Chapter 119 Throwing Tantrums
Byron spoke again, his voice calm, but there was a hint of something unspoken behind his words. “After returning from Salin City, he seemed to be working hard.”
“Oh…” Athena responded, her tone utterly indifferent, barely masking the disinterest she felt.
Byron’s expression didn’t change, but there was a subtle shift in his demeanor as he continued, “That person named George…”
Athena’s frown deepened at the mention of George. “I already told you. George and I were childhood neighbors. It was a coincidence! My grandparents took care of him, so that’s why I took him to the cemetery! Don’t misunderstand!” Her voice was tinged with annoyance, clearly irritated by the subject.
Byron paused, allowing a brief silence to hang between them before speaking again, his voice a little firmer. “Don’t you ever let me finish what I’m saying?”
Athena fell silent, crossing her arms tightly as she stared out the window, her frustration simmering just below the surface.
“He has been working on a rescue plan for children born with congenital heart disease. I anonymously donated money for that cause.”
Athena’s expression softened for a moment, her confusion evident as she processed Byron’s words. She opened her mouth to respond but stopped when she caught Byron’s gaze. His eyes held a quiet sincerity that made her hesitate, if only for a moment.
“Athena,” Byron continued, his tone now softer but still serious, “I may not be a good person, but I’m not that bad.”
She bit her lip, her thoughts swirling. After a long pause, she finally nodded and said quietly, “Thank you.”
Byron studied her, feeling a bit deflated. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was still off between them. No matter how hard he tried, she seemed distant—more distant than ever.
Athena, sensing the tension, shifted the subject. “I want some hot food.”
“Okay,” Byron replied, his voice lacking the usual warmth. The car descended into silence again, the weight of unspoken words hanging heavy between them.
The air was thick with unspoken thoughts, and Athena leaned her head against the window, letting her eyes drift. The soft hum of the car and the blur of the scenery outside only deepened the silence. But suddenly, something caught her eye.
“It’s Madam Stella!” Athena’s voice broke the silence, and she immediately felt a surge of energy course through her body. Without thinking, she gestured for Byron to pull over.
Byron’s eyes darted to the side, noticing Rose standing by the emergency lane. He brought the car to a slow stop, a sense of caution in his movements.
Athena quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, already stepping out of the car before Byron could react. “Take it slow!” he called out, his concern evident.
Ignoring his words, Athena moved toward Rose, her steps quick and purposeful. “Madam Stella!” she called out, her voice tinged with a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Rose turned at the sound of her voice. She paused, recognizing Athena immediately, but there was a brief moment of hesitation before she smiled warmly. “Miss Newton, what a coincidence!”
“What happened to the car?” Athena asked as she walked over, her voice filled with concern.
“I don’t know,” Rose answered with a slight shrug, her tone light. “I called for a tow truck, but it hasn’t arrived yet.”
Athena’s eyes narrowed slightly, and her gaze shifted to see a man walking confidently behind her. He wore a black designer suit and a wool coat, his long strides purposeful. The air around him seemed to shift, and Athena’s heart skipped a beat when she recognized him.
“Mr. Crawford?” Rose asked, her voice tinged with surprise. She glanced toward the car parked behind them but saw no one else inside.
Byron gave a slight nod, acknowledging Rose’s presence. “Hello, Madam Stella.”
Rose blinked, clearly caught off guard. “You recognize me?”
“You didn’t introduce yourself earlier,” Byron replied politely, his tone smooth. “I thought you didn’t want others to know your identity.”
Athena’s eyes darted between them, her anger suddenly flaring again. “You two know each other?” she asked, her voice cold, an edge of suspicion creeping in.
It suddenly dawned on her: no one had introduced Byron at the care home, yet Rose had somehow found him and addressed him so easily. Athena could feel the tension building, her mind racing with questions she wasn’t sure she was ready to answer.
Byron, his gaze steady, responded, “I have heard of Madam Stella’s name for a long time.”
Without missing a beat, he draped a cashmere scarf he had been holding over Athena’s shoulders, his touch light but purposeful. The cold autumn air made her shiver slightly, but the warmth of the gesture didn’t entirely thaw her mood.
Still, Athena quickly removed the scarf from her shoulders, her eyes flashing with something akin to defiance, and wrapped it around Rose instead. Rose smiled brightly at the gesture, but there was something more in her gaze—a subtle shift in the way she looked back and forth between Athena and Byron. It was subtle, but Athena caught it, her unease growing.
“What happened to Jaxson?” Athena asked, noticing a familiar face standing off to the side. Jaxson was standing with his arms crossed, his expression sullen, a stark contrast to the lightness of the conversation.
“He’s hungry,” Rose chuckled, a playful glint in her eye. “He’s always been like this since he was little. He can’t handle hunger—it easily makes him irritable!”
Irritable? Athena glanced at Jaxson, his mature appearance making it hard to picture him as the temperamental child Rose described. The contrast was jarring, and Athena couldn’t help but wonder what was really going on here.
As she stood there, watching the interaction between Rose, Byron, and Jaxson, a sense of unease gripped her. Something wasn’t right. And she was beginning to feel like she was standing at the edge of a much bigger, more complex situation than she had anticipated.