Chapter 198 Byron Won’t Accept Me
Heather’s heart pounded in her chest as her mind raced. The voice message she had just heard was like a slap to her face, the cruel realization sinking in. Erik, when will you attack Athena? Byron is going to live with her!
The words echoed in her head like a chant, each repetition twisting the knife deeper. The idea that Byron had sent her this recording felt like the final betrayal, the last straw. Everything she had fought for, everything she had tried to control, was slipping through her fingers like sand. She could no longer hide behind the facade of innocence—Byron knew everything.
She squeezed Jones’ arm tighter, her nails digging into his skin as panic overtook her. “What should I do? Byron won’t forgive me. He’ll never forgive me!”
Jones looked at her with a mix of pity and frustration. “Miss, you have to make a choice before Byron and the family do. You’re running out of time.”
The words stung as they settled in her mind. A choice. What choice did she have left? Byron had already made it clear that he no longer cared for her. The engagement was as good as over. She had never been so exposed, so vulnerable, and the idea of losing everything—the love of her family, her future with Byron, everything—was terrifying.
“Byron won’t accept me anymore,” Heather murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes were vacant, the reality of the situation settling in like a heavy weight. She had been used to controlling everything, manipulating every situation to her advantage, but now… now she was the one who was out of control. And she was falling.
Jones kneeled in front of her, gently lifting her chin to meet his gaze. “Miss, you still have a chance. But you need to act fast. If you don’t, the Ross family will disown you. The Crawford family will crush you. It’s now or never.”
Heather’s eyes filled with unshed tears. Disown me? Crush me? She couldn’t bear the thought of losing everything she had worked so hard to build. Her life had always been about the appearance of perfection, about being the one who could stand above the rest. But now, everything was crumbling.
She shook her head desperately. “I can’t lose everything, Jones. I can’t. What do I do?”
Jones hesitated, the weight of the decision he was about to suggest heavy in the air. “There’s only one way to fix this. You need to make a final move. You need to go to Byron. Apologize, beg for his forgiveness, but most importantly, make him see that you are still valuable to him. You can’t let him think you’re weak, or everything will be lost.”
Heather looked up at him, the desperation in her eyes turning to something more calculating. I can’t lose him. Not like this. She wiped away her tears, forcing herself to steady her breath. She had been pushed into a corner, but that was nothing new. She had always thrived under pressure.
“You’re right,” she said, her voice firming with resolve. “I’ll go to him. I’ll make him see that I’m not someone he can just throw away. I’ll make him realize that we are meant to be together. He has to forgive me.”
Jones nodded, his expression unreadable. “Be careful, Miss. If you’re not careful, your actions could be the final blow. Byron won’t tolerate anyone playing games with him. Not now.”
“I know,” Heather replied, her voice low, but her eyes glittered with a dangerous determination. “But I won’t lose. I won’t.”
Byron was still sitting in his office, staring at the phone screen as he reread the message from Heather. The conversation with her had only made him more certain that their engagement had been a mistake. He had once believed that Heather would be the one, but the more he learned about her true nature, the more he realized how wrong he had been. She had played her cards well, but he wasn’t about to let her manipulate him any longer.
His thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. He glanced up to see his assistant standing in the doorway.
“Mr. Crawford, Miss Ross is here to see you,” the assistant said, a hint of hesitation in their voice.
Byron’s eyes narrowed. Heather. He didn’t want to deal with her right now, but he knew she wouldn’t give up. She never did.
“Let her in,” he said coldly.
Moments later, Heather walked in, her posture stiff, her face a mask of carefully controlled emotion. She closed the door behind her, taking a deep breath before looking at Byron.
“You wanted to see me?” she asked, her voice tinged with vulnerability, though Byron could see through the facade. She was trying to regain control, to make him believe she was still the woman he had once cared for.
Byron didn’t waste any time. “Heather, we need to talk. About everything.”
Heather took a step forward, her eyes searching his face. “Byron, I know I’ve made mistakes. But I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. I’ll apologize for everything. I’ll fix it all. Just please don’t throw me away.”
Byron remained unmoved. “Heather, the problem isn’t just about what you’ve done. It’s about who you’ve become. I don’t need someone like you in my life anymore.”
Heather’s eyes filled with hurt, but there was no turning back now. She had to win him over—she had to make him see that she was the only one who could stand by his side.
“I’ve always loved you, Byron,” she said softly, her voice cracking. “I don’t care about anything else. I just want you. I’ll change. I’ll do whatever it takes.”
Byron stood up from his desk, his gaze cold and unwavering. “You’ve already changed, Heather. And not in the way I hoped. It’s too late for you.”
The words hit Heather like a punch to the gut, but she refused to break down. She would find a way. She always did.
But Byron had made his decision. And this time, it was final.
Heather left his office, the weight of his words still crushing her chest. She had failed. She had thought she could manipulate the situation, but Byron was no longer the man she could control.
Her thoughts turned dark, and a new resolve began to form within her. If she couldn’t have Byron, then no one would.