Chapter 100 Evie Knew Everything
When Athena opened the door, she saw Evie huddled on the sofa, her face hidden behind her hands. The table opposite her was cluttered with desserts—an unexpected sight.
“Are you throwing a party?” Athena asked, trying to sound casual, though concern was already creeping into her voice.
Evie looked up at her, her eyes swollen from crying, confirming what Athena had feared.
“What’s wrong?” Athena rushed over to her, her tone turning worried. “Did something happen?”
Seeing Athena’s anxious expression, Evie broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. Athena, caught off guard, didn’t know how to react at first.
“Don’t cry,” she said, trying to comfort her. “Did something happen with your stepfather? Or is something wrong with you?”
Between sobs, Evie managed to choke out a question that froze Athena in place. “Athena, have you ever treated me like your best friend?”
Athena’s hand paused in the motion of comforting Evie, her heart racing. What was she talking about?
Evie’s voice trembled as she continued. “So many things have happened to you, and I’ve been away, carefree. But you… you’ve been dealing with all of this alone.”
Athena’s throat tightened. How had Evie found out?
Evie suddenly looked up at her, her tear-streaked face full of shock. “Baxter came to me,” she said, her voice breaking. “He told me everything. Romy needs money for treatment, and that bastard—he took advantage of the situation to bully you… to force you… for five years! How could he do that? How could you let him?”
“No, Evie, it’s not like that,” Athena said quickly, trying to calm her down. “Byron is very good to me.”
“Don’t lie to me!” Evie snapped, her eyes wide with disbelief. “You think I don’t know him? Everyone says he’s cruel, that he likes to control people. And you—you’re one of his victims!”
Athena opened her mouth, but no words came out. She was struggling to explain the complexities of her relationship with Byron.
Evie suddenly grabbed her hand, her grip tight. “Athena, he’s about to get married. You can’t stay with him anymore! You have to wake up!”
Athena’s gaze softened. “Baxter asked you to talk to me about this, didn’t he?”
Evie nodded, still trembling. “He’s worried about you, Athena.”
Athena let out a dry laugh. “I don’t think it’s about me. He’s just angry that Byron took me from him.”
She then recounted everything that had happened—everything Baxter had said, the lies, the manipulation, and the public smear campaign.
“Did he really say those things about you?” Evie’s anger was palpable.
Athena rubbed her temples. “Yes. He paid some people online to post about it. But Byron’s public relations team found it quickly and shut it down.”
Evie’s expression darkened, and she shuddered. “Even if he didn’t directly accuse you, the online world would have found you. They’d tear you apart, Athena. You’d be dragged through the mud.”
“Yeah,” Athena murmured, “But Baxter… he’s not really concerned about me. He’s just not over the fact that Byron’s with me now.” She paused, looking distant. “No, I’ve never been with him. Not in that way.”
Evie seemed confused for a moment, then cautiously asked, “Then what about you and Byron?”
Athena hesitated before asking, “Do you know Freya Bates?”
Evie thought for a moment. “The painter who married into the European royal family?”
“That’s her.” Athena nodded, her voice quiet. “She was Byron’s first love. We look quite a bit alike.”
Evie’s eyes widened. “So he’s treating you like a replacement?”
Athena gave a small, bitter smile. “You could say that.”
Evie couldn’t hide her frustration. “How can you still smile after everything he’s done? I thought he really loved you. But look at how he’s treating you.”
Athena’s smile faded, and her tone softened. “We’re just taking what we need from each other. We’ve agreed that I’ll leave once he gets married.”
Evie nodded, though her eyes were still filled with anger. “Of course, but last night…?”
Athena sighed, her hands pressing against her forehead as if the weight of the situation was too much. “The problem is… he regrets it. He doesn’t want to keep that promise anymore.”
Evie’s brows furrowed in confusion. “And?”
“And,” Athena continued, her voice quiet, “he threatened me. He said if I didn’t do what he wanted, he’d punish the people around me.”
Evie went still, her expression one of shock and disbelief. She stood up suddenly, her hands trembling with rage. “God damn that bastard!”