Chapter 39 BACK TO WESTBROOK

Chapter 39 BACK TO WESTBROOK
“If you don’t mind, I’ll pick you up this afternoon. Just let me know when you and Zara will be back,” Brian said.

“I might be home earlier,” Zara said.

“Good, I’ll pick you up first, we’ll have some coffee while we wait for my Princess to finish,” Brian said.

Athena’s cheeks turned red, as did Zara who felt Brian was too sweet for a man who was older than her.

The Westbrook sky was cloudy that morning, Brian’s car stopped slowly in front of the campus gate, and Athena got out with steady steps, accompanied by the autumn breeze that brought the calming scent of wet soil.

Athena smiled slightly. “I’m afraid you’ll get bored of living here. Especially dropping me off and picking me up every day.”

Brian laughed, his hand raised to stroke the girl’s curly hair. “I’m not bored yet, but when I start to feel that way I’ll teach you how to drive a car. Maybe until you don’t hit the curb,” he joked with a wink.

Athena burst out laughing, but the sound of her laughter actually caught the attention of two figures who had just come out of the main building.

Asher squinted from a distance, his breath holding when he saw Athena interacting with Brian, and even laughing. Beside him, Julian put his hands in his jacket pockets, his expression turning cold when he saw their expressions.

"So she didn't come back alone," Julian muttered flatly.

Asher glanced over. "Brian? So the gossip is true? I refuse to believe it, but... this is too real, Man!"

They were silent for a moment. Athena walked between Zara and Brian, the man even touched the girl's back protectively as they crossed towards the department building. The touch seemed small, but it was enough to ignite the emotions of the two people who had been silently watching.

Asher clenched his fists. "Since when have they been that close?"

Julian didn't answer, his eyes looked expressionless, but there was something that was boiling in his heart. Either anger, injustice, or maybe indifference.

Brian said goodbye, Zara also turned to another corridor, Athena continued to enter the main building, but her steps stopped when she heard a very familiar voice.

"Welcome back, Lennox! The princess who hides behind simple clothes, but unfortunately... she is still beautiful every day."

Athena turned her head. Asher was already standing not far from her with a wide smile, his hands raised as if welcoming her arrival like a celebrity returning from a long vacation.

"Asher," Athena sighed lightly, trying to hold back her smile. Her heart was pounding, remembering the man's attitude when Auree was around.

"H-Hi," Athena replied, her hands waving hesitantly.

"Hi? Is that all? Don't you want to hug me?" Asher teased her. "Don't you realize, you broke a lot of people's hearts when you disappeared? Including me, obviously."

Athena raised an eyebrow, not surprised. "You're exaggerating, Asher."

Asher matched his steps beside her. "Not exaggerating, just... honest. How are you, hmm? I hope the arranged marriage doesn't make you stressed. Brian is a good person, but I don't think he's right for you."

Athena smiled slightly, her head lowered, not daring to look at Asher. "I like him," she said.

"Because he's Brian, right?"

"Because he doesn't see me as someone else."

"Wow...." Asher felt awkward, his head lowered too. "I hope you're happy with him. Yes, although I feel a little... strange. No, but maybe jealous."

Athena was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Thanks, Asher," she replied, ignoring the last sentence the man said.

Their conversation did not escape the watchful eyes of two other pairs of eyes. Julian stood near the outer wall of the building, leaning his body while looking at Athena and Asher. His face was calm, but his eyes were piercing—not because of jealousy like Asher, but because of deep observation. He knew something had changed about Athena.

A few meters behind, under the shade of a large tree, Xavier stood without any intention of approaching. He had just arrived this morning after finishing his family business, but he didn't dare to face Athena. He just stared from afar, as if he was measuring whether he had the opportunity to approach and talk to the girl.

They all knew one thing: Athena Lennox was back—and their relationship might not be as close as it was before she was matched with Brian. Not without reason—they, especially Asher, might have won Athena's attention again. However, it was too awkward because of respect for Brian as the grandson of the Lancester family.



Athena had just stepped out of the classroom when she stopped in the second-floor corridor. The atmosphere was bustling—students were passing by with laughter and chatter—but everything felt silent when her gaze met a pair of obsidian eyes that she knew all too well.

Xavier.

He stood at the end of the hallway, leaning against the wall with one hand in his pocket, as usual. But unlike usual, his eyes were not cold—staring at Athena as if he had been waiting for her to come.

Athena swallowed. Her heartbeat immediately went crazy.

And for a few seconds that felt like a lifetime, no one spoke. Then Athena finally spoke. Her voice was soft but clear. “Why are you here?”

“Design practice,” Xavier answered, because the practice room was not far from Athena’s classroom.

There was silence again, only the sound of doors opening and closing around them. “I saw Brian come, but he left again with Zara,” Xavier said, finally.

“Yeah, they’ll pick me up in a minute,” Athena replied.

“I wanted to walk you home—“

“No need, Xavier. Brian is here.”

Xavier sighed, softly. “I—”

“Wait.” Athena raised her hand. “Don’t give me any excuses. Brian was waiting, and I chose him.” She walked past him, but he grabbed her wrist.

He stared at Athena intently. “Do you really not want to know why I left that time? Why I came to see Auree and left you at the dorm?”

Athena stared back, her heart pounding, but her voice steady. “I was so curious at first, but… I guess I don’t need to anymore.”

“Just because you have Brian, does that mean you don’t want to hear anything I say anymore? Is it that easy for you to lie to your own feelings?” Xavier was getting impatient.

Athena stared at him for a long moment, then said in a barely audible voice, “I’m sorry, Xavier. I—“

“I know you still love me, Athena,” Xavier said, his eyes turning soft, his voice shaking.

Athena's heart was getting restless, she let go of Xavier's grip, her legs shaking as she walked away, leaving Xavier in the middle of the crowd that felt like emptiness. Xavier followed her from behind, matching Athena's pace but not intending to pull her back to him. "You love me, Athena...," he repeated in a firmer voice. "I know that..."