Chapter 148 Byron Had Gone Crazy
Athena was overwhelmed—with fury, grief, and humiliation.
Tears poured down her cheeks as she cried out, “There are so many women out there dying to have your child! You already have Heather! Why don’t you just go to them?”
Byron froze.
He had never seen her like this before—so devastated, so heartbroken. Her sobbing made his chest tighten. The fire in his heart simmered down slightly as he looked at her, stunned and unsettled.
“Athena,” he said quietly, almost pleading, “why can’t you understand me?”
“I don’t want to understand you!” she shouted back, choking on her own voice.
Byron stepped closer, trying to meet her gaze.
“I don’t want just any child. I don’t want it with anyone else. It has to be you. Only you. Can’t you see that?”
“No!” Athena screamed, her voice sharp and trembling. “Why should I be the one to suffer? Why do I have to be your backup plan and still give birth to your child? Why, Byron? You’re a complete bastard!”
Furious, she raised her hand to hit him again, but this time Byron was ready. He caught her wrist midair and pinned it above her head.
Athena glared at him, her eyes red and brimming with tears, her chest rising and falling with emotion. The sobs didn’t stop. She looked like she was breaking apart right in front of him.
“Calm down…” Byron’s voice softened, trying to soothe her.
He leaned in and pressed a kiss against the tears on her eyes, but Athena turned her face away, her expression full of disgust and defiance.
“Thea,” he murmured, “I’ve done everything I can to be good to you. What else do you want me to do?”
Athena didn’t answer right away. Her eyes met his, silent and searching.
Then she spoke, voice steady despite her pain. “Do you really want to be with me?”
Byron nodded immediately. “Of course. Why else would I be doing all this?”
Athena blinked slowly, then said firmly, “Then cancel the engagement and marry me.”
Byron stiffened.
The words hit him like a thunderclap. He faltered, speechless.
Athena laughed bitterly. “You can’t do it, can you?”
“I can,” Byron said after a pause, trying to recover. “Just… not right now. Give me a few years. After the partnership with the Ross family is stable—” “I can’t wait,” Athena interrupted, her tone unwavering.
She didn’t expect him to sacrifice everything for her. That wasn’t his nature. But she wanted him to understand that she was no longer the meek, obedient woman he thought she could control.
She was ambitious now. And tired of pretending she wasn’t.
Byron’s gaze darkened. He lifted her chin forcefully and leaned in again.
“Thea,” he said coldly, “this isn’t up to you.”
He kissed her, but Athena turned her head away again, struggling against his grip. His hold only tightened, making it impossible to escape.
She felt powerless, like a doll being toyed with.
Just as he was about to go further, she murmured in a trembling voice, “Byron… that’s enough…”
Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
Byron let out a low laugh and finally rolled back beside her.
Athena sat up, trying to leave the bed, but he grabbed her wrist and tugged her back again.
He kissed her bare shoulder lightly, then said in a slow, warning tone, “Don’t take any pills. If I find out… You’ll be fine, of course. But someone else—won’t be.”
Athena clenched her jaw, her entire body tensing up.
“I won’t,” she said coldly.
“That’s my good girl.” Byron smirked, placing her hand over her stomach.
Athena’s heart clenched.
She realized then that Byron had truly lost it.
In the past, he’d been adamant: no illegitimate children, no accidents. But now?
Now, everything had changed.
He wanted her pregnant, regardless of her will.
She couldn’t understand what had triggered such a drastic shift. Something must’ve broken inside him.
Maybe it had started after he saw Freya in Europe last year—but that was over six months ago.
Why explode now?
Whatever the reason, Athena could only feel suffocated.
Byron knew she didn’t agree willingly. That she was being forced into this.
But he didn’t care.
In his mind, even if she resisted at first, she would eventually yield.
She would break.
And stay.