Revenge Plans

"What?"

Athena froze, staring at the man in front of her. Her mouth made no sound. She was only speaking in her mind. But Arthur, who seemed to read her thoughts, shook his head as if answering her question.

With an unreadable expression, the man casually closed the door behind him. There was something peculiar about him. His gaze was sharp but not entirely threatening. Every movement he made was deliberate as if he were playing a role.

"He’s talking about revenge plans?" Athena murmured anxiously in her mind. "Who is he? And why did he say he was happy to see me again earlier?"

Feeling his presence being observed, Arthur pretended to be busy with the dusty items around him. Especially after he increasingly felt as if Athena’s hazel eyes were dissecting him.

"Who are you?" Athena finally asked, her voice barely audible. Arthur turned to her coldly. Within seconds, he covered her mouth and pinned her onto the bed.

"Shh… Don’t be reckless!" he hissed sharply, causing Athena’s hazel eyes to widen.

Athena struggled to resist, but her strength was no match for his, especially since her right hand was still entirely immobile.

"Do you want Leon to figure out all your pretense?" Arthur hissed again, glancing briefly at the door. Slowly, he leaned closer, prompting Athena to reflexively shut her eyes.

"Listen to me, Athena. If Leon finds out you can talk, you’re finished! Pretend to be mute for now, because that’s the only way you’ll survive!"

Athena nodded, trying to muster the courage to meet the gaze of the man still pinning her down. Questions swirled in her head. Who was this man with a dragon tattoo? How did he know about Leon’s sinister plans, and why was he helping her?

"You don’t need to know who I am. What matters is that I’m on your side!" Before Athena could ask, Arthur spoke first, moving away.

"How can I trust you?" Athena finally asked again, her voice barely audible, casting a doubtful look. Her mind worked to piece together recent events, her hazel eyes locking onto his stern face, almost unblinking.

"I remember! You’re the man I met at the hospital, aren’t you? Why did you deliberately change your appearance to look so intimidating? You can’t possibly be doing all this just to help me, can you? What do you want from me?"

Raising one thick eyebrow, Arthur turned toward the door. He glanced back briefly, placing a finger to his lips before stepping forward and vanishing silently from Athena’s sight.

***

The following night, a repeated knocking on the door woke Athena from her rest. Despite her body still aching, she slowly got up and reached for the door handle. Her vision was slightly blurry until it suddenly became clear when one of her cheeks felt the sting of a sudden, hard slap.

"Are you deaf? Why didn’t you answer when I called you?!" Crystal’s voice thundered, making Athena glare sharply at her.

Ignoring the stinging on her face, Athena glanced around. She noticed several maids bustling around as if rushed by something urgent.

"Put this on! The Mayor will visit you tonight, along with Leon’s new business associate—the one you met at the event before your accident!" Crystal threw a complete outfit directly at Athena’s face.

Athena glared back sharply, occasionally scoffing.

"Remember, Athena. Don’t even think of taking advantage of their visit tonight! Leon already told me to warn you first!"

Saying nothing, Athena shut the door tightly. She didn’t care about Crystal’s startled screams, cursing her from outside. When the much-anticipated time came, she finally emerged from her room in an evening gown that accentuated her natural beauty.

Still struggling with her limited movements, Athena was escorted by Edward to the dining room. Her delicate eyes occasionally searched for Arthur, especially since their conversation the previous day, he had not reappeared.

"Watch your expression! Smile, so they don’t suspect anything!" Leon whispered, pretending to embrace his wife lovingly.

Athena nearly gagged when she felt an unexpected kiss from Leon. He then flashed a disingenuous smile toward his important guests.

Leon sat at the center, his muscular hand gripping Athena’s left hand tightly. Beside him was Crystal, looking elegant in her evening gown, exuding confidence despite the negative rumors circulating about her in the public eye.

"I’m deeply sorry about the accident, Mrs. Athena. When I heard the news, I was truly shocked, especially since you seemed perfectly fine on stage earlier," the Mayor said, initiating the conversation, making Athena instinctively glance at Leon and Crystal.

"I was also very surprised, Mr. Leon. According to the rumors, Mrs. Athena was in an unstable condition due to gossip about your affair with Miss Crystal. But seeing Miss Crystal here, even assisting Mrs. Athena, it seems those rumors aren’t true, are they?" Leon’s new business associate added, nearly causing Leon to choke.

Athena struggled to suppress a smile at Leon’s obvious discomfort. She instinctively averted her gaze and noticed Arthur approaching with his typically inscrutable expression.

"Be ready? Write down what you intend to do here," Arthur whispered before stepping away again.

Athena snapped out of her thoughts when Leon’s rough hand brushed against hers. She had nearly lost herself in Arthur’s enigmatic gray eyes, quickly readjusting her expression while glancing at the notebook and pen now in front of her.

"Of course, none of it is true. Isn’t that right, darling?" Leon denied, discreetly kicking the woman beside him under the table.

Forcing a smile, Athena retaliated by gripping her husband’s hand tightly. She deliberately dug her unkempt nails into his skin, making Leon surrender and scowl at her.

"Don’t you dare defy me, especially in front of my business associate and the Mayor!" he hissed, to which Athena replied with a faint smile.

Picking up the pen Arthur had provided, Athena carefully wrote something in the small notebook before her. Leon grew increasingly agitated, worried that his wife might do something reckless. His eyes widened as he read the faintly written words beside him.

[Do whatever you want, Leon. But don’t blame me if, in the end, your life ends up more ruined than mine!]