radicalducati Beneath The Surface
Beneath The Surface
Athena
"Sebastian..." My voice trembled as I looked into his eyes, desperation and fear etched on my face. "The baby..."
"I know, my love," he whispered, his voice filled with understanding, his hand soothingly rubbing my back. "I have already noticed."
"We won't have much time this way," I said, my voice choking with tears as I buried my face into his chest, trying to suppress my sob, "I thought I could be strong in this battle. I thought I could face the challenges with courage. But losing three, or maybe even more, months... It's breaking me. How can I stay strong? How can I protect our baby? If they enter this world prematurely, as we fear, they will face so many difficulties. They will be an outcast and have to rely on their own."
I could not stay strong this way....
The worry gnawed at me from within.
"Nothing will happen, my love. Even if time is against us, I will do everything to protect you," he said, cupping my face in his hands. "I won't let anyone take you or our baby away from me, not even fate itself."
"We can't allow anything to happen to our little one," I said, the pain evident in my voice as I spoke. "Promise me that if a situation arises where you have to choose between us, you will choose our baby."
"Athena, what are you saying?" Disbelief clouded his expression. "I will never let that situation come to pass. So this discussion is meaningless. I will protect both of you, always."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I listened to Sebastian's words. His determination to protect both me and our baby was evident, but his refusal to sacrifice my life for our child's left me conflicted. The weight of his words sank deep into my heart.
"This is not baseless, Sebastian," I urged, my voice filled with conviction. "We've relied on hope long enough; now we need to stay practical. You must promise me that you'll protect our baby at all costs."
"Yes, Athena, I will," Sebastian responded, his tone firm, his grip around me tightening protectively. "But if the cost happens to be your life, I refuse to accept it. Such a sacrifice would not only rob our child of its mother but also cast a shadow on its happiness. I won't allow two lives to be destroyed at once. I know what guilt feels like, you can never get rid of it. You can never wipe the red off of your hands, it taints your heart forever."
"Sebastian—"
"No, Athena," he interrupted, determination in his eyes. "You're the one who told me we would fight through this, that you would survive. If I can't have your hand in mine at the end, if our baby can't find solace in your arms at night, then I don't want any of it. We can put an end to this now. For me, it's better to face death together than to live alone, plagued by regret every day."
"Sebastian, please try to understand," I pleaded, my voice tinged with desperation. "You must live. Our baby has to live."
"And you have to live too, Athena," he said, his grip on my face tightening, his thumbs brushing gently over my jaw. "Without you, our lives would lose all meaning. You must live and you can't surrender like this. Find the will to survive, for yourself and for our baby. I'll be waiting, with the life we've always dreamed of together. You have to bring our baby into this world, to walk to me with them in your arms. You need to be by our side, not confined to a damn coffin. Stay strong, just as you always have. Please, this one last time."
How could I explain to him that I wanted to live, but I felt lost in the face of such uncertainty? How could I express that I longed to hold our baby, but it seemed as though the universe conspired against it?
"I don't want to die, Sebastian. Believe me, I don't," I sniffled, my heart aching at the sight of his pain, knowing he witnessed my own suffering. "But we can never truly know what fate has in store for us. That's what frightens me. I'm afraid I might have to leave you too soon, leaving you alone to shoulder all the responsibilities."
"I will save you, Athena," he declared, his voice laced with unwavering determination. "I will stand as a barrier between fate and you, pulling you back if it tries to snatch you away. But please, don't lose hope. Maintain the same faith you've had before. You need to survive—for me, for us. You can't give up, okay?"
I wasn't sure if I possessed the courage to answer with a resounding yes, if I could truly endure this and not succumb to despair. Yet, the love shining in his eyes left me with no other choice. The pain resonating beneath his words silenced any hesitation within me.
I nodded, mustering my resolve. "Yes, I won't give up," I affirmed, releasing a deep breath. Taking hold of his hand, I squeezed it tightly, conveying that I was prepared to battle through this, and that he was my anchor.
"Yes...you must not give up," he murmured, enfolding me in his embrace, holding on as though he never wanted to let me slip away and vanish.
I yearned to find the strength to persevere, for the sake of my mate and our child. I refused to accept my own demise. After weathering countless storms and surviving them, I simply refused to surrender.
I hoped for a lifetime—a complete, unbroken existence, not just a fraction of it.
***
Tristan
"When will they have the lab results ready for him?" I asked, munching on a packet of chips while observing the CCTV footage of Sebastian Valdez entering the laboratory. It confirmed my suspicion that he had taken steps to verify the medication.
"In three days, sir," the clerk replied.
"Is there any way to expedite it and get the results in two days?" I inquired.
"Well, nothing's impossible, sir," the clerk responded, his slow words hinting at his greed. "But everything comes at a price, don't you think?"
A chuckle escaped my lips. How easily one could manipulate the avaricious. Fucking easy to use, "Certainly, the money will be transferred to your account. Is there anything else?"
"No, sir, nothing else is required," the clerk eagerly replied, his excitement evident upon the mention of money. "I will swap the results and modify the serial number. The results will be sent within two days."
"Very well." With that, I ended the call.
As I set my phone aside, I paused the video, momentarily halting the playback.
A sigh of relief escaped my lips, grateful for my decision to inform the dogs I had been feeding in various laboratories. They proved to be a crucial aid in the eleventh hour.
Truth be told, I had underestimated Aaron. That despicable man was a master of manipulation. The way he feigned concern for Athena could make anyone second-guess their choices, but in reality, she was merely a means for him to satisfy his ego. He had always yearned for the fear and respect that Sebastian Valdez commanded, and Athena became a convenient tool in his desperate pursuit.
He was a betrayer, someone Sebastian had once considered a friend, while Celine had showered him with money like a dog being fed treats. Although it was true that Aaron harboured some affection for Athena, the word "love" would be too weighty to describe his feelings. Soon enough, his true colours would be revealed, and he would be willing to discard any remnants of sentiment he held for her.
My gaze drifted to the clock. "By now, she must be beginning to taste the impending death," I murmured, a hint of hesitation creeping into my words.
That medication was destined to subject her to immense suffering. Even if Sebastian chose to intervene and prevent her from consuming it any further, it would be inconsequential. The flames had already been ignited.
I pondered how Sebastian must have felt, watching her endure such excruciating pain. It was supposed to bring me joy and satisfaction, yet the sensation lingered disappointingly below my expectations.
There was no denying that being cruel was tough.
But I had to be cruel. I had to avenge the death of my mate and ensure justice for her.