Chapter 110 Her Lunch May Be Drugged
“What you did today humiliated me.” Heather didn’t mince words. “How could you drag her away in front of everyone? Do you know what our relatives are saying? I’ve never been so embarrassed.”
Byron calmly straightened the cuffs of his shirt. “You shouldn’t have accused her of negligence in front of all those people,” he replied evenly.
Heather was caught off guard. “But I did think she was being careless. Who would’ve expected someone to take advantage of Grandma like that? Besides, we still don’t know the full story. Maybe there’s no scheme at all.”
“In any case,” Byron said coldly, “don’t say anything else about Athena. It’s unnecessary. She’s more than capable of handling problems herself. And if she ever needs help—I’ll be there.”
The quiet weight of his words hung in the air.
He wasn’t just defending Athena. He was standing behind her, publicly and without hesitation.
Heather’s expression shifted.
“…Fine. I was being nosy,” she said, voice low and bitter. Then she turned and walked away, her heels clicking against the floor as she left in disappointment.
Byron didn’t follow. Instead, he walked in the opposite direction—toward Athena.
Outside Alivia’s hospital room, members of the Crawford family sat in groups, casting cold glances and muttering under their breath. The tension was thick in the hallway.
When Athena arrived, several relatives rolled their eyes or sneered, clearly taking sides.
“Miss Newton…” A nurse approached her nervously, guilt etched across her face.
Athena had taken the fall for her earlier.
The nurse had fallen ill after lunch—intense stomach cramps, frequent trips to the restroom. She’d been in no condition to watch over Mrs. Alivia Crawford, which left Athena to fill in. Had Athena not stepped in, someone else would have.
Athena simply shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”
Something about the timing was too coincidental. The nurse’s sudden illness didn’t feel accidental.
“Quinton,” Athena called out.
Byron’s bodyguard came forward immediately. “Miss Newton.”
He was polite—more respectful than the Crawford family themselves. Quinton, along with Liam and the other longtime bodyguards, had always appreciated Athena’s thoughtfulness. She remembered them during holidays, gave gifts that showed she cared.
Athena gestured to the nurse. “Please have someone escort her for an examination. I suspect her lunch may have been drugged.”
“What?” The nurse’s eyes widened in shock.
Whispers rippled through the hallway. The Crawfords looked at each other, puzzled.
Karen, Byron’s aunt, frowned in irritation. “Athena, what are you trying to do now?”
Athena ignored her and spoke gently to the nurse. “It’s likely just a mild laxative. An examination will confirm it—and hopefully give you some peace of mind.”
“You mean someone tampered with my food?” the nurse asked nervously.
“Did you have any issues before lunch?” Athena asked calmly.
The nurse shook her head, then blinked in realization. “No. I was fine this morning. But shortly after eating… I started feeling terrible.”
“What did you eat?” Athena pressed.
“I bought my lunch from the hospital canteen. Same as always.” Then the nurse hesitated and added quietly, “Actually, I didn’t finish it. I saved the rest for my child…”
The moment the words left her mouth, she turned pale.
Athena’s expression softened. “That’s good. We can test the leftovers instead. You might not need to go through the examination.”
She turned to Quinton. “Sorry to trouble you.”
Quinton gave a slight bow. “Not at all, Miss Newton.”
With a nod, he gave the order to another staff member, who quickly left with the nurse to collect the remaining food.
As they disappeared down the hall, the Crawford family sat in silence, no longer sneering. For a brief moment, their expressions were unreadable.
Athena didn’t say anything more. She stood tall and composed, her calm demeanor a stark contrast to the storm brewing around her.