“I know your intentions are clear, Mr. Reed… But you should have asked me first before talking to him.”
“I’m sorry, Athena. You’re right, I really should have asked you first.” Ethan apologized.“It’s alright,” she smiled to reassure him it was fine. Ethan asked her permission to put more ointment on her arm, and she agreed.“Thank you,” she smiled.They stayed on the swing for a while until Ethan offered to take her home. “It’s getting late. I need to send you back home. They’re all probably worried about you.” Athena chuckled.“What am I? A child?” She shook her head, laughing.“I missed you,” he blurted, which had Athena stop laughing. She looked at Ethan, who looked at her with a serious expression.Her heart skipped a beat with the way he stared at her. Longing, regret, and love.Ethan saw how confused Athena was. ‘I wanted to inform her… So she’ll come back to me. I don’t care what will happen after my declaration… But I want her to choose. It’‘Did she say? That she remembers everything? How? Is it because of what I said? This wasn’t supposed to happen.’ Ethan was supposed to make amends with her and try to win her heart before he explained all the horrible things he had done to her, but now that Athena’s memories were back, he doubted it would ever happen.Athena wore a stoic look on her face after wiping the tears away. “I remember everything now. And when I say everything… It means from being imprisoned by Andrew Morgan until the moment you saved me and made me your sex slave.” She looked at Ethan with so much hatred. “Until you got me pregnant and married me. Then you went to country Y to fix the problem in your company so Ina could execute your plan. She pushed me down the stairs because you asked her to get rid of my child.” Ethan frowned at what she said.“What are you saying?” Ethan looked at her in disbelief. ‘I did not ask Ina to harm Athena nor kill her.’ He thought. “I did not ask her to do that,”
“Athena!!! Open this damn door!” Austin kept banging on her door. He looked like he was ready to kill someone with his brows knitted together, his teeth gritting against each other, and his fists clenched.Austin was about to kick open Athena’s door when she opened it, leaving his foot in the air.“What?” she asked, nonchalantly.He frowned. “What did that bastard say to you? Why are you acting like this? And what is this?” He looked at the luggage lined up alongside Athena’s bed. “Why are you packing your things? Where do you think you’re going? Do you think I will allow you to leave this place?” Athena chuckled at what he said like she heard him say something hilarious, making Austin frown in confusion.“Do you think I will let anyone manipulate me again? He never told me anything. I decided to go with him on my own. And this is the freedom I’ve been waiting for so long. Even you, my brother, can’t stop me from leaving this place,” she said while taking her luggage
COUNTRY P“You can leave me here. I can manage by myself,” Athena said. They just arrived at the airport in country P using Ethan’s private plane.Ethan frowned. “And where do you think you’re going?”“No, I can’t leave you here alone. If you want, I’ll send you to the presidential palace or your dad’s private villa if you don’t want to stay at my house,” Ethan suggested.“No, I want to be alone. I will call you tomorrow.” She took her luggage and backpack and then left Ethan in the hallway. She decided she would stay in a small apartment, somewhere around the city and live freely. Ethan has no choice but to let Athena go, but he ordered one of his men to follow behind and make sure she'd be safe.
“Before I forget, I want a divorce.” Ethan was deafened upon hearing Athena’s announcement.“But–” Athena glared at him sideways, which had him stop talking.“Send me the papers immediately,” she ordered.“You should stay at my house, where you will be safe. Don’t worry, I won’t meddle with your plans. I was just worried about your safety. And also, I can give you access to the dungeon. You can use it to torture your enemies,” he suggested.‘Well, it’s not that bad. Staying at the hideout, then torturing Ina in the dungeon… Sounds like a good idea,’ She thought. “Alright, I want to stay somewhere else. I don’t want t
“Max Willies,” Joseph replied.“That asshole.” Ethan gritted his teeth and clenched his fists. “He wanted to kidnap you,” He said as he looked at Athena, who remained calm and didn’t react.“Where is he?” she asked. But she frowned when she heard a beeping sound. “What is that?” Her eyes widened. She knew that sound… Austin taught her how to identify types of explosives, detonators, and timing devices, and right now, that sound resembled a ticking time bomb. She felt terrified, and her heart started beating so fast.“There’s a bomb somewhere in this room.” She exclaimed as she looked at Ethan.“I didn’t plant anything in this room,” Ethan said as his forehead crea
“Oh, Marcus! I’m so glad that you’re here! Come. Join me. We will celebrate!” Marcus and Ethan frowned at Athena’s actions.Athena was holding a bottle of whiskey on one hand and a glass of ice in the other, and she walked toward them like she was about to fall over. They panicked when she almost tripped and fell to the ground. Luckily, Ethan caught her, and Marcus rescued the bottle from breaking as it flew in the air.“Hey Athena, what happened??!” Marcus asked and shook his head disappointingly. ‘She’s not used to drinking liquor. What is she doing?’“Oh, Ethan, you’re here too.” She stood up properly and fixed her clothes. She felt a bit dizzy, but she ignored it. “Wait! Why are there two of you in front of me?? Who’s the real one? Oh, there are two of you too, Marcus.” Athena giggled.Marcus and Ethan looked at each other.“Why is she drunk at this hour?” Marcus wondered out loud and made a facepalm. “What is happening to her? Athena rarely drinks alcoholic
Ethan whispered. “Just admit it. Your actions seem to disagree with what your lips are saying.” Athena opened her eyes when she realized what had happened.Well, she wasn’t ready to admit to herself that somehow she felt disappointed that the kiss didn’t happen. She gritted her teeth and pushed Ethan violently. “Damn you!” She punched Ethan in his chest as her eyes burned with anger.“How do I feel?!” Her voice cracked, and in a second, tears escaped from her eyes. “I hate you! I hate you for letting me fall for you! I hate you because even though you hurt me several times, my heart chooses to love you!” She continued punching him, and Ethan just accepted each blow.“I hate you because you are an asshole! And you got me confused! You care for me for one second, and after that, I know you’ll hurt me again. I wish I had never met you.”“You know what? I’m supposed to be celebrating right now… Now that we got divorced. I finally received the freedom I had prayed fo
“ARE YOU INSANE?!” Marcus’ voice thundered. He was furious when Athena told him what happened between her and Ethan last night. Who wouldn’t be? Anyone who knew how Ethan hurt Athena years ago would get furious.“Can you please lower your voice?” She looked at her surroundings and noticed that the other customers inside the coffee shop were looking at them. Athena looked at them apologetically and mouthed sorry. They were sitting in the corner beside the floor-to-ceiling glass windows that gave them a view of the busy streets outside. Marcus made an exasperated sigh. “You know what? Come… Let’s go to the hospital and have your brain checked.” He stood up from his seat, grasped Athena’s wrist, and tried pulling her up.“Hey, can you please calm down? People are looking at us suspiciously.” She rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to be so dramatic? Sit down, and I will explain everything to you.” Marcus sat back in his seat and drank his iced coffee.“This explanation b