did you never feel even a little bit that I was truly sincere to you?”

Xavier remembered, when they escaped from the ballroom of the dance party, spending time in the dormitory dancing and laughing. The beautiful and sincere laughter that he saw for the first time. As well as the kisses, and the girl's warm hugs as they caressed his skin.

Xavier smiled thinly. “You love me, Athena... I know that. You're just trying to cover it up, so that I stop chasing you.”

Xavier took a deep breath, then leaned his body back against the driver's seat. His eyes stared straight at the increasingly quiet street, occasionally glancing back at the lobby door—still hoping Athena would come from there.

"Am I still important to you, Athena? I can still be your protector, right?"

His fists went limp, and the heat in his eyes began to turn into a coldness that gripped his entire skin. All this time, he believed that deep affection could atone for all his mistakes. But it turned out... regret was meaningless.

And Brian... somehow now Xavier felt that the man was very lucky in all aspects of life.

His family was harmonious, a complete family and parents who always supported him, and now... a perfect love like Athena.

"I lost in everything, Brian," he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse. "But I won't give up on Athena."

"I love her as much as I can say it...."

Raindrops hit the surface of the car. The drizzle that had previously wet his coat now fell harder—as if representing the cries in his heart.

Just as Xavier was about to start the car engine, someone stood beside the window, knocking on the glass. "Xavier... can we talk for a moment?"