“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
“Will you marry me? But this time… let’s do it for real and because of love.” Athena chuckled at what Ethan said.“Hmmm… Let me think.” She even placed her index finger on her chin to tease Ethan.“Come on, my knee hurts. I need your answer. Is it yes or no? Is that a hard decision for you to think about?” Athena gasps and her eyes widen. She was surprised that this man proposing in front of her is too demanding, and needs an answer right away.“Hey, it’s the decision of a lifetime, and it won’t be easy. What if you hurt me again?”“I won’t,” He answered immediately.“But what if your enemies find out about us?”“I will protect you and our children. No matter what happens, I won’t let anyone lay a finger on our family,” Ethan said seriously.“What if you get hurt?”“As long as you’re not, I am okay,” He answered right away.“What if there comes a time that you will not love me anymore? That you’re fed up with me and find me boring?” She asked again.“That won’t happen. I won’t let it
“Goddammit!” Ethan cursed. “How is it possible for this old man to escape right away?!” He punched the glass window of the car owned by Andrew Morgan. Blood was dripping from his fist, but he didn’t mind the pain it caused.“Search the area! And make sure you find the old guy! Don’t come back without bringing Andrew Morgan to me, or else I will kill you all!” His voice roared as he commanded his men. They spread out immediately and searched, afraid of getting scolded.“M-master,” Ethan glared as his new driver called his attention. His knees were wobbling as he knew about Ethan and his temper, but he still managed to speak up. “Y-your hand… It needs to be treated.” Ethan looked at his hand, dripping with blood.“I don’t need that now,” he said in a bitter tone. “Let’s get Stephen Lee,” he ordered and went straight to his car, with the driver following behind him.Earlier, his men tracked Andrew down and informed him about the old man’s whereabouts. They found out that Andrew’s car was
“Hey, why are you crying?” Ethan panicked when he came back and saw her in tears.“What happened, love? Tell me?” He asked again.Athena looked at him with tears streaming down her cheeks. He reached out to wipe it with his clean hand, but Athena refused, and she wiped the tears on her own.“Do you still love me?” Ethan was stunned when Athena asked him.“Of course, Baby. I really love you.”“But why do you need to leave just to answer your damn phone call?! Are you having an affair with someone?! Are you cheating on me?! Tell me! So, we can end this relationship once and for all!” Ethan was dumbfounded by what Athena said.‘My Athena is jealous.’ He smiled at his thought.“Why are you smiling? I am serious here.” She wiped her tears and glared at Ethan who was still smiling at her.“I didn’t know that you get jealous so easily.” He grinned, which made Athena hit him.“Don’t worry, baby… You’re the only woman I love and no one else. I will never do that to you.”“Then why are you dist