Athena could not rest at all after her conversation with Romeo. All of her thoughts running had led to nothing but another painstaking headache. She gripped her forehead, her fingers trembling slightly as she sighed heavily.

On top of it, she had a strange feeling bubbling inside the depth of her stomach. It felt uncomfortable and scary.

"Why do I have such feeling?"

She hugged her stomach as she curled her legs.

Her head snapped up almost immediately as the front door opened.

Stepped in the familiar figure of Vittorio. Athena could not help but stare. He was on his phone, talking in his familiar nonchalant way.

Then, he looked at Athena. No expression appeared on his face. After one look at her, he ignored her and walked past her to go upstairs. The look again was similar to that as one would give to a stranger.

Athena did not call after him but her fists clenched as she took deep breaths to hold back her tears and hurt.

At dinner, Athena was alone again. There was no sign of Ariana or others. She was eating reluctantly and feeling the servants somewhat mocking gazes boring on her back.

Why was she feeling like- as if everyone hated her?

She almost choked on the water she was drinking.

'What did I even do?'

After finishing the meal, she rushed back to her room and shut the door loudly.

"Why?" A single shaky word left her mouth and she rushed towards her study table.

Flipping through her books and documents anxiously, she searched the drawers for a clue or something.

Just as she picked up the last book to check and flipped through it, a picture fell from it. She crouched down to pick it up.

On the back of it, a date was written.

25 June, 2009!

Athena recognized the date immediately.

Her birthday was on this date and she turned 4 year old in year 2009.

She turned the picture around, not knowing what she was expecting.

Athena instantly recognized her four year old self in the picture. She was smiling cheerfully and holding the hands of two adults who were also grinning.

It took her few moments to recognize those adults and the discovery left her almost horrified.

These were her real parents. She had seen their picture once, Vincenzo had shown it to her.

But this picture- was it even real?

She remembered exactly how her life was when she was four year old. She was living with her foster parents and she never even met her real parents, they were already dead years ago.

She stared at the picture carefully. After few minutes, she slowly put it back down. Her face was full of questions.

She sat down on the bed in the meditative pose and tried to think carefully.

'I was shot but when I woke up everyone said that I tried to commit suicide. Then, I saw Angelo. He was alive but he had clearly died months ago. My cousins are ignoring me as if I do not even exist and Romeo's words are too unlike of what he would do and say. Where is Ariana? Why am I in her room again? It feels familiar to the time when Luciano showed me this room, mistaking my identity for Ariana. But everyone is calling me Athena now. So there is no identity crisis going on again. But why does all of this feel different?'

Her train of thoughts was going on at the rapid speed. She opened her eyes and looked at her hand.

'And, where is my scar even gone?'

"I'm still me but I feel different." She said as she looked at hands.

Too tired of thinking, she laid down on the bed still feeling restless. After hours, her eyes finally closed and she fell into a deep slumber.

****************Meanwhile

Athena opened her eyes. She was not expecting herself to even wake up, but she could feel herself getting conscious of everything.

There were voices around her. A hand was gripping her hand, she did not know for how long. But the grip was gentle and somewhat calming.

'What exactly is happening?' She thought and finally dared to open her eyes. A white ceiling appeared in her vision first.

The person who was holding her hand, seemed to have gotten alert too.

"ATHENA!" A feminine voice yelled and before she knew, the figure had thrown herself on her and began sobbing.

"Oh god Athena! Y-you are finally awake!"

A small chuckling sound reverted across the room.

"Hey Ariana! I know you are happy and all but don't make Athena stress. Let her rest and take it easy." A familiar voice spoke.

Athena's eyes unconsciously went towards l the source of voice.

Just as she thought, it belonged to Romeo. He was smiling but the reminisce of tears in his slightly red eyes could not be ignored.

Athena could not help but frown.

Ariana finally looked up at her with a small grin. Tears were still rolling down her cheeks.

Athena's eyes widened slightly at Ariana's appearance.

"I thought you would neve-- Please don't scare me like that again, Athena."

Athena could not hear her completing her sentence. There was so much going on in her head and a sudden sharp pain appeared in her head, making her lose consciousness almost immediately.

As I was a little late in updating the next chapter, so there's double update for you. Thank you for being patient. Hope you enjoyed these chapters, don't forget to share your thoughts.

Next update is scheduled on Saturday. If you wish to gain early access of upto 43 chapters of this book and some other exclusive content, join my patreon. The link is in my profile.

Hope you have an amazing day, Love, Davina❤❤💞💞