"I'm afraid not this time," Athena said gently. "Your dad's on an important mission. I can't contact him until it's done."
"Will you miss him, Mommy?" Mia asked.
Pain lanced Athena's heart.
She nodded. "Of course."
"He'll be happy to know that. I'll tell you a secret. On Christmas Day, Aiden and I were going to call him Daddy!"
Athena teetered on the edge of breaking down.
She soothed Mia before slipping from the room.
Outside the door, she clutched her chest as tears spilled over.
"Mrs. Crawford..."
Ottilie stood before her, at a loss seeing Athena's distress.
Athena composed herself and crouched to Ottilie's eye level gratefully.
"I heard you saved Aiden and Mia. I can't thank you enough."
"Just doing my duty," Ottilie replied. Hesitantly, she reached to clumsily wipe Athena's tears. "Because Father was too late?"
Ottilie knew about Byron from Dorian.
Athena shook her head.
She said gently, "Get some rest, Ottilie. No more danger tonight. After the next few days, I'll reward you properly."
"Okay." Ottilie nodded.
She headed downstairs, glancing back periodically.
At the landing, Dorian pulled her aside.
"Well? How is she?"
"Crying very sadly." Ottilie's head drooped.
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