Chapter 180 Let’s Get Married
The days passed in a blur of quiet anticipation for Athena, who found herself constantly reflecting on the whirlwind of events that had recently turned her life upside down. Byron’s words still echoed in her mind: Let’s get married. The proposal had come so suddenly, without the usual prelude, the engagement, or any of the formalities she had once imagined.
At first, Athena was unsure of what to feel. She had always known that Byron had an intense, almost obsessive desire to protect those he cared about, but marriage? That seemed like a step so much deeper than he had previously hinted. What had changed? Why now?
And then there was the lingering question about Heather. How could Byron speak so confidently about an engagement breaking off when his fiancée was still very much a part of the picture? It left Athena caught in the storm of uncertainty, trying to decide what was real and what was part of Byron’s complicated world.
Meanwhile, Byron remained distant in the following days. He came and went at odd hours, consumed by work and the ongoing tension with the Ross family. His devotion to the Crawford family business and his obsession with keeping everything under control made him a stranger to her at times. And yet, when he was with her, his warmth and intensity made it hard to deny the connection they shared.
Athena could feel the walls between them slowly crumbling, even if she didn’t entirely trust them yet. The thought of children and a family kept resurfacing in her mind. She had always dreamed of giving her future children the stability of love and care, but could she trust Byron’s intentions? Would their life together be more than a business arrangement or a temporary solution to the conflict with the Ross family?
As Athena stayed in the manor, she focused on recovering, taking comfort in the fact that Byron had promised she would be safe while he worked through his challenges. But she couldn’t ignore the weight of the decisions hanging over her. The looming promise of marriage, the unspoken understanding that their lives were entwined in more ways than one—it all seemed too fast, too soon.
One morning, just as dawn broke, Byron left the manor early again. He had become almost a phantom in her life these past few days—present when necessary, but always distant, absorbed in his duties. Athena sighed, knowing that there was little she could do to change that. She had no choice but to wait.
A few days later, Rose returned from her trip to bury Herman, and her first action was to arrange for Athena’s departure. The old woman’s eyes were sharp, her thoughts always calculating, but she cared for Athena in her own way. She hadn’t said much about Byron’s proposal or the ongoing drama surrounding the Crawford family, but Athena could feel the subtle shift in Rose’s attitude.
That night, Rose took Athena to the car waiting outside, where she was whisked away to a private airport hangar. The journey to Greeli City was swift, and soon Athena found herself flying in a private jet, the hum of the engines providing an odd sense of security.
Looking out of the window, Athena tried to sort through her feelings. She had once dreamed of a life where she could be independent, but now she was headed to a city that represented everything she had once avoided—a world of wealth, power, and expectations she didn’t know if she was ready to meet.
The cold wind outside made her shiver as she leaned back in her seat. A thousand thoughts swirled in her mind, but one thing was certain—her life would never be the same. Whether she was ready or not, everything was about to change.