Chapter 190 Can You Kiss Me?
Tyler clenched his fists, glaring at Athena with barely restrained fury. The tension in the room was thick, but Athena remained unfazed, her posture strong and unwavering. Byron, ever the calm presence, stood beside her with a quiet confidence that only seemed to fuel Tyler’s anger even more.
“You think you can talk to me like that just because you have him with you?” Tyler sneered, his eyes flicking between Athena and Byron, who now stood protectively at her side.
Athena didn’t flinch, her eyes meeting his with a coldness that seemed to freeze the air between them. “I don’t care what you think,” she said, her voice steady. “I’m here to get the results, nothing else.”
Byron’s expression was unreadable, but his body was coiled with tension, ready to step in at any moment. He had no intention of letting Tyler provoke Athena any further. He knew this moment was crucial for her, and he wouldn’t let anyone ruin it for her.
Tyler, still seething, finally turned to the counter as the attendant called for him. The test results were ready. Athena could feel the weight of the moment pressing down on her, her heart hammering in her chest. This was it. The truth would finally be revealed.
The attendant handed over the envelope containing the results. Tyler snatched it out of her hand, but Athena was quick to step forward, her voice sharp. “Give it to me,” she demanded.
Tyler hesitated for a moment, as if considering whether to cause more trouble, but then, with a snarl, he handed over the envelope. Athena took it with a steady hand, her fingers trembling slightly as she opened it.
The room fell into a heavy silence as she read the results. Her mind raced as she processed the words on the page, trying to make sense of what it meant. Tyler leaned in, desperate to know, but Athena didn’t speak. She simply handed the paper over to Byron, who took it without a word.
Byron scanned the document quickly, his expression unreadable, before meeting Athena’s eyes. He didn’t need to say anything. The truth was clear.
Tyler’s face went white as he realized the results were not in his favor. His eyes darted from the paper back to Athena, fury building once more. “This can’t be right!” he hissed. “It’s wrong!”
Athena didn’t flinch. She simply folded the paper and handed it back to the attendant. “It’s right. Now, if you’re done wasting my time, you can leave.”
Tyler’s face twisted in anger, but he knew there was nothing he could do. The results were final. His claim to be her uncle had been disproven. He looked around at his companions, who were just as angry and defeated, but there was nothing left to fight for.
“Fine,” Tyler spat, his voice low and venomous. “But this isn’t over, Athena. I’ll find a way to make you pay for this.”
Byron’s lips curled into a slight smirk. “Do what you want, Tyler. But don’t forget—there’s always a consequence for crossing the wrong people.”
Tyler’s face turned red with rage, but without another word, he and his companions turned and stormed out of the building.
As the door slammed shut behind them, Athena let out a breath she didn’t realize she was holding. The tension in the room slowly eased, but she could still feel the remnants of anger and frustration coiling in her chest.
Byron stepped closer to her, his hand finding hers once more. “You okay?” he asked softly.
Athena nodded, her eyes still fixed on the door through which Tyler had just left. “I will be,” she whispered. “But there’s still so much left to figure out.”
Byron squeezed her hand gently. “We’ll figure it out together. All of it.”
Athena managed a small smile, though it was tinged with sadness. The truth had been revealed, but it was only the beginning of a much bigger journey. The past was still haunting her, and the people who had wronged her family hadn’t been fully dealt with yet.
But with Byron by her side, she felt, for the first time in a long while, that maybe—just maybe—she wasn’t alone in this fight anymore.