Chapter 17 Your Self-Esteem Is Nothing More Than That
After Athena’s wound was stitched up, she had to undergo an infusion due to blood loss. She only agreed to it after confirming that the fluids would not affect the baby.
With autumn and winter approaching, many people were catching colds, and the infusion room was crowded. Athena found a quiet corner to rest. Exhausted and still losing blood, she felt drowsy. Just as she was about to drift off, Esme, who had been gone for a while, hurried back into the room.
Esme had brought a can of warm chicken soup. “Athena, it’s still warm. Have some!” she said.
Athena was a little taken aback. “I’m fine. You should go back to work,” she replied weakly.
“I’m not working right now. You helped me get Maxwell Electronics’ project back. The commission is enough for me to live on,” Esme said, pausing for a moment. “I wronged you before. I’m sorry.”
Athena shook her head but didn’t respond. It wasn’t possible for her to say, “It’s fine.” Esme knew this as well. An apology was necessary, but forgiveness wasn’t guaranteed.
Eventually, Esme received a phone call from work. There were issues with one of her previous projects, and she needed to go sort them out. Before leaving, she added Athena on WhatsApp.
Athena’s phone had a lot of unread messages. Her eyes hurt as she looked at them briefly, but she put the phone aside and tried to rest again. As she drowsed off, she felt someone approach.
Her exhaustion was too much, and despite several attempts to stay awake, she couldn’t manage. After a while, something warm covered her body, and the familiar scent enveloped her.
Athena couldn’t tell who it was at first, but it made her feel safe. She relaxed and fell into a deep sleep.
Byron sat across from her, his eyes dark as he watched her, noticing how she frowned even in her sleep. He had planned to take Heather to Crawford Manor to meet the family after picking her up from the airport. But, somehow, he ended up at the company instead.
Upon hearing that the economic investigation team had arrived at the sales department, he decided to check it out. He thought he might see Athena there, but instead, he found her injured, covered in blood.
Byron immediately called for a nurse.
The nurse, noticing how handsome Byron was, appeared noticeably flustered. “Please be gentle with her,” Byron said, his brow furrowing. “She’s afraid of pain.”
The nurse was taken aback and smiled awkwardly. “A person who stitches wounds without anesthesia would be afraid of pain?”
Byron raised an eyebrow. “What did you say?”
“She… she insisted on no anesthesia,” the nurse stammered, visibly shaken by Byron’s serious demeanor.
Byron’s heart tightened. Athena had refused anesthesia? Why? Why would she endure such pain?
As Athena’s phone rang, the nurse quickly left the room, sensing the tension in the air.
Still in a daze, Athena picked up the phone without checking the caller ID. It was Evie. “Baby, are you awake?” Athena’s voice was softer than usual, her words slightly playful.
Byron stood frozen, shocked by what he heard. Baby? Who was Athena calling “baby”?
Athena’s circle was simple, and it mostly revolved around him. Who was this “baby”? Was it Gabe?
Evie explained over the phone that she had a hangover and a headache and would never drink again. Athena smiled gently, her affection clear. She looked up, and her smile froze when she saw Byron.
“I have something to do here. We’ll talk later,” Athena said quickly, hanging up the phone.
“Why? Why are you hanging up?” Byron asked coldly.
Athena’s face turned pale as she looked at him. She flinched at the shards of glass still visible on her cheek. “Mr. Crawford, why are you here?” she asked calmly, despite her discomfort.
Byron watched her, his expression turning cold. “Heather is worried about you, so she asked me to check on you.”
Athena’s fingertips trembled slightly. So, it was Heather… Athena lowered her eyes, nodding. “Mr. Crawford, as you can see, I’m fine. You can go back and finish your task.”
Byron’s face darkened. He stood up quickly. “Athena, you are so ungrateful.”
Before he left, he stopped and looked back at her. “It wasn’t Baxter who called you just now, was it?” Byron asked, his gaze sharp.
Athena was caught off guard. Baxter Reed? She hadn’t heard that name in years.
“It’s none of your business,” Athena replied coldly. “Mr. Crawford, I’m no longer your sugar baby. What I do now is my own business. Please respect that!”
Byron smirked, his gaze mocking. “Athena, even Ruby and Heather can’t make you feel different. It must be Baxter, right?” His eyes burned with suspicion. “Is that who you’re so attached to?”
Athena bit her lip but didn’t respond. She should have explained. Baxter had once been a senior who had admired her, but when things were about to progress, complications arose with Romy and debts.
Byron likely remembered Baxter from back then when something embarrassing had happened between them. But if Byron wanted to believe whatever he wanted, Athena would let him. She wouldn’t waste her energy explaining.
Still, Byron didn’t let it go. He seemed to find his answer. “You act like you value your pride, as if you won’t trade it for anything. Have you forgotten how Baxter humiliated you in front of me?”
Athena remained silent. She couldn’t help but remember Baxter’s anger back then. “Athena, I misunderstood you! You really sold your body and soul for money. How could you be such a person? Vile and shameless! You make me sick!”
Byron’s anger flared, and he hated her silence even more than her defiance. “Athena, your self-esteem means nothing to you.”
Without waiting for a response, Byron turned and left. Athena, still dazed, looked at the coat draped over her, ready to fall to the ground. She stared blankly at the door where Byron had exited, murmuring softly, “Your coat… You forgot it…”
It was almost eleven o’clock by the time Athena left the hospital. She didn’t notice when the light rain started falling outside. Standing at the door, she tried to hail a taxi. Since there was a bar street nearby, it was difficult to get a cab.
After waiting for several minutes with no success, Athena began to walk toward the side of the road, hoping to catch one there. That’s when a black Maybach slowed to a stop beside her.
She assumed it was stopping for someone else, so she stepped aside. Just then, the passenger window rolled down.
“Miss Newton!” a familiar voice called out.