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Beneath the Golden Mask

last update Last Updated: 2025-01-07 16:25:48

"Okay, make the most of your time!"

At midnight, Athena slipped into the hospital, dressed in a nurse's uniform Arthur had provided. Her heart pounded as she moved through the quiet corridors. Her breath caught, when she finally reached her mother’s room.

"Mom?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Her mother lay peacefully in bed under the soft glow of the bedside lamp. The steady beeping of the monitors was the only sound in the room. She stepped closer, sitting down beside the bed and gently taking her mother’s warm but frail hand.

"I’ve missed you so much," she choked out, her cries heart-wrenching.

"I don’t even know where to start, Mom. Everything’s such a mess. Leon... he’s not who I thought he was. He’s destroyed everything!"

Athena leaned closer, letting her tears fall freely. This was the only peace she could find. Her mother didn’t stir, but just being near her brought a small measure of comfort.

"There’s a man guiding me through all of this, Mom. I don’t know if I can trus
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  • The Piano of Vengeance   Entwined Fates

    Arthur froze, his usual composure shattered by the unexpected kiss. His grip on her waist faltered for a brief second before he regained control, pulling back slightly but keeping her within the embrace of their dance."It's too far, Athena.""Too far?" Athena smirked, unfazed by his rebuke. "You’ve already brought me into the lion’s den, Arthur. I’d say we’re far beyond ‘too far.’ You don’t scare me!"Leaning in closer, Athena's lips brushed his ear. Arthur held his breath when he felt all that. He couldn't resist pulling Athena's slender waist closer, but unfortunately just as he was about to bend down to kiss her in return, Athena slightly moved away by restraining his movement."I saw your sister," she said suddenly making Arthur stop staring at her even more."You don’t know what you’re talking about, Athena.""Don’t I?" Athena countered, her tone sharp. "She’s the reason you’re doing all of this, isn’t she? You’re not just after revenge, you’re trying to save her. Why hide it fr

    Last Updated : 2025-01-08
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Beyond the Plan

    "Leon! Did you think I didn’t see how much you enjoyed dancing with that woman?!"The sudden sound of a door opening made Athena and Arthur quickly turn their heads. From the door's opening, Crystal’s voice was unmistakably clear and filled with anger. She entered the room, followed closely by Leon, who wore an expression of frustration.Before they could turn around, Arthur quickly pulled Athena toward the wooden wardrobe in the corner of the room. Without a second thought, he decided to hide there. He deliberately left the wardrobe door slightly ajar so they could keep an eye on everything happening outside."Why do I have to run into them again? Honestly, I’m so sick of this!" Athena muttered quietly, causing Arthur, who was cramped beside her, to smirk slightly."Seems like you’ve forgotten that the man you’re so sick of is still your husband.""Yes, and very soon, I’ll gladly give up that title! Honestly, I still can’t believe I ever loved someone like him!" she hissed, full of c

    Last Updated : 2025-01-09
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Racing Against Time

    "I'll be there soon!"Athena held her breath as she noticed the change in Arthur's expression. When he first heard about the previous news, the man appeared calm, as if he could handle everything. But now? Panic was written on his face, even though he seemed to be trying hard to hide it."Tell me, Arthur. Who called you? It wasn’t one of your men at the hospital, was it? It’s not—""It was my man over there!""What?"Athena's breathing grew more erratic upon hearing that statement. Her eyes widened as her thoughts became a chaotic mess, especially when Arthur suddenly drove so fast that he cut through several cars in front of him."Arthur, what’s happening with my mother? She... She can still be saved, right?" she asked, her voice trembling and barely audible.Without turning to her, Arthur pressed the gas pedal harder. It was as though he was racing against time, and soon Athena frowned slightly as she realized the direction they were heading."Are you taking me back home?" she asked

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  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Weight of the Past

    Beep!A sudden flash of lightning illuminated the dark, causing Athena to duck instinctively. Her forehead nearly collided with the seat in front of her as she tightened her grip on the unconscious woman in her lap. Rain hammered against the taxi, the rhythmic pounding a stark reminder of the danger closing in."Ma’am," the driver said, his voice edged with urgency. "There’s a car following us. Do you recognize it?"Athena’s heart sank as she turned to look. The unmistakable shape of Leon’s car loomed behind them. Her pulse quickened, and she turned back to face the driver. "No, I don’t know them. Please, don’t let them find out where we’re going.""Yes, Ma'am. Do you need me to call the police?""No, just… just make sure they don’t follow us. And please, don’t let anyone know about the woman in this car. She’s my… she’s family!"Nodded, the driver pressed harder on the gas, weaving through traffic with calculated precision. He turned abruptly at a busy intersection, the sudden maneuv

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  • The Piano of Vengeance   Shattered Reflections

    "What are you trying to say, Athena? You don’t—""This is one of the pieces of evidence I accidentally found while hiding with you. To me, it’s enough to prove that I’m the one truly at fault here."Shaking his head, Arthur then guided the woman beside him toward his room. He didn’t take the paper Athena was holding out to him. One of his hands moved quickly to open the door before stepping inside and standing there."Take off your clothes!" Athena’s eyes widened before the man continued, "Change into dry, warmer clothes. Night rain can make you more susceptible to illness.""But—""I’ll turn around and won’t leave until I’ve treated your wounds. You’re overthinking things, Athena, to the point where you haven’t noticed the cut on your neck from the glass shards."Athena froze, only now noticing the red stain on her neck. She winced slightly as she accidentally touched the wound. But before she could speak again, Arthur had already turned to face the wall, as if proving his words."I’

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  • The Piano of Vengeance   Shadows of Guilt

    "Ouch!"Athena clutched her head, which had suddenly begun to ache severely. Her brow furrowed slightly as she took in her surroundings. It seemed she was no longer in the bathroom. Everything had changed without her noticing, including the time, which now appeared to be midday."What happened?" Athena murmured as she tried to recall the events that had led her there.As far as she remembered, she had been about to change her clothes last night after battling with her thoughts. She vaguely recalled feeling dizzy. Everything had spun for her, and then suddenly..."Oh my gosh, I fainted?" Her eyes widened as she realized another surprising fact.Her clothes—her clothes had completely changed. Not only that, but she felt cleaner all over, even though she couldn’t remember cleaning herself."Arthur... Was it him who did all this?" she said breathlessly, realizing a man was sleeping beside her.Not exactly beside her—Arthur was sleeping in a small chair next to the bed with one hand restin

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  • The Piano of Vengeance   Between Love and Vengeance

    Athena's breath hitched as the man before she moved even closer. His sharp, mysterious gaze was no longer focused on her eyes but had shifted downward. She shook her head briefly, trying to dispel the fleeting thoughts invading her mind. But instead of stepping back, the man smiled faintly."What's wrong, Athena? I won't understand anything if you just shake your head," he whispered which made Athena turn her gaze in another direction to catch her breath."You're too close, Arthur. You... We... We shouldn't—""We shouldn't what, hmm? I still don't understand unless you say it clearly."Athena's breath grew uneven as she tried to speak. No words came out. She felt trapped—not by Arthur, but by the conflicting emotions warring within her.Her body jolted as if electrified when she felt him gently stroke her face. The masculine scent he exuded sent strange shivers through her body, especially as his touch moved from her cheek downward toward her lips."Tell me to stop, Athena. At least p

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  • The Piano of Vengeance   The New Me!

    "I still don’t like this idea. You’re taking too big a risk going alone!" Arthur's lips thinned into a tight line. His displeasure is apparent. He certainly did not want to take any further risks, especially since he would not be able to watch Athena closely."I will come with various evidence that can secure me, Arthur. I won’t be alone. I'm sure he won't be able to fight me directly anymore, even if he keeps trying to get rid of me.""And what if Leon retaliates? He's ruthless, Athena.""I’ll make him pay for everything he’s done to me and your sister first. That way, he won't be able to do anything to me more," she assured, which made Arthur rub his face for a moment."You're too confident.""At least that's one of the things I learned from you. I can't just stay here waiting for your help because I don't want him to take over everything I have."Silent, Arthur finally cast his gaze in another direction. Athena immediately grabbed his hand again. She grasped it expectantly until s

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Latest chapter

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Only Way Out

    "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 Piano of Vengeance   Twisted Devotion

    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

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Unwanted Morning

    "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

  • The Piano of Vengeance   One Final Symphony

    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

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Last Surprise

    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

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Drama I Never Asked For

    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

  • The Piano of Vengeance   Strings of Control

    "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

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Calm Before the Flame

    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 Piano of Vengeance   Only the Stars Watched

    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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