Chapter 179 Do You Want Athena or Freya?
Byron walked into the dimly lit Crawford Manor, the chill of the night air still clinging to him. He had spent the entire day negotiating with business partners, trying to manage the growing tension between his company and the Ross family. But his mind kept drifting back to Athena. The thought of her, the events that had unfolded, and the deepening complications in his life weighed heavily on him.
As he entered the living room, the warmth inside the manor hit him, but it did little to ease the coldness that had settled in his chest. He hadn’t returned home to find peace, but to find something he wasn’t sure even existed anymore—answers, or perhaps closure.
The old servant, who had been with the family for years, greeted him with a respectful bow. “Mr. Crawford, Miss Newton and Miss Cross have already fallen asleep.” She took his coat, her eyes showing a hint of concern. “It’s a cold night, sir. You must be exhausted.”
Byron nodded absently, his mind far from the usual comforts of home. He didn’t want to talk about the cold or his fatigue. His thoughts were consumed with Athena. She was safe, for now, but for how long? How much longer could he keep her protected while navigating the chaos his life had become?
He moved silently up the stairs to the guest room where Athena was staying, and as he pushed open the door, he saw her lying there, her face serene in sleep. The soft rise and fall of her chest was the only indication of life in the stillness of the room.
A strange ache stirred in his chest. He watched her for a moment, a mixture of admiration, guilt, and longing swirling inside him. The recent events had made him question everything—his decisions, his feelings for her, and the choices he’d made for the future.
But one thing was clear to him: he could not lose her. Not now. Not after everything that had happened.
He stood at the threshold for a moment longer, then turned away, stepping softly out of the room. There was no time for weakness. The business with the Ross family, with Erik, and even with his mother, was far from resolved. There were still so many questions, so many threads to tie up.
But his thoughts kept drifting back to Athena. The way she had looked at him when he told her to break off the engagement with Heather. She had always been the calm in the storm, the one who could make him feel like there was still a sliver of hope amidst the chaos.
As Byron made his way back down the hall, his mind began to shift. He had given Heather an ultimatum, and while he hadn’t expected her to break the engagement immediately, he knew it was only a matter of time before the pressure of their strained relationship would force her hand.
Byron had made his choice. Athena was the one he wanted. But it wasn’t just about the business or the family legacy anymore—it was about her. He could no longer hide behind the excuses of power and duty. He wanted her, and he would do whatever it took to make sure she knew it.
The sound of footsteps behind him made him stop. He turned to see the old servant standing at the end of the hall, a concerned look on her face.
“Mr. Crawford,” she said, her voice soft but insistent. “There’s something you should know. I overheard some things earlier. I don’t mean to pry, but I believe it’s important.”
Byron raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“The assistant from Mr. Lawson’s office,” she continued, glancing around as if checking for anyone who might overhear. “He left here earlier, but I heard him mention something about a deal… and Miss Newton.”
Byron’s interest piqued, but he didn’t show it. He nodded for her to continue.
“It seems there’s some talk about Athena’s involvement in a bigger scheme, something with the Ross family. I don’t know all the details, but I thought you should be aware.”
Byron’s expression hardened. He had suspected that Athena’s involvement with the Ross family wasn’t just a coincidence. There were always undercurrents of power at play, and it seemed like she might be more deeply tied into the family’s schemes than he had realized.
“Thank you,” Byron said curtly, his mind already racing with possibilities. “I’ll take care of it.”
He turned on his heel and made his way to the study, his mind focused on the potential threat against Athena. He couldn’t let her become entangled in the politics of the Ross family any further.
He had made up his mind. There was no turning back now.