Chapter 111 I Will Find You a Better One
In the hospital ward, a woman stood behind Lola, sweat beading on her forehead. She looked uneasy, but Lola maintained her composure, her gaze sharp but calm.
The door opened.
Alivia, who had been softly whining, turned her head toward the entrance. Upon seeing Athena, her face brightened, and the air shifted. Athena was no longer cold and distant—her smile was warm and sweet. “Mrs. Alivia Crawford, you’re awake?” she asked gently.
“Yes,” Alivia replied, her smile wide and innocent, as if she were a child at play.
Athena turned away from Lola without a glance and walked over to Alivia, her voice soft and apologetic. “Are you still afraid?”
Alivia’s eyes softened with sadness. “Where have you been?” she asked, almost like a child asking for attention.
“Grandma, I was with Miss Newton,” Byron’s voice interrupted as he entered the room behind Athena. His tone was neutral, but there was an unspoken understanding between him and Athena.
Alivia’s face lit up at the sight of him. She smiled, but it was brief, replaced by a quiet murmur. “When are you getting married?” Her words were filled with hope.
Byron, instinctively, glanced at Athena.
Athena’s smile didn’t falter. “Mrs. Alivia Crawford, I’ve told you before—I’m Mr. Crawford’s secretary. We won’t be getting married.”
Alivia’s expression changed slightly, concern flickering across her features. “Who will you marry then? Byron is such a good man, so well-behaved.”
Lola’s voice cut through the conversation, her tone laced with triumph. “Mom, haven’t you met Heather? She’s Byron’s fiancée. Their wedding is already being planned.”
Alivia’s face darkened, but she didn’t burst into tears as she had before. Instead, she held Athena’s hand firmly as if making a quiet decision. “The girl with the blonde hair… she’s not as beautiful as you. I’ll find you someone better.”
Byron didn’t know how to respond. He stood still, silently absorbing the exchange.
Athena, her smile gentle, responded, “Okay, I’ll wait for you to get better… and find someone better for me.” Her tone was kind but there was a hint of mischief in her eyes.
Byron felt a surge of frustration at her playful tone. He clenched his jaw, wishing he could say something.
“Alright, I’ll be fine tomorrow,” Alivia said, her mood improving slightly. Her voice was softer now, though there was an undercurrent of worry.
Lola, however, was simmering with anger. In the Crawford family, men might falter, but women were the backbone. During the war, Alivia had single-handedly protected the family’s business and legacy. She had always been strict, especially with her daughter, Lola. But the way she treated Athena was different—gentler, more nurturing.
Athena gently combed Alivia’s hair, noticing the delicate strands that had become tangled. “Would you like some more strawberries, Mrs. Crawford?” she asked.
Alivia nodded eagerly. “Yes.”
“You’ve already had a few this afternoon, so I’ll give you just two,” Athena said softly, as if coaxing a child.
Byron observed the interaction with a faint smile. It was clear to him why Alivia favored Athena. Athena had a unique way of making others feel at ease.
Athena washed two strawberries, removing the green stems before offering them to Alivia. Alivia ate them slowly, her gaze distant, as if lost in thought. Athena didn’t interrupt, allowing the quiet moment to linger.
Byron sat at the end of the bed, watching them. His mood shifted as he noticed Lola’s angry stare.
“Where’s Heather?” Lola asked, her voice dripping with disdain.
“I don’t know,” Byron replied coldly, not meeting her eyes.
Lola’s frustration was evident. “You—” Byron’s piercing gaze interrupted her. “What about you, Mrs. Crawford?” His words hung in the air, challenging Lola’s authority.
Athena had always referred to Heather as “Mrs. Crawford,” but in the Crawford family dynamic, it didn’t sit right. According to tradition, Lola was the true Mrs. Crawford, even if Byron hadn’t yet fully taken charge of the family’s affairs.
“Byron…” Lola began, but her voice faltered.
Athena, irritated by the tension, turned her gaze toward them. “Could you take your argument outside? You’re disturbing Mrs. Alivia Crawford.”
Lola’s anger flared, but she restrained herself. She almost laughed at Athena’s audacity. Did she truly think she could speak to her this way? But then, Alivia’s voice broke through the tension.
“That’s right. Go outside and argue. Don’t disturb Athena,” Alivia said firmly, her tone uncharacteristically sharp.
Lola bit her lip in frustration, cursing silently in her mind.
Byron, now fully disengaged from the argument, turned his attention away from Lola. “Mrs. Crawford, please go outside,” he said coldly, his focus on Alivia.
Lola’s anger boiled over, but she held her tongue. She took a deep breath, realizing there was no point in staying. The silence between her and Byron had become suffocating.
Without another word, Lola turned and walked out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the hallway as she left.