Ares’ Pov

Her hold tightened on my hand the moment we entered the dining room. Dad was sitting at the head of the table regarding her with calmness. He saw it coming, she had given him hints and most importantly he approved of Tristan. So he was as composed as possible.

Hades on the other hand was oblivious to Athena's feelings. He knew Tristan liked her —all of could see that— but he didn't know our daughter reciprocated those feelings.

When Zephyr slammed the door open of our office, we knew something was wrong. And when Hades came to know of a bloody hickey on her supposed best friend, he lost it.

He believed it was a misunderstanding. He wanted to go talk to her before trusting anyone —even if the news came directly from his own brother.

I held him back and when I explained it was in fact true and that I knew of it, the look of betrayal they both gave me surely made me feel bad.

The fact that two teenagers have started dating wasn't bad but what bothered us was that we all believed Athena wasn't ready for a relationship.

It took all of my self control to not barge into the theater that day to stop them and simply turn off the camera. When my brothers asked if everything's going normal in there, I lied saying it's just two friends watching a movie.

Her eyes flicked between Hades and Zephyr, both of whom looked at her with blank faces. I know they're pissed but they're controlling their anger for her sake.

I was quite proud of how Zephyr handled the situation. While I always stay calm, Hades always panics, Zephyr has the reputation of losing control. He gets rageful to the people who do him wrong, who break his trust. But he didn't try hurting Tristan which is truly impressive.

His anger was then put into another form of output; his hour long boxing session in the basement. While Hades went full retirement home mode and sat in his chair the whole time without moving a single muscle, probably contemplating how we’re gonna deal with this situation.

I squeezed her hand to assure her I was here for her. She's been worried about her relationship which is why she asked me if I'd support her and I promised I would. I won't back off from any commitments.

“Athena come,” Dad called her with a smile on his face which visibly put her a little at ease. “I made caramel tart, it's a new recipe. Let's quickly eat dinner then we'll try it.”

Athena nodded with an awkward smile on her face before walking up to the table and taking her usual seat beside Zephyr. Her eyes were strictly trained to her plate and she didn't dare look at anyone else.

Zephyr leaned forward and placed a little bit of everything on her plate. She didn't stop him, it was now a habit of his to serve her. It's so cute how her eyes always lit up with these small gestures and she made sure to let him know how much she appreciates it.

We ate dinner in silence and I kept stealing glances at her. It feels surreal how we actually have someone we care so much about. We never thought of ever having a family that would hold us down and restrict us from something. But having her feels right.

She isn't any girl, she's our daughter.

Our blood. “So Athena,” Dad started the conversation as our main course got replaced by dessert now. “Zephyr told me something…”

She gulped and took over from there. “Tristan and I like each other-”

Zephyr cuts her off. “We gathered as much.”

She took a breath, clearly uncomfortable with the topic at hand. “We started dating a month ago. He loves me a lot, grandpa. You know he's not like those other guys-”

“Why didn't you tell us yourself? Is there some reason we'll reject him that you were unsure about introducing him as your boyfriend?” Hades raised an eyebrow at her.

“No. I was just…” She looked down to her lap. “I was scared you won't like that I'm dating…”

“We stopped you from dating older men. I told you we won't lose it if you date the ones your age. But you still hid it from us due to whatever assumption you had. You can't make stuff up in your mind then get a bail out of things because you didn't know. I told you in clear words. You should’ve come to us.” Hades’ voice was an octave high.

“Relax, brother. She's a child, she got scared. She has seen a man die because she was dating him.” I tried speaking for her as she looked quite uncomfortable. “She was going to tell you guys this weekend but Zephyr caught her before that.” I lied. I didn't know if she planned to tell them anytime soon.

“It's that boy spoiling her mind. He's telling her to hide things from us because he doesn't have the right intentions.” Zephyr gritted through his teeth.

Thena desperately shook her head. “I didn't hide it because he said so. We were going to-”

“Don't defend him, Athena. That guy is no good for you.”

Since the day Athena came to live with us, Zephyr slowly developed interest in all parts of her life, but not her relationship with her best friend. He didn't bother knowing about them. He was done with it the moment he realized the guy had a crush on her.

It irked me equally but rather than possessing a hate for the dude like Hades and Zephyr did, I decided to ask Athena and dad about him. The more I found out about their relationship, the more I realized he might be the right guy for her.

Which is why despite not knowing if it's the right time for Athena to date, I'm supporting her in her decision.

“How do you know? You haven't had two civil conversations with him.”

Zephyr got up from his seat looking down at her with irritation. “I can tell a man’s character by looking at him. I don't need to fucking assess him for months.”

“Zephyr please-” He pulls away his hand when she tries to hold it.

“Such a clever game he played. Acting like he cares for you just to find a way into your pants.”

Dad has had enough of Zephyr’s bullshit and intervenes with anger clear in his voice. “Nobody pretends for sixteen years, Zephyr. I've known him his whole life, he’s not the type of guy you're assuming him to be.”

“We've been friends since we were in diapers. When he didn't even know what sex was. He never planned it to be this way. He doesn't lust me, Zephyr.” Athena tries to get her point across. “If he did he’d be jumping in my bed the very first opportunity he gets. It's been a whole month but we still haven't had sex. Not because I was hesitant but because he needed more time. Because he doesn't just seek a sexual relationship from me but also an emotional connection.”

She could’ve left that detail out but the pressure to defend her boyfriend got the best out of her.

Zephyr's face scrunched up hearing her words. “It's all his tricks, Athena. He's trying to manipulate you into thinking-”

“He's not. He loves me. It's the first time someone actually loves me. Why can't you let me have him?” Athena had tears in her eyes now.

I so wanted to step towards her and take her in my arms. Something about her crying always makes my heart ache. Even when I didn't accept her as my own, I still couldn't see her in tears.

“Because darling, he portrays himself as a goddamn perfect man. Someone who loves you, cares for you and would do anything for you. But in reality he doesn't even have the guts to accept his crush in front of us. Don't you think it's weird he doesn't ask you to tell us about your relationship? Has he even told his parents you two are together? Why is hiding you? Is he ashamed? Or does he like to stay single in the public eye?”

A frown set on Athena's forehead as he listens to Zephyr. I could see she was getting hurt by his words but he didn't intend to stop.

“He’s a fucking coward, Athena. He can't accept you in front of us or his parents. He can't stand up for you, with you. He’s just a douche trying to keep you a secret and take advantage of your love behind closed doors.”

The pure hatred I saw in her eyes was disturbing. I haven't seen her this mad. Not when we told her dad raised her with our money, not when Eric died, not even when Zephyr caged her in our home.

“You know who really is a fucking coward, Zephyr?” Her tear filled eyes looked directly at Zephyr with a challenge in her voice. “All three of you.”

My eyebrows pinched together at her words. She didn't just call us cowards.

“You knocked up a woman and ran away because you were too scared to face the consequences of your actions and even when we met after sixteen years you all refused to accept me. You kept denying I was your family.”

I blinked twice, finally realizing she had actually said those words. We knew we were unfair to her but I thought things were getting better and she'd leave it in the past. But she was mentioning it all again.

It pangs my heart to think about what we’ve done. I try to move on from my mistakes so the guilt doesn't seep in but having it be rubbed on our face was a reality check we weren't ready for.

We always ran away from confrontations, from accountabilities.

“Why didn't you do a DNA test when Angela told you she was pregnant?” She looked at each one of us not expecting not answer but telling us how fucked up we are. “Because you were scared. None of you wanted to know who my father was. You were scared to be guilty of such a huge mistake. You didn't want to own the blame alone. You couldn't live with grandpa’s hatred directed only at you. So you all decided to share it.”

My breath caught up in my throat as I heard her narrate our thoughts, our life, our decisions like she knew exactly who we were.

She was right. We were scared. We knew dad would only abandon the son who fucked up and refused to take responsibility of his actions. None of us wanted to be that son.

Refusing for a DNA test was the easiest way out.

“You shared the punishment and the loathing. Just like you’re sharing me now. I’m going by the tag of your collective daughter because none of you don't want my sole responsibility.” It wasn't true.

Things are different now. Each one of us would happily accept her sole responsibility. Even Hades, who hasn't confessed his feelings yet, would die to be a father in her life.

She thinks we're sharing her because we don't want to be burdened but in reality we don't want to deprive our brothers off of her.

Dad placed a hand on her shoulder and called her softly. “Athena-”

“No, grandpa! Let me speak. They should know who they truly are.” Tears dripped down her face as she spoke with broken sobs. “It’s been sixteen fucking years and they still choose to stay oblivious. They still choose to keep me from the answer I deserve. They're running away from the truth because none of them have ever been man enough to face it. All three of them are cowards. Not my boyfriend!”

I closed my eyes as my chest heaved like I've been hit by a truck. I needed to stay calm, I needed to keep my composure but why do I feel like breaking down right now.

I want to go and hold her and tell her to stop saying that. Let us stay oblivious of the reality we’re not ready to face.

But she's slapping it on our face. Her glossy eyes had so much hatred that if she picks up a knife to stab me I won't be surprised. That would be better. I'd rather take that blow then the one she's dishing out right now.

It hurts my heart. But she seems to not care.

I gulped and tried talking to her. “We’ve admitted our mistake and want to make it right-”

She turned to him, wiping her tears harshly like she's ready to propose a solution now. “If you really want to make everything right then why not start from the beginning? Let's first find out who actually had the best sperm and won the fucking race.” Her words felt heavy on my heart. But I couldn't do anything. I had forgotten how to breathe, how to think or how to stop her. “It would put me at peace. I would know there's only one person to blame for the rest of my life. I could point all my hatred, disgust and curses to him. I could go to bed knowing exactly who the fuck ruined my bloody life!”

A look of terror crossed Hades' features as he uttered. “A test wouldn't change anything. We don't need to find out-”

“It is gonna change so many things. When I find out who actually screwed me for life, the other two would be free of all charges. I promise I won't give a damn about your life anymore. You can be the same carefree bachelors again without an ounce of guilt.” She then lets out a mocking laugh. “But again you're too scared to take the risk of being that unfortunate man who I was born from.”

I shook my head in disappointment. She really thinks we're scared of being her biological father. We’re scared of being the uncle. The very person who she said she won't give a fuck about after the report.

We all knew it. She only showered us with love only after we signed up to be her father, she wouldn't do the same for an uncle.

“We are a family, Athena.” Zephyr mumbled.

“I don't want a family. I want a father. Biological father.” She said with venom lacing her voice. “Can you give me that? No, you can't. Because you're not brave.”

“I'm trying my best to be what you deserve, Athena. Please don't take away the chance you gave me.” I hated how helpless Zephyr sounded.

Athena looked at him and sucked a breath like she was equally hurt from his state. “You know what I think is the most courageous thing to do?” She licked her lips and sniffled. “Letting go of the one you love. It shatters your soul. But the very guy you hate has done that for me. Tristan has let me be with others, not because it was the right thing to do for me but because that's what I wanted. Can you do that, Zephyr? No. You can't let me go. No matter how much I suffocate in this place, no matter how much I beg you, you won't let me go.”

“Because I love you Athena.”

“Then how come you always give me what you think is right? Why don't you ever think of what I want?” She mumbled in the quietest voice.

The gentleness of her tone cut through my chest like a blade. She was right. We were so focused on trying to help her get on the right path that we forgot she had a will of her own. We forgot to think of what she wanted.

“Athena, I think we should all calm down and talk about this after a thorough consideration.” Dad was trying to close the topic.

He knew Athena was feeling emotional because Zephyr accused her boyfriend. If we leave this topic, there's a huge possibility of everything going back to normal. But she didn't want that. She wanted to sort out everything tonight.

This wasn't just a one-time frustrational argument. It was all slowly built into her like a bubble of anger which had finally gotten an outlet to burst out.

“I'm clear in my head, grandpa. I don't need more time to think about this. I'm just asking for a simple thing. Either let me go or get me the DNA test. Do you think my demand is unfair?”

“It doesn't matter who you're born from. You're our daughter and nothing changes that.” Hades tried arguing.

“Oh really?” She asks, acting surprised. “Too bad because I want the fucking DNA test. I won't continue to pretend like everything's fine until you bloody damn bring me out of the dark I've been kept in my whole life!” She shouted. “If you're not cowards then get me the bloody reports or I swear to you I'll never forgive any of you. I'll never talk to you. Consider me dead as you’ve done your whole life.”

This was the end of Hades’ patience. He couldn't argue with her anymore. So he moved towards her. Her eyes widened and she instantly took a step back in fear. But he was already in front of her and grabbed her arms before taking her in a hug. He tightly pressed her face into his chest and held her like he's scared to let go.

“Athena don't do this.” Hades pleaded as I saw a tear fall from her eye. “Don't leave me. I can't live without you.”

Athena didn't say anything and after a moment I saw her arms encircling his waist. She needed that hug just as much as he did. I heard sniffles from her and I couldn't stop the guilt that was seeping deeper into me.

I saw tears coming loose from Hades' eyes as he held her to himself rubbing her back gently. It was the first time I was seeing him so weak and my heart hurt for him.

I knew he cared about her so much. I didn't know what held him back from being her father. It confused me why he hasn't followed our lead when Hades’ always the first one to take the most sane decisions among us.

After some time she pushed at his sides and he let her go. She looked up at him with teary eyes. “Don't expect me to be so mature, Hades. I'm that same ill-mannered, rude and spoiled brat that you hated. I want what I want and I won't settle for anything less.”