Chapter 138 Are You Pregnant?
Byron looked at Athena with a mix of confusion and something else she couldn’t quite place. His hand reached out toward her, but Athena stepped back, her heart racing as she tried to collect her thoughts.
She couldn’t believe what she had just heard. “You think it would be that simple? That easy?” she shot back, her voice laced with disbelief. Her hands trembled slightly as she folded her arms tightly across her chest, trying to compose herself.
Byron stood up, his posture rigid as if he was trying to gather his own thoughts. “I’m not saying it’s easy, Thea, I’m just saying that I’m not going to let you go through it alone, no matter what.”
Athena shook her head, still processing his words. It felt like an avalanche had just hit her, leaving her stunned. She had never imagined Byron, of all people, saying something like that to her. But even as her mind raced, part of her wondered if it was a simple declaration or just another thing to manipulate her.
“You’re talking like it’s a decision we can just make without considering the consequences,” Athena said, her voice trembling now. She didn’t want to show how deeply the words affected her, but she couldn’t help it. The weight of his sudden words had hit her harder than she thought possible.
Byron frowned, frustration beginning to show on his face. “I’m trying to be honest with you, Athena. I—”” No,” she interrupted, her chest tightening. “You’re trying to make me believe that you’ve suddenly become this… caring, attentive man after everything we’ve been through? It doesn’t work that way, Byron.”
Her voice cracked slightly, but she fought it back. The last thing she wanted was for him to see how vulnerable she was in this moment. “You don’t get to decide what’s best for me. Not now. Not after everything.”
Byron remained silent for a moment, as if her words were sinking in. He took a step toward her, his gaze softening. “I’m not trying to control you, Thea. But this… this is our child we’re talking about. I’ve never said that I’d want to make your choices for you, but I don’t want you to feel like you have to do it alone, either.”
Athena shook her head again, taking a step back. She needed space. She needed time to figure out what was happening between them. The shift in Byron’s behavior—this sudden concern, this warmth—was too much, too quickly. She didn’t know how to process it, especially given the context of their past.
“You’re not hearing me, Byron,” Athena whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. “We’re not the same people we were before. You can’t just… just pretend like everything is different.”
Byron took a deep breath, his expression hardening. “Maybe we’re not the same, but I’m still here. I won’t disappear just because things aren’t easy.”
His words hit her harder than anything he had said earlier. She looked up at him, seeing the determination in his eyes. But something inside her was already shutting down, a protective instinct she couldn’t ignore.
“I need space,” she said quietly, her voice more controlled now. “I need to think about all of this. About what you’re saying, and about what I want.”
Byron’s face softened, but there was a flicker of frustration in his eyes. He didn’t want to leave her like this, but he could see the wall going up between them. He stepped back, his jaw tightening slightly, but he didn’t argue.
“I’ll give you space,” he said quietly. “But I’m not giving up on this. Not on you.”
Athena didn’t respond. She couldn’t. All she could do was watch him turn and leave, the door closing softly behind him. And once again, she was left alone with her thoughts—confused, unsure, and now even more lost than before.