“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
“No! No! No! MARCUS!” Athena kept on shaking Marcus’ unmoving body, which was covered with blood. She tried to stop the bleeding from Marcus’ neck, not minding her own wounds caused by the shattered glass that flew in her direction.She was sitting on the floor, crying and trying to revive Marcus, and she had blood all over her, but she did not care. When the shooting stopped, Ethan and his men tried to chase the gunman, but the guy was long gone. Athena looked at Ethan helplessly as he stood in front of her.“Marcus is gone, Ethan.” Her voice broke as her tears kept flowing down her cheeks like a waterfall.Ethan kneeled down and wiped the tears off her face. “I’m sorry. We couldn’t find the guy responsible for your friend’s death.” He hugged her as cried her eyes out again.“What will I do? He came back just to see me …” She cried. “It’s my fault, Ethan… It’s my fault. Marcus is gone because of me.”“Hush now… He sacrificed his life to protect you. It’s not your fault, okay? Don’
“What are you doing here?” Stephen asked.He had just arrived at his house in country P when he noticed that all the lights inside his house were turned on, and when Stephen opened the door, he saw Andrew sitting on the couch comfortably. He was watching the news while eating food at the center table. Stephen looked around and noticed Andrew had been living at his house for a while as his things were not in the same place where he left them. He made an exasperated sigh and brought his luggage inside the house.“How long have you been staying here? And why didn’t you tell me you’d be invading my space?” He asked.Andrew Morgan clicked his tongue before turning off the tv and faced Stephen. He used his little finger to clean his nose and flicked the dirt in the air. And as if he wasn’t disgusting enough, he scratched his bald head and scattered dandruff everywhere. He looked older than before. His skin looked wrinkled, and he was more tan. But even though he lost some weight, he still
“You can wait for me here,” Athena said when the car stopped at the entrance of the hotel Stephen, specified in his instructions.“Are you sure? I can accompany you inside.” Ethan offered, but Athena shook her head and smiled at him reassuringly.“No, it’s okay. I know Stephen. He won’t do anything bad or something that could hurt me, right? Besides, we’re just talking… So, don’t worry.” Ethan took a deep breath.“I just have a bad feeling. Why does it have to be at a hotel? Why can’t you meet at a restaurant or our house?” Ethan frowned in irritation. He didn’t want Athena to meet Stephen in a private place where they could be alone.“Don’t worry. I will call you once I enter the room, so you can hear our conversation. And if something comes up, you know the room number, and you can find me. Besides, I can protect myself.” “Alright… Just promise you’ll keep your line open, okay?” Athena nodded. “I’ll wait for you here. I won’t go anywhere.” Ethan replied as she was about to get out
"You'll pay for this." Ethan grabbed Stephen by his collar and punched his face. He started beating Stephen until he became weak and his eyes were beaten shut.Athena woke up to the sound of Ethan beating Stephen Up.“P-please, Ethan… D-don’t kill him.” She struggled as she tried to stand up to stop him from punching the half-conscious doctor to a pulp. Ethan stopped what he was doing and assisted Athena.“Let’s bring him with us.” She instructed Ethan.“Why? He almost raped you.” Ethan said with a frown. He was fuming mad that Athena was still concerned about Stephen.“I want him to ask why he did this to me. He wasn’t like this when we met… He doesn’t seem like the Stephen that I know.” Worriedly, Athena pleaded, which made Ethan mad.“Because the Stephen you knew was not real! He was just pretending. This is the real him.” Ethan pointed at the unconscious Stephen.Athena frowned in confusion. “What do you mean?” She asked as she continued massaging her head.Ethan sighed and called
Stephen was terrified by what Ethan had said. He didn’t want to get killed by anyone.“I don’t want to die. Please help me. I will do everything I can to make amends with you. Please… just don’t kill me or send me back to Uncle Andrew.” Stephen pleaded.“How can I make it up to you, Athena? Please forgive me. I didn’t intend to lie to you.” He looked at Athena, hoping that he would be forgiven. But he lost all hope when Athena turned away.“Use him to track Andrew Morgan. After that, do whatever you want with him.” She ordered Ethan in a cold tone before leaving the room. This made Ethan smirk in satisfaction.“You heard it clearly, right? You have to cooperate with us. We need to know Andrew’s plan but don’t worry, I will not kill you if you stay away from Athena from this day on.”“I will… Just let me live.” Stephen agreed.“I will let you free, but one of my men will monitor you from afar. Also, you’ll need to use these.” Ethan gave him a recording stick, a phone, and a tracking de
Ethan arrived at the office, and Greg, his secretary, welcomed him with paperwork to be signed. “After this, call the accounting and marketing managers for a meeting. Tell them to meet me in the conference room. When is my out-of-town business trip?” Ethan asked.“It won't be until the end of the month, Sir. You have a trip to Japan for a week. And next month, you’re meeting with the new investors at Country Z for 2 days.”“Reschedule the meetings and inform the investors I will meet with here in our office. Let’s arrange a video conference call for my business meeting in Japan. I won’t be going out of the country for the next few months.” He informed his secretary.Ethan finished signing the documents, and as the meeting started, one of the utility personnel brought coffee for everyone. After the meeting, Ethan felt a bit dizzy, and everything in front of him became blurry. He heard his secretary telling him Athena was looking for him.“Let her in,” Ethan said as he massaged his temp
“Are you okay?” Ethan asked worriedly.Athena was in the kitchen preparing lunch when she felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground. Fortunately, Ethan, who entered the kitchen to get some water, caught her.“Y-yeah. I just tripped from my own feet.” Ethan frowned.‘She’s clearly lying, and we both know it. She was just standing there when she almost fell over. And now her face looks white as a sheet.’“You are not okay,” He stated. “Look at you… You’re pale and sweating bullets. You look sick… I will bring you to the hospital. You need a check-up.” Ethan was about to pick her up when Athena stepped backward and raised her hand to stop him.“No need.” Ethan got confused by Athena’s reaction.“But you’re not alright, Athena. Come, let me bring you to your room,” He said, but Athena kept resisting. “I can manage by myself,” she said sternly.“What is going on, Athena? Why do you keep on resisting? I’m just concerned that you might fall flat on your face.”“I’m fine, really.” Ethan sighed