Athena looked at Zaden, stunned by what she just heard. She didn't expect him to actually do all that. Still, Athena stood firm on her stance. In her eyes, people like Roxanne—sneaky and backstabbing—had no integrity. They were like a rotten apple in the barrel. Getting rid of her was good for everyone. But when she saw how sincere Zaden looked, her heart softened a little. Still, she kept her tone sharp. "Oh please, if you're so capable, go deal with Maya. Dr. Wood's just a small fry. What's there to brag about?" Zaden stayed silent for a moment. Then he picked up his phone and dialed his assistant. "Tommy, handle Maya—" Before he could finish, Athena quickly grabbed his hand, eyes wide. Was he seriously going to do it? He wasn't bluffing! But in a way, that only made her heart melt more. He did this to please her. On the other end, Tommy sounded confused. "Mr. Storm? Sorry, the line cut out. What did you want me to do about Ms. Rice?" Athena glared at Zaden and said, "Okay, fine! I believe you, alright? I was just saying. You don't need to do anything." Zaden's lips curved slightly. "It's nothing, Tommy," he said and hung up. He turned to Athena with a teasing half-smile. "I'm just trying to make you happy," he said. "You stopped me. You can't blame me for holding back." That playful grin told Athena he had done it on purpose. He knew I would stop him.Dammit! Athena huffed and crossed her arms. "You may act like you don't care about Maya, but I still have my doubts. I'll handle it myself. You don't need to step in." Frederick let out a quiet sigh when he heard Athena's words. There was a hint of helplessness in his eyes. He didn't really understand how women thought when it came to their love rivals, but he knew one thing—Athena wanted to win this fight on her own. Zaden had no intention of stopping Athena. In fact, he fully supported her and was ready to help if needed. "So," he said with a teasing smile, "I guess that means you're not mad anymore?" Athena wanted to say something but decided to stop herself. She didn't want to let him off the hook that easily, but honestly, everything she'd just said meant exactly that. In the end, she only let out a soft hum and looked away. "Tomorrow, I'm taking the final simulation test," she said. "Once I pass, we can head back to Vlephia." "Good," Zaden replied. "I hope you pass with flying colors." Then he leaned in and asked, "So, are you moving back in tonight? I'm scared of the dark." Athena rolled her eyes at him. How could he even say that with a straight face? Wasn't he doing just fine before I come along? She knew he was only making excuses, just looking for a reason to be close to her. Still, she could tell he really wanted to be with her. Zaden was trying hard to please her, and that thought secretly made her happy."No way," she said firmly. "You'll distract me before the test. We'll talk after I'm done tomorrow." Zaden looked at her determination and sighed helplessly. "Fine. But if you keep avoiding me," he warned playfully, "I'll just cancel your hotel room. Then you'll have nowhere to go but my place." Athena glared at him. "You wouldn't dare!" Zaden immediately went quiet. He just cracked a joke anyway. After a moment, he asked softly, "Do you need any help with your test?" "No!" Athena lifted her head and looked straight at Zaden, her tone a little sharp. "Do you really have that little faith in me? I'll pass with a perfect score! Just wait and see!" Zaden never doubted Athena's ability. He just wanted to help her because he cared. No one wants to see the person they love face challenges alone. "Of course I believe in you," he said with a small smile. Then, in a teasingly polite tone, he added, "So, Dr. Hall, would you do me the honor of having dinner together?" Athena glanced at him sideways. "Since you're asking so nicely ... fine." Zaden's smile deepened. He stepped on the gas and drove off smoothly. ... That night, Athena kept her boundaries clear. No matter how much Zaden tried to test the waters, she made sure they didn't share a room. Since she'd decided to keep her distance, she was going to follow through completely. The next morning, Athena faced her simulation exam. There were five participants in total, each trained at different institutions. Athena looked like the least remarkable among them.To her surprise, a few of the candidates were from the same research institute where she'd first trained. When they saw her, they looked shocked and began whispering among themselves. "I heard Dr. Wood got fired because of Athena."