Chapter 147 Threw the Condoms
Byron carried Athena gently to the bedroom.
He laid her down carefully on the bed and pulled the blanket over her, tucking her in as though she were something fragile. Under the warm, ambient light, she looked serene—peaceful in her sleep, untouched by the tension of the night.
Byron leaned down, brushed a lock of hair away from her face, and kissed her lips softly.
It was a quiet moment, but her voice from earlier kept echoing in his mind—the way she’d murmured, “You’re back,” so sweetly, so naturally.
And suddenly, Byron realized what he had lost.
That gentle tone, that warmth—he knew it wouldn’t be there when she was sober. Maybe, one day soon, even in her half-asleep state, she wouldn’t say such things to him again.
That thought pierced him deeper than he expected.
For a long moment, Byron sat beside her, unmoving, lost in the silence. A voice deep in his heart whispered, “Byron, is it worth it?”
He didn’t answer.
Afraid of waking her, he quietly retreated to the guest bathroom to take a shower.
When he returned, his gaze landed on the bedside table.
Something pulled at his thoughts. After a brief hesitation, he walked over and opened the drawer.
Inside, the condoms were neatly arranged, untouched.
Byron stared at them for a moment before reaching in. Without pause, he took every last one and tossed them into the trash can.
Then, as if he feared she might find them and piece together his intent, he took out the trash himself—something he rarely did.
Athena had made it clear she didn’t want a child. But Byron no longer cared.
He had made up his mind.
No matter what she thought of him, no matter how despicable he had to become, he would find a way to keep her by his side.
He couldn’t live without her. Not anymore.
Later, he returned to the bedroom. After turning off the light, he lay down beside her and pulled her into his arms, holding her as he always had.
But not long after, Athena stirred.
Still groggy, she murmured, “Byron… it’s so late. You…”
Before she could finish, he kissed her.
He was gentle at first, his touch familiar, comforting. Byron had always been the one who insisted on taking precautions, so Athena didn’t think too much of it this time.
Her thoughts blurred, reason giving way to emotion and sensation.
The next morning, Athena woke up slowly.
As the memories of the night returned, something didn’t sit right. She blinked a few times, then abruptly sat up.
“Byron!”
His eyes opened. His expression was relaxed, even smug—satisfied from the night before.
“Yes?” he answered.
She stared at him, her chest tightening. “Did you… not wear…”
Byron didn’t let her finish. “No. I didn’t. And I won’t again—until you’re pregnant.”
“You bastard!”
Athena lashed out, struggling to escape his arms. Just as she was about to get out of bed, Byron caught her and pushed her back down.
He loomed over her, pinning her beneath him. His hair was tousled, his face still shadowed from sleep—but his eyes were sharp and commanding.
“Do you think I was asking for your permission?”
Athena looked up at him, eyes wide. The humiliation, the helplessness, the betrayal—it all crashed over her at once. Her eyes welled up, and tears slipped silently down her cheeks.
Byron’s brow furrowed. He hadn’t expected her to cry.
“Why are you crying?” he asked hoarsely. “I want to have a child with you. Isn’t that a good thing? If you don’t want the baby to have my last name, then—” Slap!
The sound was loud and crisp.
Athena’s hand stung from the impact, but she didn’t flinch.
Byron turned his face aside, stunned into silence.
The room went quiet, save for his heavy breathing—and Athena’s soft, broken sobs.
“You don’t deserve to be the father of my child,” she said, voice trembling with fury.
Byron turned back to her slowly, eyes filled with something dark and fractured.
“So what?” he growled, his voice low and bitter. “You still have to do what I say.”
His heart felt like it had been ripped open.
She hated him. Truly hated him.
But once… hadn’t she loved him?
Had that love ever been real?
Byron didn’t know anymore.
And that was the most painful part of all.