Athena froze, trying to hold back her tears. She fought to endure the pain in her heart and body. Arthur's words felt like a shot of encouragement, almost pulling her back into the mysterious gray eyes before her.
"This is your phone. You can use it to contact me in emergencies." Arthur suddenly pulled something from his pocket leaving Athena stunned.
"Impossible! How is this phone still intact?"
"When I first found it, the screen and casing were quite damaged. Luckily, the data—"
"So, you were the one who found it? How long have you known me, Arthur? Are you the one who first found me after the accident?"
Silent for a moment, Arthur then reached for the medicine box. He immediately treated the wound on the tip of Athena's lip with great care, letting the woman in front of him continue to wonder inwardly.
"Arthur..."
"May I remove the bandage on your hand? The doctor was supposed to change it and check your condition yesterday, but—"
"Leon canceled everything?" Athena sighed in resignation, realizing Arthur was dodging her question yet again. "I know, he seems to enjoy torturing me. But it's fine, the pain here is nothing compared to the gaping wound in my heart."
Shaking his head slowly, Arthur gently caressed her face, which he had just finished treating. The gesture startled Athena briefly, only for her to be further shocked by Leon's booming voice calling from outside.
"I'll go meet him. After this, rest. You need to gather your strength before you fight for what's rightfully yours," Arthur said firmly, making Athena try to smile.
"Thank you, Arthur. Even though I don't yet know your true intentions for being here, I'm sure you're not here to make my suffering worse."
Nodding, Arthur left the cramped room that was barely fit to be called a bedroom. He headed toward Leon, glancing at his phone gallery for a moment with his signature mysterious gaze.
"No! She cannot end up like her!"
***
"Mrs. Athena! Oh my! She's really here!"
A week later, a large crowd gathered at a famous corporate office in the city. Reporters pushed and shoved to catch a glimpse of the person they had been waiting for, ignoring the security guards' warnings.
"Damn it! That thug was right! How did they all find out about Athena's visit to this office?" Leon muttered angrily, reluctantly grabbing his wife's left hand. He had to pretend to look affectionate to Athena in public, especially as negative news about him had started to spread.
"Remember my words, Athena. If you dare defy me, your mother will be left stranded in the hospital without my financial support!"
"Hmm... Keep threatening, Leon. I'll do my best to turn things around. Because without me, you'll have nothing!"
"Step aside! Make way for Mrs. Athena and Mr. Leon first!"
Arthur's commanding voice startled Athena as he suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist. Taking a deep breath, Athena tried to stay calm amidst the crowd.
"Mr. Leon, you've finally appeared with Mrs. Athena? Is this just a distraction to quell the negative rumors about your marriage?" one journalist asked bluntly after breaking through the security barrier.
"Is it true, Mr. Leon? Reports about suspicious details surrounding Mrs. Athena's accident are surfacing. Don't you have anything to say?"
"We need your response, Mr. Leon! The public is eager to know Mrs. Athena's true condition!"
"Dammit!"
Smiling at her husband's annoyance, Athena then tried to speed up her pace again as the reporters crowded around her. She occasionally turned her head to Arthur who was standing guard behind her, until finally it all ended when the lobby was cleared by Edward.
"This is it, Athena! Don't give up now. Use this golden opportunity to bring down Leon, the man who betrayed your love!"
Just as Athena finished speaking in her mind, Crystal appeared suddenly from the CEO's office. The woman smiled nonchalantly as if her presence were highly anticipated by those around her.
"Well, how does it feel to be back in the spotlight? Enjoying it, aren't you?"
"Honey, you're here? What if—"
"Shh! I've already asked Edward to cover for my presence here, babe. The staff will think I'm here to help this crippled woman, even though I just want to keep an eye on you and stay close!"
Shaking his head slightly, Leon embraced the seductive figure before him. He kissed her deeply; this bold display of intimacy made Arthur and Edward quickly excuse themselves.
"Unbelievable! Don't they ever get enough of each other at home?!" Disgusted, Athena slammed the door shut behind her. She grabbed her notebook and scribbled something, throwing it onto the table in front of Leon and Crystal, who were still entwined.
"She wants this room? How dare this woman!" Crystal reacted first, leaning against her lover provocatively.
"Do you think you can control me?!" Leon sneered, making Athena write other words again.
[This room, or I withdraw from your collaboration project with the Mayor? I'm sure that'll only make the public and your business partners even more suspicious!]
"Damn! This...." Crystal moved to confront Athena, but Leon stopped her and whispered something making her smirk wickedly.
"Let her have the room, honey. I'm sure she won't last long after witnessing our activities here!"
Shaking her head quickly, Athena cursed inwardly at Leon and Crystal's growing intimacy. She immediately stepped back with a firm grip on the table beside her, before her eyes were distracted by the presence of a folder with a hospital logo.
"This can't be a coincidence! This is the hospital where my mother was treated! How does Leon have these documents?!"
Taking advantage of their distraction, Athena snatched the file. She quietly stuffed it into her blazer and ran quickly outside when she started to hear the disgusting sighs of her husband and ex-best friend, and closed the door with a slam as she grumbled.
"They are completely crazy! If they're involved in my mother's suffering too, I won't hesitate to expose all the evidence to the public!"
"Ahh! I love your touch, babe!"Leon smiled as he adjusted his shirt buttons. He was truly proud of his ability to seduce women, especially this time, as Crystal had moaned his name repeatedly after successfully forcing Athena out of the room.His idea to get rid of Athena had worked, hadn't it? It wasn't just successful, it was downright insane! No one would have suspected Leon's audacity to flirt with another woman in front of his wife. And no one could endure being in Athena's position."I think that woman won't dare to bother us anymore, babe," Crystal said as she rose from the desk where she had been lying moments ago. She walked toward the window, straightening her tight dress to ensure no one had been spying on her and Leon's activities."Hmm, we'll see. I doubt a woman like her will give up so easily," Leon replied coolly, causing Crystal to turn back toward him immediately."What do you mean? Do you think Athena plans to get back at us?"Nodding, Leon looked over the wealth tr
Athena held her breath as she entered the conference room. With confident steps, she walked to her seat at the end of the long table, ignoring the gazes fixated on her."It’s time, Athena!""Damn it! She dared to show up?" Leon muttered to himself, his eyes narrowing. "I’m sure she’s taken that document. How can she be so calm?"Noticing her husband’s piercing stare, Athena responded with a faint smile. The room fell silent as she finally settled into her seat. Moments later, the focus shifted back to the meeting’s leader, although the tension in the air had noticeably thickened."Alright, now that everyone’s here, I’d like to discuss some supporting facilities. The plan is for our company to collaborate with several private entities," Leon began, masking his irritation."Hmm, what you mean is, you’re looking for ways to gain more profit?" Athena thought silently. "I won’t let that happen, Leon. This is a charity project, which is why I insisted you take it in the first place.""Well,
Panting, Leon stared at Athena in disbelief once more. The aura of the woman before him was utterly different. The Athena he used to know—weak and easy to bully—now seemed powerful and fearless.Her gaze was strong, her eyes sharp and unwavering. Even her smirk bore an uncanny resemblance to his own when he used to dominate her."Damn it!" Leon growled, realizing he had walked straight into his wife’s trap."What’s wrong? Regretting it and thinking of apologizing to me?" Athena briefly ran her hand along her husband’s sharp jawline, a gesture that made Crystal’s eyes widen in shock outside the room. "Too bad, my dear husband. It’s already too late!""Leon! Athena! What the hell is going on? Let me in!"Ignoring the jealous outburst of her former friend, Athena adjusted the collar of her husband's shirt, which she had yanked earlier. "Remember my words, my dear husband. I won’t sit quietly, especially if you dare disturb my mother!""Athena, wait!"Disregarding Leon’s call, Athena walk
"Based on the statements from several reporters, they learned about Mrs. Athena’s presence in this office from someone, Sir. They received the information via a text message from an unknown number."Hearing Edward's explanation, Leon’s head throbbed even more. He hadn’t finished dealing with the issue of Athena, who now had one of the pieces of evidence of her deceit, and he still didn’t know who had exposed Athena’s presence here, causing the chaos earlier this morning."Could it be the Mayor? Isn’t he one of the most enthusiastic supporters of Athena joining this project?" Crystal finally chimed in, her curiosity piqued."I don’t know yet, Miss Crystal. I’ve already checked the phone number that sent the information about Mrs. Athena’s location here. It was a disposable number, so I can’t track or contact it."Letting out a long sigh, Leon leaned back in his large chair. This all still felt like a mystery to him, especially since there was a possibility that the person behind this wa
"Mr. Arthur?"The echoes of voices calling out shattered the suffocating silence. Arthur’s grip on Athena tightened for a moment before he carefully leaned her unconscious form against the elevator wall."Can’t we just exit through the elevator doors?" Arthur asked his voice calm but edged with impatience. He spared a fleeting glance at Athena’s pale, exhausted face."Apologies, sir. The elevator is stuck mid-floor. It’s impossible to align it with any of the nearby doors."Arthur’s jaw clenched. He glanced at the dark confines of the elevator before nodding curtly. Steeling himself, he crouched beside Athena, gently shaking her awake."Athena, we need to move.""Arthur... my hands," she whispered, her voice trembling. Her eyelids fluttered open, and panic flashed across her face. "I’m afraid I can’t hold myself up. What if I fall?""You won’t," Arthur assured her firmly. "My team will guide you, and I’ll be right here to catch you if anything happens."For a moment, Athena hesitated,
Athena frowned, her gaze wandering across the lavishly decorated room. The high ceilings were adorned with intricate chandeliers that cast a warm glow on the polished wooden floors. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of the city skyline, and the furniture was nothing short of opulent. Soft, cream-colored sofas paired with golden accents exuded an air of understated elegance."You were in bad shape last night, Athena." Arthur hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "After the elevator incident, I thought it would be safer to bring you here to recover. This place is... private and secure.""This is private?" Athena whispered, her tone filled with disbelief as she took it all in. "Arthur, this is not just private. This is... extravagant! Whose place is this?""It’s just a temporary arrangement. A safe house I had rented for emergencies.""Rented?" Narrowed her eyes, Athena's skepticism evident. "Arthur, this looks more like a billionaire’s penthouse than s
Leon’s eyes darted across the hastily scribbled words. His jaw clenched so tightly it felt as if his teeth might crack. The letter trembled in his hands, his rage threatening to boil over. "What does it say?" Crystal hovered nearby, her face pale as she attempted to read his expression.Without answering, Leon crumpled the note and shoved it into his pocket. His eyes scanned the room, filled with evacuation officers and reporters lingering near the building entrance. He felt the stares—some curious, others suspicious."I don’t have time for this circus!""What?!"Ignoring Crystal’s protests, he turned on his heel and stormed away. His fists were clenched at his sides as he headed to his private office within the building. Once inside, he slammed the door shut and immediately summoned the head of security."You called for me, sir?" Moments later, a burly man in a tailored uniform entered, his expression stoic."Who accessed the elevator shaft last night? Who helped Athena escape?""So
"What is this?"Athena’s fingers trembled as she picked up a photo. Her heart pounded as she stared at a candid shot of her walking out of her stage with Leon’s shadow not far behind. Another depicted Crystal in a heated discussion with someone unfamiliar, her face a mask of frustration. But it was the last that made her blood run cold: it was of herself, sitting alone on a park bench, taken from a distance.She remembered that day vividly. She had thought she was alone. How did this photo end up in Arthur's possession?"You shouldn’t be here!"The sound of the door clicking shut behind her made Athena whirl around. She clutched the photo tightly, stepping back instinctively. Arthur stood there, his dark eyes unreadable. His voice was low but firm."What is all this, Arthur? Why do you have these pictures? How long have you been spying on us?"Arthur’s expression hardened, and he took a deliberate step closer. "Put the photo down and go back to your room, Athena.""Not until you expla
"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