"By the way," Athena said, raising an eyebrow at Zaden. "I'm not going to that research institute you arranged. Maya has people there, and I don't like being watched all the time." With that, she walked out of the hotel room. Zaden stared at her, frustration flickering in his eyes. He wasn't sure what to do. Apparently, he'd made her mad again. He hurried after her, following close behind. Athena noticed and frowned. "Why are you following me?" she asked coldly. "I'm just worried about you," he said softly. "Don't be mad, okay?" "No," she said flatly. "I am mad." Since the day she met Zaden, Athena had always considered him to be calm and gentlemanly. They had never really fought before. When Maya showed up, they'd only given each other the silent treatment, never an argument. But now, she felt like something between them had gone terribly wrong. If they didn't fix it, they'd keep fighting over the same things again and again. Maybe it was because of what happened with Lewis. When it came to relationships, Athena still carried some scars. Whenever things got difficult, she tended to pull away. She was scared of getting hurt again. She just needed some space to think clearly and figure out where they stood. That's why she wanted to stay in her own hotel room for a while. Zaden could tell she was genuinely upset. He regretted the way he'd spoken to her earlier, but it was too late to take it back. Right now, Athena needed to cool off. And no matter what he said, nothing would help until her anger faded. "All right," Zaden said calmly, "if you want your own room, that's fine. I'll go with you. We'll book it here; this hotel belongs to my company anyway." Athena had planned to stay near the research institute Kate had recommended. She hadn't expected Zaden to insist on this. Before she could refuse, he had pulled out his phone and called the front desk. She listened as he spoke in a foreign language, giving quick instructions to open another room, right next door to theirs. By the time she realized what he was doing, it was too late to say no. "Athena," Zaden said, hanging up, "your room's ready. It's right next to mine. If you need anything, just knock." Athena was speechless. There was no point arguing. At least being in her room meant a little peace and quiet. "We'll wait here," Zaden added as they stood in the hallway. Moments later, a hotel staff member hurried toward them, holding two room cards. "Mr. Storm, here are your keys," he said politely. The employee knew who they were—Mr. and Mrs. Storm. The two had checked in together before, but now there was a second room involved. Given the situation, he couldn't help but wonder silently. Did they have a fight? He wisely kept that thought to himself, handed over the cards, and left. Zaden pressed one of the cards into Athena's palm and spoke softly, "Go get some rest. If you need anything, just call me." Athena hesitated for a moment, then sighed and nodded.Without another word, she walked into her new room next door. She swiped the card and pushed the door open. Once inside, she quietly closed it behind her. Outside in the hallway, Zaden stood staring at the shut door, letting out a long sigh. Things had gotten complicated again. Back in Vlephia, Athena had moved out to the hospital dorm because of the whole Maya situation. Now, over something small, they were arguing once more. He rubbed his neck, feeling lost. How was he supposed to make things right with her this time? Inside the room, Athena sat down on the edge of the bed. Everything looked brand-new—untouched, silent, and still. Her expression darkened as she thought about what had just happened. She didn't think she was being dramatic. She just needed space to calm down. Earlier that day, her first surgery simulation had gone perfectly. It was something she wanted to share with Zaden, but now she couldn't. She sighed and decided to stay focused. In this quiet place, away from distractions, she could keep practicing until she reached perfection. Everything else could wait. That night, Athena took a long shower to wash away her exhaustion. Just as she was about to order dinner, her phone buzzed with a video call request. Harriet's name flashed on the screen. Without thinking much, Athena answered it. A second later, Teri's face appeared on the screen. "Mommy!" Teri's cheerful voice filled the room.Ever since she'd started calling Athena "Mother," every word she said carried warmth and excitement, like she truly believed Athena was her mother.