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Bound by Fate

last update Last Updated: 2025-01-24 10:53:20

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
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  • The Piano of Vengeance   Silent No More

    "These are some of the pieces of evidence I mentioned to you last night, sir."The police officer across from her nodded, his expression unreadable as he accepted the stack of documents from Athena's lawyer. He flipped through the pages, and a flicker of something curiosity crossed his face before he glanced toward the growing crowd of reporters gathering outside the station."So," the officer began, leaning back slightly in his chair, "behind the perfection you always present in front of the cameras, it seems there’s a different story—a messy one. Why are you only reporting this now?"Athena’s lips curved into a faint, practiced smile, but her eyes remained cold. "I was waiting for the right time, sir. But unfortunately, he crossed the line. My patience for him has completely run out.""And where are you staying now?" The officer raised a brow, clearly intrigued. "Are you no longer living under the same roof as your husband?""Not since I was trapped in the elevator, sir. But I inten

    Last Updated : 2025-01-26
  • The Piano of Vengeance   When the Queen Takes Over

    "Come in!"Crystal’s face twisted with fury, but before she could respond, Athena turned to the door and let in some employees and cleaners as well."Pack up everything that belongs to Mr. Leon," Athena instructed them with a faint smile adorning her beautiful face. "Move it to one of the smaller offices on the lower floors because this is my space now!""Wait, you can't—""Ssshh! Just like what I said earlier, my dear husband. I've already gotten the green signal from some of the board of directors. So before you're forcibly evicted by them, I'd better get you out of here first!""You’ll regret this, Athena!" Leon stepped forward, grabbing his wife's arm roughly."Do your worst, Leon. I’ve already survived your betrayal, your lies, and your schemes. There’s nothing left you can take from me!""You’re playing a dangerous game!""And I’m winning!" Athena’s lips curled into a sneer as she stepped forward. Seeing this, Crystal then pulled Leon away. She certainly didn't want to let Leon

    Last Updated : 2025-01-29
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Scars Behind Strength

    "You have to tell me..."The soft glow of the chandelier above cast a golden hue over the elegantly set table. The room was soundproofed, offering Athena and Arthur complete privacy as they waited. No longer in the office, they were now chatting in one of the famous restaurants nearby. "How did you manage to secure a deal with Leon without making him suspicious?" Athena leaned back against the velvet chair, her eyes narrowing slightly as she studied the man before her."Leon is arrogant," Arthur smirked, resting his chin on his knuckles. "That’s his weakness. All I had to do was feed into that. Stroke his ego, make him believe he had the upper hand. He was too busy feeling superior to realize he was walking into a trap.""So you played him?""Like a piano. But that’s not enough. We need to make sure he doesn’t recover from this!"Taking a sip of his drink, Arthur's gaze darkened slightly as he leaned forward. Athena let out a soft chuckle, her lips curling in amusement."We? But you

    Last Updated : 2025-01-30
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Nothing But Desire

    "You’ll regret it if I go along with your wishes."Snorting, Athena wrapped her arms around the strong shoulders of the man carrying her. "Everyone keeps talking to me like that! Leon, Crystal, they're just like you!""No, I won’t be like them. You’ll see soon enough."Hearing that response, Athena pursed her lips in a pout, resembling a lost cygnet searching for its mother."This isn’t fair! How are you still so clear-headed while I’m like this?" she grumbled, making the man carrying her smirk slightly."It’s because you’re incredibly weak against alcohol. Why didn’t you ever tell me before?""Tell you? For what? Ugh! Why is my head spinning so much? Did you poison me?"As she weakly hit his chest, Arthur chuckled. He quickened his pace toward the car while trying to shield Athena’s face from prying eyes. He didn’t want anyone to recognize her, especially not in her current drunken state.Living in luxury and constantly under the public eye, who would have thought Athena was this eas

    Last Updated : 2025-02-01
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Twisted Fate

    Ring!The sound of an alarm suddenly echoed, waking a woman who had been fast asleep in her bed. One of her hands moved around frantically, trying to locate the source of the noise. Her still-closed eyes widened instantly when she realized she was only wearing a white tank top—the same one she had last paired with her black blazer. "Damn! What the hell happened?" Athena grumbled, hugging herself. Quickly, she glanced around, trying to piece together what had happened the night before. Her head still felt a bit dizzy, but a small sigh of relief escaped her lips when she realized she was in Arthur’s home. That meant the chances of her doing something reckless while drunk were slim, right? At least she hadn’t ended up with a stranger for a one-night stand like in the novels she had read. Unless… Arthur had accepted her offer last night, and…. "Oh God! That’s so embarrassing!" she gasped, immediately sitting up. She ran her hands over her face, scanning her surroundings once mor

    Last Updated : 2025-02-02
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Between the Lines of Time

    Still wondering in her heart, Athena was now transfixed by the breathtaking view before her.A vast, beautifully arranged lake stretched out in front of her. Not only that, from where she stood, she could see several swans gliding gracefully and birds chirping in the distance.The morning air was quite cold. Fortunately, Arthur had reminded her to wear a thick coat, though she had still forgotten to bring her gloves."Are you ready for a little clue?""A clue?"Athena instinctively grabbed Arthur's arm as he was about to lead her somewhere else. Her brow furrowed in confusion while the man let out a quiet sigh."So, you don’t remember?" he asked, his gaze fixed intently on her face.Shaking her head, Athena met his eyes, slightly tilting her chin upward. "If you're doing all this because I called you a coward last night or anything else I said, then you don’t have to worry about it, Arthur. Last night, I was just—""That’s not it!" he quickly interrupted, making her frown deepen."The

    Last Updated : 2025-02-03
  • The Piano of Vengeance   More Than Just a Memory

    "Your phone is ringing, Athena."Arthur smiled as he noticed Athena trying to ignore her ringing phone. Her eyes remained closed before him. The distance between their lips was barely anything until, finally, he gently caressed her beautiful face before kissing her again."Your phone is still ringing. Are you really going to ignore it just for me?" he whispered, making the red lips in front of him pout slightly.Still unwilling to open her eyes, Athena draped her arms around Arthur’s broad shoulders. When he moved slightly away, she instinctively followed, prompting Arthur to wrap his arms around her waist, shifting their seats slightly in the process."I... I feel so embarrassed looking at you now that I know everything, Arthur. I feel like such a fool!""So that's why you're keeping your eyes closed?" Arthur chuckled, his gaze tracing the perfection of her delicate features.Her naturally long lashes—one of his favorite things about her—were rare in this era. Women like Athena, who

    Last Updated : 2025-02-04
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Karma?

    Knock! Knock! Knock!The sudden sound of knocking on the door made Crystal scoff in frustration. Without hesitation, she opened the door, her eyes still slightly wet—after all, it had only been a few minutes since she had been left behind by Leon without a word."What do you want to say? If it’s not important or good news, you’d better leave now before I take my anger out on you!" she snapped, making the man in front of her nod immediately."I'm sorry, Miss Crystal. I came to see you to update you on the search for Arthur. I actually wanted to discuss this with Mr. Leon as well, but it seems he—""He’s gone. He’s a mess right now! So I’ll handle this for the time being!"Edward nodded again before handing her several documents he had just gathered. Inside were some photos of people who resembled Arthur, along with details of their last known locations and additional information. Crystal furrowed her brows as she looked through them—until her eyes widened in shock when she found anothe

    Last Updated : 2025-02-05

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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