Chapter 167 Erik’s Madness
Athena’s head spun, her thoughts racing as she struggled to stay conscious. Her body felt heavy, like she was caught in a fog, but a faint dread gnawed at her stomach. The man holding her was unmistakable—Erik. She could hear the smugness in his voice, the sickening adoration he was trying to mask with false charm.
Her mind snapped to focus as the pieces clicked into place. Erik. The man who once looked at her with a mixture of admiration and obsession, the one who’d made her skin crawl more than once. She’d hoped never to see him again, but now, she found herself trapped in the trunk of his car, helpless.
“You, you truly are an absolute stunner…” Erik’s voice twisted through the haze, and she could feel his hands on her body. “Miss Newton, you’re so soft…”
The words hung in the air like a cloud of filth. Athena’s stomach turned, the nausea rising as Erik’s breath grew heavier, his words laced with something darker. He was playing a game, one that she had no intention of being a part of.
Her first instinct was to push him away, to scream, to fight. But she could barely summon the strength, her arms and legs still tied, her head clouded. All she had was the faint memory of the baby—her baby. She had to stay conscious. She had to protect her child.
Erik moved, his hands settling under her knees, lifting her effortlessly. His voice dropped to a hushed, almost reverent whisper. “You’re just as beautiful as I remember. Maybe even better now…”
Her breath caught in her throat, and she forced herself to blink, to focus on her surroundings. They were no longer in the car, that much was clear. Her body was being carried, and the familiar scent of cologne surrounded her, but it did nothing to calm her. Instead, it reminded her of all the times Erik had crossed lines, all the times he’d made her uncomfortable with his unrelenting pursuit.
Then, Athena realized something she hadn’t before: He was taking her somewhere, somewhere remote. The air around them shifted from the stale scent of the car to something more earthy, more ominous.
Erik’s voice broke her reverie. “You’re not going anywhere, Miss Newton. This time, you’ll be mine. For good.”
Athena recoiled internally, trying to summon every ounce of willpower she had. She had to get out. She had to survive.
The sharpness of the situation cut through the fog in her mind. She tried to move, but it was no use. Her arms were bound too tightly, and Erik’s grip was too strong. But the reality of the situation, the urgency of the moment, began to settle in her bones.
Then, as if the universe had decided to intervene, a faint sound echoed in the distance—a car engine.
Her heart skipped a beat. Was someone coming? Byron? Had he traced her somehow?
Erik seemed to hear it too. His pace quickened, and Athena’s stomach twisted in fear and anticipation. There was a chance, a small one, that someone was coming to save her. She could only pray that the sound wasn’t a figment of her imagination.
The sound grew louder. Closer.
Erik froze for a split second, his grip on her tightening in response. “No one is going to take you away from me, Miss Newton,” he muttered, his voice trembling with uncertainty. Athena’s mind was spinning, her breath shallow. She didn’t know who it was, but she knew one thing for certain—this was her chance. If she could hold on just a little longer, if she could stay conscious… The sound of a car door slamming shut snapped her out of her thoughts. The footsteps were coming closer. She had to act.