Athena smiled softly. "I didn't expect Teri and me to get along this well," she said with genuine warmth. But as soon as the words left her mouth, a wave of nervousness hit her. She hesitated, then asked quietly, "Zaden, if Teri's mother suddenly showed up one day, what would you do?" Teri's mother? Zaden frowned slightly at the question. There was no doubt in his mind—he would never give up Athena for some unknown woman. Even if Maya appeared right in front of him, he would still choose Athena without hesitation. He had already made up his mind long ago. Looking deeply into Athena's eyes, Zaden said in a low, steady voice, "Even if she does appear, what of it? I have only one Mrs. Storm." The moment Athena heard that, she instantly understood his answer. Was this his way of confessing to her? Her cheeks burned at the thought. Then, she suddenly noticed Teri running toward them and quickly said, "Teri's here!" She pushed open the car door and stepped out, her face still flushed. Zaden watched her retreating, flustered figure and could not help but smile faintly. He had searched for Teri's mother for years and never found a trace. By now, he was sure that woman would not reappear, and even if she did, it would not matter. He only recognized one woman in his heart—Athena. Athena opened the car door for Teri, who beamed with excitement. It was the first time Athena had come to pick her up from school. The two sat in the backseat, chatting happily, their laughter light and warm.Zaden started the car. Together, they drove home as a family. ... Meanwhile, over at the office, Maya was in a rage. She had not expected her planted person to get caught. Athena completed the surgery without any incident—how was that possible after all the preparations she had made? Why was it that no matter what she did, Athena always came out unscathed? It was as if some unseen force kept protecting her at the most critical moments. Just then, Maya's assistant walked in carefully, terrified of setting her off. Everyone else thought Maya had a good temper, but only her assistant, who had been with her the longest, knew how two-faced she really was. Maya shot her a sharp glare. "What are you doing here?" she snapped. "P-Professor Rice," the assistant stammered, "Mr. Preston was waiting outside the operating room the entire time Dr. Hall was in surgery. D-do you think it's possible that he was the one who released her simulation video before?" Maya froze. Her brother? Was her brother helping Athena? She suddenly recalled what Zaden had said earlier. Back then, she had suspected it might be her brother, but she quickly dismissed the thought. Yet now, even her assistant was suggesting the same thing. Could it be that her brother had fallen for that woman too? The realization hit her like a punch to the gut—a deep, unbearable sense of betrayal. She had always believed her brother was on her side, only to find out he might have been secretly helping Athena all along. How could this be happening? So Athena had been able to return from overseas only because Preston helped her. When Maya schemed to block Athena from performing surgeries, it was Preston who leaked the video to clear her name. Every one of Maya's failures was tied back to her brother's interference. Maya let out a sharp scream and started smashing everything on her desk. Her assistant stood frozen in fear, face pale, unsure whether to speak or stay silent. However, if she did not say it now, things would be worse later. So once Maya finally stopped, the assistant took a shaky breath and whispered, "Professor Rice ... there's one more thing." Maya glared at her. "What now?" If this had anything to do with Athena, she was going to explode. The assistant swallowed hard. "Dr. Hall's latest surgery was more complex than any before. It's already been accepted by a medical journal and will be featured in the next issue." Even though Maya had braced herself, she still could not handle the news. If Athena's work were published, it would make her a star in the medical field—a name everyone would admire. Maya would not let that happen. Maya clenched her fists, pacing back and forth anxiously. Betrayed by her own people, powerless against Athena, she was trapped, and there was nothing she could do.