Chapter 177 Fall Out
Lola’s eyes narrowed as she watched Byron’s response. She could sense the tension in the air, and the coldness emanating from him was undeniable. It was clear he wasn’t as willing to bend to her demands as she expected.
“Byron, are you really going to let this go?” Lola’s voice was sharp, the anger in her words barely concealed.
Byron’s gaze locked onto hers, his expression unreadable. “Let it go? You think I’m letting anything go, Lola? I’m handling this my way, and I’ll deal with Erik and the Ross family in my own time.”
Lola’s eyes flickered with a mix of disbelief and frustration. “You’re choosing her over your family, over everything we’ve worked for? This is bigger than some romantic fling, Byron. This is about the Crawford legacy!”
Byron leaned back in his chair, his demeanor calm but firm. “The legacy of the Crawford family is not defined by greed or manipulation. It’s built on integrity, loyalty, and the people we choose to stand by. Athena is not just some pawn in your game, Lola. She’s the one person who’s shown me something real, something that matters.”
Heather, still sitting on the couch, looked between Byron and Lola with wide eyes, trying to process what was happening. “Byron… what are you saying? You can’t be serious! You can’t throw everything away over one woman!”
Byron’s jaw clenched, and he stood up, his voice steady but full of conviction. “I’m not throwing anything away. I’m protecting what matters. You think Athena is just some ‘plot’ to turn our family against the Ross family? That’s not the truth, Heather. You’re too caught up in your own schemes to see it.”
Lola crossed her arms, her expression now one of quiet fury. “If you refuse to see reason, Byron, you’ll have to deal with the consequences. The Ross family doesn’t forget slights, especially one like this. I will make sure of it.”
Byron’s eyes hardened, and for a moment, the air between them crackled with tension. “Then so be it,” he said, his voice low. “You want to play your games? Fine. But don’t forget who you’re dealing with. I’m not going to back down from protecting Athena. And I won’t let anyone—least of all the Ross family—try to tear her down.”
As he turned to leave, his cold eyes met Heather’s. “And you, Heather, need to choose where your loyalty lies. This is bigger than us, and if you can’t see that, then there’s no future for us. This marriage will never happen.”
Lola looked at him in stunned silence as Byron strode toward the door, his resolve unwavering. Heather, on the other hand, looked lost, her hands trembling as she clutched the fabric of her dress.
“Byron!” Heather called after him, but he didn’t stop. The door slammed shut behind him, leaving a chilling silence in the room.
Lola’s hands shook with anger as she stormed to the coffee table, picking up the discarded documents. “I will make sure you regret this, Byron. No one, not even you, defies the Ross family without paying a price.”
Meanwhile, Rose’s thoughts were consumed by the secrets she was uncovering. She’d always known that the Ross family had skeletons in their closet, but the depths of their scheming were starting to unravel in ways she hadn’t anticipated. Athena might not be the daughter of Stacy, but the connection was undeniable. It wasn’t just the resemblance—it was something else. And if Athena truly had a claim, something far more valuable than her family knew, Rose was determined to find it.
“I’ll do whatever it takes,” she murmured to herself as she stared out the car window, her grip tightening on the urn. “I will find that girl, and when I do, I’ll make sure she’s protected. And if Byron is in her corner… then so be it.”
Jaxson, sensing her shift in mood, stayed quiet but alert, watching as the car sped toward the airport. Rose had a plan, and even if the pieces didn’t quite fit together yet, she knew that Athena would be a key part of it. The Crawford family’s future depended on it.
Back at the manor, Evie sat beside Athena, her mind racing with everything that had happened. “What do you think will happen now?” she asked, her voice soft with concern.
Athena shook her head, unsure. She didn’t want to burden anyone with her worries, especially not Evie. But the truth was, the danger wasn’t over. It was just beginning.
The Ross family wouldn’t give up, and with Byron making such drastic decisions, things were only going to get more complicated. Athena could only hope that when the time came, she’d have the strength to face it.
For now, all she could do was wait, uncertain of the future, but feeling the weight of Byron’s protection surrounding her.