Chapter3: A Secret Heir?
1330 Words
The gold chandeliers at the Leventis Gala shined above, giving a warm glow of light to the grand ballroom of the Santorini Royal Hotel. This event was the most exclusive and priciest gala of Greece's elites, a party filled with the rich and famous - billionaires, royalties and high society figures wearing fancy dresses and suits.
And right in the center of it all stood Athena Kallis.
She had prepared for this night, knowing eyes would be on her as everyone would be watching her since she had stayed quiet for so long. Everyone would be curious as to why she suddenly show herself after years of silence.
She looked amazing and impeccable in her emerald green satin dress which hugged her curves and fit her so perfectly well, her diamond earrings shining under the light and her head held up high.
No one would guess that her heart was pounding.
Because across the room, Nikolas Drakos had just arrived.
He entered like he owned the place—which, knowing him, he probably did. Dark suit, emerald eyes scanning the crowd, exuding power. Every woman turned to look. Every man felt the weight of his presence.
Athena had expected him to be here.
What she hadn’t expected… was for him to see Stefanos.
And the moment it happened, she felt her world tilt.
Athena had been speaking with Andreas Leventis, her longtime business partner, when she sensed it—a shift in the air.
Nikolas’ gaze wasn’t on her.
It was on the little boy beside her.
Stefanos.
Dressed in a small navy suit, with dark curls and striking green eyes.
The same green eyes that were currently staring right back at Nikolas.
The world stopped moving.
Athena’s blood ran ice cold.
Nikolas’ expression had gone still. His body rigid.
And in that moment, Athena knew.
He saw it.
The resemblance.
The connection.
The truth.
Stefanos clung to her hand, unaware of the storm brewing just a few feet away.
Athena had spent years making sure this moment never happened.
She needed to move. Now.
Gripping Stefanos’ hand, she turned sharply toward the exit.
But Nikolas was faster.
The Chase Begins
“Athena.”
His voice was clear and strong, making her stop right away.
She stayed facing the same way and didn’t look back.
Her grip on Stefanos tightened.
"Athena," Nikolas called her again, his voice low and tense. "What the hell is going on here"
She tried hard to remain calm. Controlled.
Stefanos shifted beside her, his little cute voice called out to her as he pulled her sleeve.
“Mommy, why is that man staring at us?”
Nikolas stilled.
Athena’s heart skipped.
She bent down slightly and gently ran her head through Stefanos' curls ruffling his hair. “It is nothing, sweetheart. Let’s go.”
But as she straightened, she saw Nikolas approaching.
Determined. Focused. Dangerous.
Her pulse spiked.
"Leaving already? So soon? You haven't even said hello, hi." His voice was so calm and smooth but there was an edge to it.
Athena finally turned, her expression carefully blank. “I don’t owe you a greeting, Nikolas.”
His eyes flicked back to the boy. “And what about him?”
Her breath hitched.
Nikolas looked at Stefanos again, his gaze searching, calculating.
There was something in his expression—a realization he was fighting to deny.
He took one step closer.
Athena’s instincts screamed at her to run.
But that would only make things worse.
She exhaled slowly, her voice cool. Unbothered. “You’re making a scene.”
Nikolas didn’t blink.
“Who is he?”
Her nails dug into her palm.
Stefanos yawned and rubbed his eyes - sleep evident and tired of the gala already. "Mommy, can we go home now?"
Nikolas’ jaw tightened.
Athena felt the weight of his stare.
He had already made the connection.
She had to shut this down. Now.
She lifted her chin. “He’s none of your concern.”
A muscle in Nikolas’ jaw ticked. “None of my concern?”
His voice was dangerously quiet.
Athena held her ground. “Exactly.”
For a moment, no word was said, no action was done.
Then, Nikolas stepped closer, speaking in a quieter voice.
“Tell me, Athena.”
Her heart was racing and she hated it.
“Tell me, right now.”
His gaze was so intense.
She balled her fists. “Tell you what?”
Nikolas’ gaze burned into hers.
“Tell me he isn’t mine.”
Silence.
The words slammed between them like an earthquake.
Athena felt her breath catch.
The air thickened, and suddenly, every sound in the gala faded.
Nikolas was staring at her like a man on the verge of war.
Waiting. Demanding.
Athena knew she should laugh. Dismiss it.
But her throat was dry.
Her mind spun.
She had prepared for this. Practiced her responses.
And yet, standing here now, with Nikolas’ piercing eyes locking onto hers…
She couldn’t breathe.
Nikolas watched her reaction like a predator.
And in that moment, he knew.
Athena saw it—the exact second the doubt vanished.
The realization hit him like a bullet.
She felt her world shatter.
Nikolas took a step closer, his voice lethal.
“He is mine, isn’t he?”
Athena forced herself to smirk.
And then she delivered the final blow.
“None of your business, Nikolas.”
She turned, walking away, pulling Stefanos with her.
Nikolas stood there, his hands in a fist, his jaw tense and his breathing uneven.
For the very first time ever, he felt powerless and helpless.
Nikolas remains frozen, his heart racing.
Athena just confirmed it without saying a word.
That little boy…
Was his.
And now, he was going to get the truth.
No matter what it took.
Nikolas remained frozen, his heartbeat pounding like a war drum.
He had come to the gala expecting nothing more than a business affair. A few conversations. A few glasses of whiskey. Another night of forced pleasantries.
Instead, he had just seen his son.
And now, Athena was trying to walk away.
Not this time.
Nikolas took a sharp step forward. “Athena.”
She kept moving.
His fists were tight. "Do not walk away from me."
She ignored him.
That snapped something inside him.
In two strides, he closed the distance and reached for her wrist, firm but careful.
Athena stopped abruptly.
“Let go,” she said, voice low and lethal.
But Nikolas didn’t move.
Not yet.
Stefanos looked up, his innocent green eyes staring curiously at the two adults locked in a silent battle.
Nikolas’ gaze flicked between them—between the boy who looked just like him and the woman who had kept him hidden.
He looked back at Athena, his voice quiet, sharp.
“Tell me the truth, right now.”
Athena’s jaw tightened. “Let. Go.”
Nikolas leaned in, his breath warm against her ear.
“You think you can hide this from me?” His voice was dark, dangerous. Unshakable. “That boy is mine, isn’t he?”
Athena’s fingers curled into fists.
Her heart was hammering, but she forced herself to smirk, to keep control.
"Do you know what you're saying, Nikolas?"
His grip on her loosened a bit, his green eyes staying focused on her.
“I will find out, Athena. The truth” His voice was a vow. A promise. “And when I do—”
She pulled her wrist away from his hold
"You will do what? She asked, her voice razor-sharp.
Nikolas’ smirk returned, slow and dangerous.
“You’ll see, agápi mou. You’ll see.”
Athena turned swiftly, taking Stefanos’ hand and walking away without another word.
Nikolas didn’t follow.
Didn’t cause a scene.
But as he stood there, watching her disappear into the crowd, he knew.
This wasn’t over.
Not until he had the truth.
And once he did?
Athena Kallis wouldn’t be able to run from him ever again.
- Writer
