Chapter 125 Or You Are Dead!
Evie paused, her expression serious, but her eyes filled with a strange intensity. She took a deep breath, collecting her thoughts before speaking. “Faking your death… it’s not something I would normally suggest. But if it’s the only way for you to escape Byron’s control, then we have to plan carefully.”
Athena felt a chill spread through her chest at the thought. She had always lived her life with hope, even through the pain. But now, standing in the face of a twisted reality where her only escape might involve faking her own death, she could feel the weight of despair creeping in.
“I don’t know if I can do it,” Athena whispered, her voice shaky. “It feels wrong… But I don’t see another way.”
Evie stepped closer, her expression softening. “I understand, but we don’t have time to second-guess it. If Byron finds out, he’ll stop at nothing to keep you. And I know you don’t want that for the baby.”
Athena’s heart clenched. “No, I don’t. I just… I need to be free. I can’t live like this anymore.”
Evie nodded, a resolute glint in her eyes. “I can help you. There are ways to stage a death. We’ll make sure there are no traces left behind, no questions. It’ll be clean.”
“But how do we make it believable?” Athena asked, her mind spinning with questions and doubts. “How do I just… disappear?”
Evie walked over to the kitchen counter, pulling out a notepad and a pen. “We’ll need to do it in a way that nobody will suspect. You’ll need to leave everything behind—your apartment, your life in Girard City. We can arrange for a car accident or something similar. The fewer people involved, the better. We’ll make it seem like you were caught in a tragic event, and the authorities won’t look twice.”
Athena’s stomach churned at the thought. “What about the baby? Will it be safe? What if Byron finds out about the pregnancy?”
Evie’s eyes softened. “We’ll get you to a safe place first. Somewhere he can’t find you. After that, we’ll take care of everything. You’ll be far away, and he’ll never know what happened.”
Athena shook her head, trying to clear the fog in her mind. “But how can I leave without a trace? Without anyone knowing?”
“We’ll make sure you vanish without a single clue,” Evie assured her. “But first, you have to be strong. This is the only way to protect yourself and the baby. If you stay, it’ll only get worse. And I can’t bear to see you trapped in this anymore.”
The room fell silent as Athena absorbed Evie’s words. The decision she had been avoiding now loomed before her, and it felt like the only way out. But the cost of it weighed heavily on her heart. Was she really ready to leave everything behind? Was this the only way to protect herself and her child?
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Athena nodded. “Okay. Let’s do it.”
Evie gave her a supportive smile. “I’ll start making arrangements. You’ll be safe. I promise.”
Athena knew there was no going back now. It was a choice she never thought she’d have to make, but she was out of options. If faking her death was the only way to escape Byron’s grip, then she would do it. For herself. For the baby. And for the chance to finally be free.