Chapter 155 Can’t You Forget the Past?
Byron’s laugh was laced with frustration, a sharp edge of anger running through it.
“Improper relationship?” he repeated, the words dripping with disbelief.
Athena rolled her eyes, feeling the tension in the air. “It’s true, Byron. Just tell me if I can go to Evie’s tonight or not!”
Byron, still fuming with irritation from the earlier encounter, finally relented. “Fine,” he said curtly, though his tone was anything but pleasant.
It wasn’t long before Athena noticed Byron’s mood shift back to something more practical. “I need to head back to Crawford Manor tonight,” he explained. “We need to finalize the wedding date with Heather. I’m only doing this today because I need to keep Lola appeased. Otherwise, she’d make a scene.”
Athena, still visibly annoyed, stood up to leave. But Byron was not having it. He reached out, pulling her back and pushing her firmly onto the couch.
Athena’s eyes widened in surprise. “The door’s unlocked!” she hissed, lowering her voice in alarm.
Byron’s only response was to kiss her deeply, his actions deliberate and unhurried. Athena, still stunned, felt herself tense as her heart raced. She was too aware of the risk of someone walking in at any moment. But fortunately, no one did.
When he finally pulled back, Athena’s lipstick was completely ruined. Her breath was shallow, and she immediately hit Byron, pushing him away as she sat up, breathing heavily.
“Mr. Crawford, are you still in puberty? You’ve been too rebellious lately!” Athena shot him an exasperated glare.
Unfazed, Byron simply smirked. Athena, however, wasn’t in the mood for games. She stood up and walked quickly to the bathroom in the lounge, hoping to regain some composure.
She rinsed her mouth with water, trying to fix the mess left on her lips.
Byron followed her slowly, not in a rush. When she glanced up at him through the bathroom mirror, she saw that he, too, still had remnants of lipstick on his lips.
“Don’t even,” she muttered in frustration as she grabbed a wet wipe, turned around, and started wiping the marks off his lips.
Byron stood still, allowing her to clean him up. There was something oddly tender in the way he let her.
Once done, Athena turned back to wash her hands, but before she could pull away, Byron’s arms wrapped around her, pulling her back toward him. The closeness felt too intimate—like a couple in the honeymoon phase, and it made her flustered.
“Okay, Byron, let go,” she murmured, trying to push him off gently.
But instead of listening, he kissed her neck tenderly, sending a shiver down her spine. She froze, too aware of how easily he could unsettle her.
“Mr. Crawford, have you read the contract yet?” Athena asked hastily, trying to distract him from his advance.
Byron barely seemed to hear her, muttering, “There’s no rush.”
“Aren’t you going to call me Mr. Crawford anymore?” he teased with a grin.
Athena flushed, her embarrassment flaring. “Don’t make trouble!”
Byron’s eyes softened, a mixture of desire and something more intimate flashing through them. He leaned down to kiss her lips again, but this time, it wasn’t the usual teasing—there was more tenderness, more weight to it.
“Thea,” he murmured, his voice low and serious.
Athena blinked, suddenly sober. “We haven’t done it in your office, right?”
Byron raised an eyebrow, his lips curving into a mischievous smile. “No, we haven’t.”
Athena’s voice turned cold. “Because Mr. Crawford said no. I’m very obedient.” Byron was taken aback for a moment, before a glint of amusement flickered in his eyes. “Do you want it now?” he asked, his tone darker. “If you want it, we can go to my office…” Athena raised a brow. “Your office?” she scoffed. “I’m just a secretary. I don’t need such a grand office with a rest area.” Byron let go of her then, his mood shifting again, and the two of them fell into a heavy silence. Athena took the opportunity to step away from him. “If there’s no work left, I’ll leave first,” Athena said, her voice firm, though a little hurt as she headed toward the door. “Thea,” Byron called after her, his voice tinged with something more. Athena stopped, but didn’t turn to face him. She already knew what he was going to say. “Can’t you forget the past?” Byron asked, his words hanging in the air between them. “No,” Athena replied flatly, before walking out of the room. How could she forget? She couldn’t erase the memories of the past—especially not the cruelty Byron had shown her. It was the only thing that kept her from falling too deeply into him again. Despite her growing feelings for him, she couldn’t forget what he had done. She couldn’t allow herself to. As Athena left Imbe Group and stepped into her car, she sighed in relief. The evening with Rose would be a welcome distraction.