The Crippled Queen

Gazing sorrowfully at the grand house she once considered her palace of happiness, Athena could only cry silently. After spending several days in the hospital, her heart grew increasingly restless. Her return home meant that Leon could freely do anything to her, including mistreating her.

"Mrs. Athena, please come with me!" Edward’s voice suddenly broke the silence, causing Athena to turn her head. 

She immediately brushed off the hand of her assistant, who had now become Leon’s accomplice, and struggled to walk on her own, despite her unsteady steps.

"Well, well... So you’ve been allowed to leave the hospital?"

To her surprise, Athena encountered Crystal there. Her wide eyes narrowed sharply, a gesture that was met with only a faint smile from the woman in front of her.

"How are you, Athena? I’m so sorry about the accident you had. Leon told me that your hand is paralyzed and you’ve lost your voice. How does it feel, Athena? It must be painful, right?" Crystal continued, taking a small step forward on her long legs. She seemed as if she wanted to touch Athena’s face, but Athena quickly swatted her hand away and gave her a sharp, warning look.

"I already know about your affair with my husband, Crystal! There’s no need for you to pretend to be kind to me anymore! Remember, I won’t let you keep exploiting my condition like this!" Athena thought bitterly to herself, her silent fury only causing Crystal to chuckle.

"What a pity, my dear friend. You’re completely powerless now. I do feel sorry for you, Athena. As a good friend, why don’t I take over your role as the lady of this house? I’m sure Leon wouldn’t mind. That way, I can help him and spare him the trouble caused by someone like you."

"Fine, go ahead, Crystal. That’ll just give me more time to gather evidence to expose all of your dirty schemes!" Athena thought again, glaring at the woman before her, her intense gaze finally causing Crystal to shiver slightly.

"I’m worried she’s possessed, Edward. Take her to her room immediately. Remember, her new room! Not her old one, because I’ll be taking that one to stay with Leon!"

"Yes, Mrs. Crystal!"

Snorting, Athena squinted at the woman she once introduced to the public as a rising singer. She wanted so badly to grab the hair of this two-faced woman who had shown her no gratitude, but sadly, she couldn’t act yet. Her position in this house was still too precarious.

Athena knew she needed time to fight against all of Leon and Crystal’s treachery. She realized she couldn’t rush things, especially since she was truly alone now, with her father long gone and her mother still lying comatose in the hospital.

"Please, Mrs. Athena!"

Determined not to be touched, Athena tried to walk ahead. The sound of a car engine starting made her turn her head, but it only made her stomach churn violently. She inadvertently witnessed Crystal’s overly enthusiastic greeting to the man who was still legally her husband.

"You’re finally home, babe! That crippled woman arrived just before you did," Crystal whispered sweetly but sharply, her hand brushing against the chest of the man who had once again been named one of the most handsome men in a famous magazine.

Leon cast a glance at Athena and offered a crooked smile. One of his strong hands wrapped tightly around Crystal’s slim waist. He kissed her makeup-clad face affectionately and handed her his briefcase.

"Get the document from my bag, honey. There’s something this crippled woman needs to sign immediately!" he ordered sharply, his piercing gaze making Athena’s heart race even faster.

Athena didn’t know what document her husband meant, but she was sure it would only worsen her situation.

"A wealth transfer document?" Crystal’s murmuring reached Athena’s ears, causing her pale face to freeze in shock.

"Unbelievable! They’ve gone completely mad! If I sign that document, what more will they do to me? I doubt they’ll let me go, even if I hand over everything I own!"

Shaking her head in refusal, Athena pushed away the pen being offered to her with her left hand. She tried to shove Edward, who was holding her in place, nearly causing the 40-year-old man to stumble.

"Enough! I knew she’d rebel like this!" Leon growled in frustration, rubbing his face briefly. "Ed, you handle all of my and Crystal’s needs from now on! Let him deal with this crippled woman!"

At Leon’s snap of his fingers, Athena’s breath caught as a burly, intimidating man approached her. Her heartbeat quickened, especially as the tattooed man easily restrained her movements.

"Apologies if I hurt you, ma’am. It’s a pleasure to meet you again," the man whispered in her ear, his voice chillingly familiar.

Athena’s eyes widened as she recognized his voice. She turned to study his face but couldn’t place him until her gaze locked on his brown eyes.

"It can’t be! Isn’t he…."

"Hurry and take her to her room, Arthur! Her room is in the back, near the kitchen. Ask the staff where the old storage room is!"

Shaking her head, Athena turned her gaze back to Leon. He had relegated her to a small storage room near the kitchen while allowing Crystal to share his room, heedless of the house staff’s opinions.

"Come with me, ma'am!"

Struggling again, Athena was ultimately shoved forward. She winced in pain as her wounds were accidentally jostled and glared at Crystal, who waved mockingly at her.

Athena shook her head as she surveyed the tiny space that had once been a storage room. The damp walls and musty smell overwhelmed her, and the only furniture was a small, unfit bed. Her breath grew labored, not just from the room’s poor condition but from the bleakness of her future.

"Mrs. Athena?" Arthur called, his gaze fixed on his new mistress.

Realizing this, Athena felt both uneasy and cautious. Slowly, she stepped back, her mind racing as she tried to place where she had seen him before.

"Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm certainly willing to help you, especially for revenge plans!"