Helena was waiting for Athena downstairs. Athena hurriedly walked down the stairs; her hair styled in a bun. She wore full sleeves to hide the bruises on her hands. Helena was sitting on the couch, sipping her tea. Even the way she held the tea cup gave off a sophisticated vibe. Helena smiled when she saw Athena coming in a hurry.

 "Sweetie, sit here," she said, patting the spot beside her.

Athena was taken aback hearing those words. Athena thought how could Helena call her 'sweetie' in such a sweet way when her own relatives never like her. Not to mention it had only been a few days since their first meeting. Was this why Mikhail told her that his mother was an energetic person? Afterall, Mikhail referred to Athena as 'my wife' at every opportunity. Perhaps his family was like this. Anyway, Athena couldn't clasp the logic behind this.

Athena sat a bit away from Helena thinking she should give some Helena personal space, at least for formality. But seeing Athena acting like a scared little bunny who would bow and greet anyone coming its way, Helena felt like she was so innocent to get caught up with Mikhail. Helena laughed seeing Athena's reactions to her words.

"I hope you don't mind me asking. But, are you doing good financially?"

Helena asked Athena with a concerned tone. Athena was flabbergasted too, hearing Helena's question. But she was glad someone asked her about it. Athena's hard earned-money which she had saved to buy her house from her grandmother was stolen by Laila Everhart on her wedding day. Laila Everhart was sure, without money, Athena could never escape from them. So, Athena had no money on her, not even for her own basic necessities. It's not like she could ask Mikhail for money.

"I don't have money on me."

 Athena mumbled softly having a dejected expression on her face.

"I knew it."

 Helena said as she sighed. 

"Have you talked to Mikhail after you came here?" 

Helena questioned Athena.

Athena nodded after a moment of thinking.

"I'm asking you, have you ever taken the initiative to talk to him?"

Helena interrogated again,

Hearing Athena's silence as an answer, Helena sighed again.

"You need to talk to him. I knew you are afraid of him, the first time I saw you."

Helena continued her part,

"Considering how naive and innocent you are, no wonder you are afraid of Mikhail."

Athena kept silent.

"I don't think, I can talk to him without feeling scared. I don't want to be like that either; but I just, can't control my emotions. "

Her words carried her fear and anxiety.

"I don't think I belong here. He would definitely get someone who would be able to stand next to him both in looks and education."

Athena's eyes were red. Her lips, shaky.

"Call me, mother." 

Helena uttered gently.

"Huh?" 

Athena thought, she misheard what Helena had said.

"You need to understand that you are my daughter-in-law, as long as you two are not divorced."

Athena gazed at her, Helena's eyes seemed to hold coldness, sometimes, just like Mikhail. The nickname 'lady Dracula' wasn't overrated, Athena didn't understand whether Helena was encouraging her or discouraging her. Helena had specified already that Athena had to do her part as the lady of the house until they are divorced. She wanted, Athena to show Mikhail, the sparkling love too. Athena didn't understand what was Helena thinking. Athena thought, like mother, like son.

Helena pulled out her phone and started fiddling with it. Moments later, Athena received a notification. She was shocked to see the amount of money Helena had just transferred to her account. Athena could have never dreamed of receiving such a large sum in her life, yet it took Helena only a second to give away this much money to practically a stranger.

"I can't accept this much money from you." 

Said Athena in a shaky voice.

"Take it and buy some nice clothes as well as whatever you want. You need to be aware your status, so dress up, okay?"

Helena rose from the sofa and walked away without looking back. Meanwhile, Athena sat there gripping her mobile phone tightly, with a thought in her mind: 'now, I owe them money too.'

Athena entered her room witnessing Mikhail who was still sleeping on her bed like a log. 'Why is he still here? Why doesn't he go to his company? Can a CEO sleep till noon for no reason without working? Thoughts flooded into Athena's mind. She, watched him with her caramel eyes. Was he really the so-called monster who incinerated everyone opposed him?' She couldn't see a savage man lying on her bed, but only a generous gentleman. Athena continued to throw daggers at him with her stares.

"How long are you gonna stand there, my wife?" 

Mikhail asked her while his eyes were still closed. Athena, stared at him while wearing a dumbfounded expression.

"Do you have anything to say to me?" asked Mikhail in his husky voice.

His azure gaze swept over her like darkness covering the light.

 Athena, uttered,

"I want to go outside."

Mikhail, with an astonished look, said, 

"I thought you would never ask me."

His eyes penetrated deeply to her soul. The calmness in his eyes along with his messy hair exuded an enigmatic vibe. 

"I will take you to wherever you wanna go."

 Mikhail claimed. He rose from the bed, strode toward her, gazed at her, brushed his fingers against her lips, as if he wanna do something more than touching them. But he didn't want to scare her so he held back his unspoken desires.

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