Athena, a gifted pianist, loses everything after a mysterious accident robs her of the use of her hand. As she struggles to rebuild her life, dark secrets about her husband Leon and her best friend Crystal come to light—their betrayal runs deeper than she ever imagined. With the help of Arthur, a mysterious man with a vendetta, Athena devises a plan to expose their deceit. But as they work together, the lines between trust and suspicion blur, leaving Athena wondering: is Arthur truly her ally, or does he have ulterior motives? As their game reaches its peak, will Athena find justice, or will she become ensnared in an even darker web of betrayal?
Lihat lebih banyak"Leon, where are you?"
Athena's voice trembled as she pressed the redial button on her phone. Her fifth call in the past hour had been met only with the cold sound of a waiting tone. Worry gnawed at her, making her bite her lower lip, especially after her mother had called from the hospital, weakly repeating her husband's name.
"Mrs. Athena? Excuse me, but shall we leave now? Perhaps Mr. Leon is still stuck on the city’s connecting road?" Edward, her assistant, suddenly approached, nearly causing the wine glass in her tightly gripped hand to slip.
"I can't calm down until I see my husband, Ed. He promised to be with me, and my mother's call earlier... What if he's in some kind of trouble right now?" Athena sighed heavily, the finest goose feathers adorning her wide-brimmed hat shifting slightly with her breath.
"But, ma'am—"
"The businessman hosting this event is one of Leon's new associates, Ed. It would be better for me to arrive with him to avoid questions from the reporters that will only give me a headache."
"Alright, ma'am. How about delaying your departure for another ten minutes? I’ll notify the event organizers of the change."
Nodding, Athena let her assistant leave. With her fingers clad in white mesh gloves, she reached for her phone again. She intended to call her husband once more but was distracted by a notification that shattered her heart.
"Impossible! How could they be together?!"
***
Flashes of light alternated, illuminating Athena’s beautiful face as she stepped out of a black limousine. The clicking of cameras grew louder as she walked down the red carpet, forcing a fake smile and a soft wave of her delicate fingers.
Who didn’t know Athena Rose Waverly? In addition to being a talented pianist, her last name alone revealed her to be the daughter of a renowned business mogul. Born into fame, her name echoed across the nation, especially after her marriage to Leon Alexander Thorne—a man coveted by many women.
"Mrs. Athena? You’ve arrived alone at tonight's party? Where is Mr. Leon? Weren’t you both listed to attend together this evening?"
"Yes, Mrs. Athena. Where is your husband? Could the rumors be true? Is your marriage on the rocks after less than a year?"
"So, the photos circulating on social media are real, Mrs. Athena? Your husband is having an affair with your best friend? Is this the worst birthday gift you’ve ever received, Mrs. Athena?"
Forcing another smile, Athena continued walking, ignoring the reporters swarming her. Her dazzling evening gown reflected the light from the crystal chandeliers, making her appear mesmerizing to everyone present, though beneath her graceful smile lay a turmoil she couldn’t dispel.
"Mrs. Athena, it’s time. Everyone is eagerly awaiting your piano performance," Edward whispered, snapping her out of her reverie.
"Alright, don’t forget to signal me if my husband arrives." Athena tried to remain positive, but before heading to the stage, she turned to look at the man behind her with a slightly quivering gaze. "Do you think, I haven’t been a perfect wife for Leon?"
"Excuse me, ma’am?"
"Ah, it’s nothing. I... I’m just nervous!" She shook her head, ending the conversation with a smile. For the first time, she felt unsure of herself. But despite her doubts, she resolved to deliver her best performance that night.
"Good! It feels like I’m about to play the soundtrack to my own downfall!"
With her mask of composure firmly in place, Athena waved to the guests. She forced herself to banish the haunting image of her husband’s intimate photo with her best friend, captivating everyone with her performance—including someone watching her from afar.
"Perfect! Give it your all tonight, darling. Enjoy this moment while you can, for tonight marks your ruin!"
Applause and cheers erupted as Athena’s music bewitched the audience. She delivered the climax of her piece masterfully, channeling her shattered emotions into the melody.
"Mrs. Athena? The host of the event and the Mayor would like to speak with you. They seem deeply impressed by your performance tonight," Edward said, approaching with a drink in hand.
"How can I socialize when my mind and heart are in utter chaos, Ed?" Athena quickly wiped away a tear before accepting the drink. "Please find an excuse for me. Tell them I’ll speak with them another time."
"Understood, ma’am. I’ll let them know. Please wait here for a moment, and then—"
"I want to leave on my own. Give me your car keys; I’ll use the back gate to avoid the reporters. Apologize to everyone on my behalf for leaving early."
Without further ado, Athena downed the drink Edward had handed her. She frowned slightly at its odd taste but dismissed the feeling, unaware of the looming danger.
"Mr. Leon, Mrs. Athena has left the event as predicted!"
Oblivious to the conversation behind her, Athena continued walking away. Though the back gate was still busy, it offered respite from the reporters who stirred her childhood trauma—especially now, with Leon’s rumored affair circulating widely.
"How could Leon and Crystal have been carrying on behind my back? I... I can’t believe they’d do this to me!" Athena muttered, gripping the steering wheel tightly as she drove.
The quiet of the night road gave her the freedom to accelerate. She pushed Edward’s car to its limit under the dim glow of the streetlights. Her hands trembled on the wheel, her mind consumed by the photos of her husband and best friend at a hotel.
[They look so intimate. Are you sure they’re just friends?]
The text from an unknown number echoed in her head. Athena’s headache worsened. Finally, the tears she’d held back spilled freely, leaving her sobbing as pain tore through her heart.
"How could you do this to me, Leon? I love you so much, but why did you betray me like this?!"
The storm of emotions caused her head to throb. Her vision darkened as she reflexively swerved the car, sending it skidding. A deafening crash reverberated as sparks flew.
"This is your downfall, Athena!"
"Sorry..."Not far from the city's chaos, in a modest apartment tucked inside a quiet complex, Athena sat curled in a chair by the window.She had rented the place under a false name, using forged documents—anything to disappear. She knew Arthur would look for her, and that was exactly why she had to vanish. It was the only way to protect both him and Reyna from more pain."I'm sorry, prince. I'm so sorry," she whispered again, though the words barely reached her ears anymore.Tears welled as she hugged her knees to her chest, forehead pressed to the cool glass. The world outside carried on—cars passing, voices rising—but none of it touched her.The ache wasn’t just emotional anymore. It lived in her body now—tight in her chest, heavy in her limbs. Across the street, a couple walked hand in hand. The man leaned in to adjust the woman’s scarf, s
The rain didn’t fall that night, but the sky remained gray as if it understood that someone was lost in the deafening silence.In the room that once echoed with laughter, Arthur sat alone. The chandelier's dim light reflected dully in his lifeless brown eyes. His fingers gripped his phone tightly, as though he were holding on to the last pieces of hope, now almost completely shattered.Athena’s name was still displayed on the screen. And just like so many times before, there was no answer. He took a deep breath, trying to push down the tightness in his chest while replaying every memory he had of her."Ah, that tickles! Let me go!"That voice still sounded so soft in his ears—the way she giggled as he kept kissing her neck. The echo of her laughter was something he could never forget. Her gaze and her smile always warmed his heart, as if he could still feel them now."Where are you now?" he murmured, barely audible. "Why did you have to leave without a word? Didn’t you say you loved s
"Baby...."When Arthur opened his eyes the next morning, the first thing he reached for was her—soft skin, steady breath, that familiar warmth he’d grown addicted to. But his hand touched only the cool, empty sheet beside him. Frowning, he sat up, blinking through the haze of sleep."Baby?" he called out softly, expecting her to answer from the bathroom.Silence.He waited a few seconds, listening. Still nothing. Throwing back the covers, Arthur climbed out of bed and padded to the bathroom door knocking lightly."Baby? You in there?"No answer.A chill crawled up his spine as he slowly pushed the door open. Empty. Pristine. The room smelled faintly of her perfume, but there was no trace of her presence. No running water. No voice calling back.He turned around, eyes scanning the bedroom again. Her clothes
Athena closed her eyes for a moment as she said her wish. She begged deeply from the bottom of her heart. She hoped that her prayers would be answered soon so that her days could continue to run normally like today."You're incredible!"Arthur's voice suddenly broke the momentary silence that almost brought tears to her eyes. She quickly smiled, before finally looking closely at the handsome face beside her with her fingers still finishing the melody."Don’t say that, prince.""I mean it. Watching you like this... I feel like I’m seeing magic!"Athena laughed for a moment, her cheeks turning a soft shade of pink. She let her fingers linger on a final note. Her voice softened. "I wouldn’t be here like this if it weren’t for you. I don’t think I’d have found the strength, the will... the music again. You never gave up on me, even when I gav
Tears began to fall again as Athena nodded. She clutched both of his strong arms that were still wrapped tightly around her body, taking a deep breath before fully turning to face the man before her."I’ve fallen so deeply in love with you too, prince," she said, her voice shaky as she tried to hold back the ache in her chest. "So deeply that I can’t stop thinking about you every single second of my life!"With their foreheads pressed gently together, Athena and Arthur finally shared a kiss. It was soft and calming, surrounded by the beauty of the setting sun. Their silhouettes lingered at the edge of the ship, bathed in the golden glow of warm, fading light."I… I need to use the restroom!"As the kiss turned hotter, Athena gently pulled away with her voice breathless. Arthur frowned slightly before finally letting out a small laugh."Again?"&nbs
Athena flinched at the sharp tone on the other end of the line. Her throat tightened, but she still tried to respond with a measured voice."I know, and I'm sorry. I didn't mean to delay anything. I just... I got caught up in—"["Spare me the drama!"] The voice cut her off again—cold, commanding, unforgiving. ["You think an apology will fix everything? I don't need your sorry. I need results. You promised to prove yourself, and so far? You're falling behind!"]"I just needed a little more time," Athena whispered, swallowing the knot in her throat. "Please… I—"["You don’t have more time! You only have a few hours left. I made it clear. Get it done and don’t forget to take the pills I gave you. You can’t afford mistakes now, not when things are this close. You know what’ll happen if you mess this up!"]There was a beat of silence as
"Damn it! She really is a control freak!"Crystal could no longer hold back her frustration after the woman beside her had truly left. She shot an annoyed glance at her biological mother, who hadn’t defended her earlier, then narrowed her eyes even more sharply when she turned to Leon—who was sitting silently as if lost in deep thought."Why does it feel like she’s known you for a long time? Were you two close before? Or… was she your ex or something?"Leon returned her gaze, expressionless, before slowly pushing his chair back. "I think this meeting is over, isn’t it? I’d like to head home now. If you all want to stay, that’s up to you.""You... you’re seriously ignoring my question?" Crystal gasped in disbelief, her eyes narrowing even more as her breathing grew heavier. "You’re going to see her, aren’t you? Don’t forget, Leon. My r
Athena breathed, as tears slipped from the corners of her eyes, caught between joy and release.They moved together, slowly at first, learning each other’s rhythms like a love song only they could hear. The world faded around them, replaced only by the shared warmth of skin and the silent thunder of feeling too great to be spoken aloud.In that moment, there was no past pain, no burden of secrets or fears. There were only the two of them—raw, real, and whole.Their whispers became promises. Their sighs became prayers."You are everything!" When they reached the height of their union—when time itself seemed to stand still—Arthur cupped her face and looked deep into her eyes.Tears slid down Athena’s cheeks as she kissed him again and again, whispering against his lips, "I love you, prince! I love you, Arthur! I love you, Mr. James! And I love al
The ocean whispered just beyond the sand, and a soft breeze tangled through Athena’s hair as she leaned gently against Arthur’s side. The two of them sat on a blanket near the shore, not far from their villa—barefoot, warm, and wrapped in the glow of a fire pit flickering beside them. The night had draped its velvet cloak over the island, and above, a sea of stars shimmered like scattered diamonds."It feels like the sky is blessing us tonight." Athena looked up, her voice a quiet melody. Arthur followed her gaze, then turned to her with a soft smile."It’s because you’re under it!"She laughed lightly, nudging him with her shoulder. "Stop that, prince. You’re getting too good at the poetic stuff!""You mean the truth?"Athena rested her head on his shoulder then, letting her eyes close for a moment. "I used to pray for peace. For moments
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