"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
"No, no! Tell me this annoying woman is just dreaming, Leon! Those letters… they’re all fake, right?""Unfortunately, everything I’ve said is true, Crystal. Now that you know all this, what are you going to do? Stick with a man who only has good looks, or run off to find another rich man? Hmm?"With confident strides, Athena approached her former best friend. The sound of her high heels echoed like a war drum to Leon. He exhaled sharply, loosening his collar as his wife turned to him with a thin smile and tilted her chin slightly toward Crystal."It seems I’m starting to like this new version of myself! It feels… What does it feel like? Look at all your expressions—they’re so entertaining I can’t help but laugh!""Damn it! You think we’re all clowns, huh?!" Crystal moved to swat Athena’s hand away from her face, but before she could retaliate, Athena stopped her."Shh! I’m not finished speaking, Crystal. Do you know how most villains in fairy tales begin? Most of them were good people
"Apologies, Mrs. Athena. If I may ask, where is Arthur right now? Wasn’t he last seen with you when you were trapped in the elevator?"Hearing the whisper, Athena chuckled softly. She quickly made a gesture of apology as Leon’s business associate’s gaze returned to her, then stepped out of the room once Crystal exited ahead of her."It's a pity you’re asking about Arthur first, Ed. Aren’t you even the slightest bit worried about me after working for me all these years?" she quipped gently, aware of the footsteps behind her."Apologies, ma’am. Seeing how healthy you look, I assumed—""Have you not noticed these scars of mine? Ah, I guess no one in this world truly pays attention to me."Spotting the small scratches along his mistress’s elegant neck, Edward's eyes widened slightly. He seemed momentarily lost for words until Athena hastily covered the marks with the edge of her clothing."Forget it. Deep down, you all want to get rid of me anyway, right? So what’s the point of hoping for
"Wait! Why did she stop here?"Seeing Athena walk toward a different hospital, Arthur's brow furrowed slightly. His eyes narrowed as he observed the woman, who appeared to be in a hurry."Perhaps she wants to get herself checked?""If that’s the case, why not at the previous hospital?""I'm sorry, Sir. I don’t know. Or would you like me to go down and check what’s going on with her directly?"Shaking his head briefly, Arthur glanced down at his phone. "Just wait here. She should be coming out soon, and then we’ll pick her up!"Inside the hospital, Athena appeared increasingly anxious as a receptionist began searching for records of her mother’s whereabouts. Her breath grew heavier when she heard a soft sigh that made her even more tense."I'm sorry, Ma'am. There’s no record of a patient named Evelyn G. Waverly being admitted today. May I see the transfer documents?"Handed them over, Athena's hands slightly trembling. The receptionist scrutinized them before shaking her head. "These l
"Ah, come on. Don't joke around, Arthur. I don't have time for that."Smiling slightly, Arthur then returned his gaze to the woman beside him. "I'm not joking at all, Athena. I like that nickname!"Athena’s cheeks flushed even deeper as she clenched her fists in her lap. She tries to avoid his gaze. She couldn’t let Arthur see how flustered she truly was. Forcing herself to maintain composure, she straightened her posture and cleared her throat."Arthur, focus! We’re not here to discuss… pet names. We need to figure out how to turn this situation against Leon. That’s the priority!""Pet names?" Another crisp laugh came from the man's mouth. "You're much more than that, Athena. But... Yes, you have a point too. We should refocus on Leon because by utilizing his ridiculous ways, we will be able to pressure him even more!"Taking a shallow breath, Athena felt slightly relieved as Arthur's attention was no longer focused on her. At least she didn’t have to deal with the captivating gaze o
Athena’s breath hitched as she heard the serious threat from the man beside her. She immediately slapped his hand away as he reached for her face again and moved back while scanning her surroundings warily."How? Are you willing?" he asked, settling back into his throne."What guarantee do I have that you won’t break your promise?""That weak woman will be left here. Anyone can find her and help her escape, but after that, you’ll have to come with us to another place!""To where?"Shaking his head briefly, the man, who still hadn’t revealed his full face, shot her a sharp glance. "You’re asking too many questions, Athena. You’ll find out where it is once you’re with us!"Feeling hands grip her shoulders, Athena immediately struggled. It seemed she was already too late to escape. The masked people around her were closing in, leaving her cornered."Let go of me! I haven’t agreed to anything!" Athena shouted, prompting a few of those around her to chuckle."Unfortunately, you’re out of t
"Ssshh!"Athena's words were cut short as a hand clamped over her mouth from behind. Her heart pounded wildly, fear coursing through her veins. Struggling instinctively, she attempted to elbow her attacker, only to hear a familiar voice chuckle softly."Easy, Athena. It's me!"Her movements halted instantly. She twisted her head, and her wide, terrified eyes met the familiar, calming gaze of Arthur. "You scared me half to death!" she hissed, smacking his chest lightly, though her voice carried no anger. "Sorry about that. I didn’t want to startle you." Arthur offered her a small, apologetic smile. "But I had to make sure no one was following you. Are you alright?""Yeah, I’m fine." Her fear melted into a strange warmth that she couldn’t quite name. "But what happened back there? Why didn’t you come out when I was talking to the police?""I couldn’t risk Leon knowing I was there, Athena. If he suspects me, it’ll complicate everything. I almost caught him tonight, but....""But what?"
Athena's hands instinctively reached out, her arms wrapping around Arthur's neck before he could pull away. Her sudden action caught him off guard, his eyes widening slightly as he gazed down at her."How do you expect your wounds to heal if you keep ignoring them like this?" she began, her voice soft but firm.Gently brushing against the damp skin before her, Athena began at Arthur's broad chest, still marked with several small scratches. Every so often, she glanced back at his face as if waiting for a reaction, her delicate fingers continuing their exploration until they reached the sculpted muscles adorning the surface of his abdomen."Swimming isn’t exactly the best way to recover," she whispered making the man in front of her laugh slightly and restrain her hand movements."So you are my doctor now? Heum?""I’m serious, Arthur!" Athena's brows furrowed, and her lips pressed into a thin line. "You can’t keep acting like you’re invincible. What if something worse happens?" "Oh, ar
"Huh!"Arthur stepped out of the shower, running a towel through his damp hair as he walked toward the bedroom. His lips curled into a smirk, thinking about Athena’s flustered expression earlier.He was about to call out to her when he noticed something odd. The room was eerily silent. Athena was nowhere to be seen. His smirk faded."Athena?" he called out in confusion as he looked in several directions. His chest tightened. Something was wrong.Arthur grabbed his phone and quickly dialed Athena’s number. The call connected, but there was no answer. His heart pounded harder as he tried again. This time, he heard it—her ringtone. It was faint, distant… coming from outside the room.That was when he noticed the open window.His blood ran cold.He strode toward it, his sharp gaze scanning the area below. Footpr
Arthur murmured, reaching for the hem of her shirt. His fingertips brushed against her skin, sending another wave of warmth through her."Arthur…" Athena hesitated, her cheeks burning."What is it, baby?" He smiled, tilting his head. "Shy all of a sudden?" His fingers trailed along her waist, teasing. "After all this time, and after everything we’ve done, you still blush like this? Adorable!"Athena bit her lip, trying to find the words to respond, but all she could focus on was the heat pooling in her chest, the way her body was betraying her."Relax," he whispered and let out a soft chuckle before pressing a lingering kiss to her forehead. "I won’t push you." He pulled back slightly, reaching for a towel on the rack before gently wrapping it around her shoulders. "Tonight isn’t the right time for this.""W–what?"Arthur
"Turn around and face the mirror. What style name would suit our current appearance?"Giggling, Athena followed the instructions of the man still holding her close. She turned to face the mirror and observed the mess on both herself and Arthur. But that didn't last long, as a smile reflexively spread across her face when she realized just how sweet the scene before her was.Sweet? Yes, that’s how Athena saw it, even though she and Arthur still looked a mess, with traces of dust and paint smudging their bodies. She momentarily pushed aside that thought, as her focus suddenly shifted to the way Arthur was holding her, looking at her, and even kissing her shoulder.Ah… Athena just realized how close she had allowed herself to be with this man. Sure, they had kissed several times before, but somehow, this moment felt different—sweeter. To her, it was almost like they were husband and wife, standing in fron
"Alright, overall, I like it. It just needs a few improvements and after that..."Athena hadn't even finished speaking when she suddenly felt the urge to turn around. She only just realized that Arthur had lagged behind her. Her eyes widened in shock as she noticed something about to fall directly above him.Without a second thought, she rushed toward Arthur. She grabbed his arm as hard as she could, pulling him away. The force made her stumble slightly before she eventually fell."Ahh!"Hearing her pained groan, Arthur's expression grew even more panicked. He wanted to get off Athena and check on her condition, but he couldn't move right away as sand and debris were still falling around them."Sir... Ma'am... Are you both alright?" The site manager hurried over, followed by several other project workers.They quickly helped Athena and Arthur up after ensuring that nothing else was falling. Fortunately, the bricks that had fallen missed them. However, they were both now covered in san
"I want to ensure the insulation meets the specifications we discussed!"Athena adjusted her hard hat as she walked alongside Arthur through the dusty construction site. The sound of hammers and drills filled the air, mixing with the occasional calls of workers coordinating tasks. Despite the commotion, Arthur’s voice was clear and steady as he addressed the site manager."Of course, sir," the site manager nodded. "We've sourced high-density soundproof panels, but if you have additional preferences, we can make adjustments.""What do you think?" Arthur turned to Athena, his sharp gaze scanning the half-built structure. "You were particular about the rehearsal rooms needing optimal sound control."Athena pursed her lips in thought, walking to the nearest unfinished classroom. She tapped the walls lightly before looking back at Arthur."The material is decent, but
"You’re still as stubborn as ever, Athena!""Yeah, you know what I'm like to you now. So don't ever try to seduce me in this silly way again!"For a moment, Leon's smirk faltered. He exchanged sharp glances with Athena. His breathing was ragged along with his annoyance at the woman until suddenly his grin returned along with a nod of his head."Fine, go ahead and leave. But don’t think this is over!""You're the most pathetic man I've ever seen, Leon!" Athena shook her head in disbelief. "If I were you, I wouldn't dare to show my face!""And if I were you, I would definitely forgive the mistakes of the man you once loved so much!"Without giving Athena a chance to respond, Leon immediately walked away. He ignored the garden he had decorated and even disregarded the bouquet he had specially ordered.Looking around once more, Athena let out a quiet sigh. She ran a hand over her face in frustration before finally leaving the place, her emotions in turmoil.Emotions in turmoil? Did that m
Knock! Knock! Knock!"Mrs. Athena?"The next morning as the first light of dawn crept through Athena’s curtains, she stretched lazily. She still feels the warmth of last night’s memories with Arthur lingering in her heart. A soft smile played on her lips as she recalled his teasing messages."Madam, are you awake?"Athena blinked as she suddenly realized someone was knocking on the door while calling her name. Quickly, she wiped her face for a moment before getting out of bed, grabbing a cover-up to drape over her rather thin nightgown."Sorry to disturb you, Ma’am. I just wanted to deliver this bouquet of flowers. Someone sent it early this morning, and your name was on the bouquet of roses."Furrowing her brows, Athena immediately confirmed what her maid had just said. She glanced at a small note tucked inside the bouquet and read it, her curiosity swelling.[For the most special woman on this earth, Athena Rose Waverly.]Her heart pounded even faster as she read those words. Deep d
Leon’s entire body tensed, but before he could say another word, Athena spun on her heel and walked away. She didn’t look back as she entered her bedroom, the soft click of the lock sealing her retreat."Damn it!" He cursed under his breath and slammed his foot against the table leg. The sharp pain did nothing to quell his frustration. Without another thought, he stormed toward his office room, his rage simmering just beneath the surface.The moment he stepped inside, his anger boiled over. He kicked a chair out of his way, then grabbed the nearest object—a framed photo, a vase of flowers, a stack of papers—and hurled them at the wall. Glass shattered, petals scattered, but none of it brought him relief."I take it things didn’t go well?" Edward’s voice was calm but cautious as he stepped into the room, eyes sweeping over the wreckage."She’s slipping away fr
Leon suddenly appeared from behind the stairs. His voice was sharp and full of accusations. His narrowed gaze made Athena scoff as she failed to find a clear reason for him to be standing before her now."What are you doing, waiting for me in the dark like this?""Just answer me, Athena. Who brought you home?" Leon took a step closer, his jaw tightening. Athena, who saw that, only smiled slightly before finally stepping forward to face the man with her head up fearlessly."I don’t see how that’s any of your concern. What's in it for me to answer your question?" she asked coldly, refusing to acknowledge the accusation in his tone."Of course, it’s my concern. You’re still my wife!""Your wife?" Athena laughed bitterly. "That’s rich coming from the man who threw me away first. You made it clear that I meant nothing to you, Leon. So tell me, why do you suddenly care?""Don’t twist things! I’m asking you where you’ve been and who brought you home!"Getting closer to his wife, Leon notice