Chapter 2 Break Up
Athena sat motionless, gazing out of the window at the rain as it cascaded down in soft sheets. The call she had just received from the hospital echoed in her mind. She was pregnant. The words repeated in her head as she struggled to process the news.
How could this have happened? She had always been careful, always made sure protection was used. This was not supposed to happen. She was too careful, too sensible for something like this to slip through the cracks. Yet, here she was—holding a bombshell she never anticipated.
The thought of being pregnant sent a flood of emotions rushing through her—fear, confusion, and an overwhelming sense of helplessness. She didn’t even know how to process it. Her mind wandered back to her time with Byron. Their tumultuous relationship had been based on convenience and unspoken rules, and now there was the added complication of a child.
She closed her eyes, trying to breathe through the shock. The idea of carrying Byron’s child—someone who had so clearly viewed her as a replacement for his lost love, Freya—felt impossible. She could never let herself be tied to him any more than she already was. Could she bring a child into this mess? Into a life where her worth was measured by obedience and her ability to please him?
As the thoughts swirled in her mind, another, quieter voice emerged—her own. A voice that reminded her of her own strength, her own capacity for choice. She wasn’t just a reflection of someone else’s desires. She was Athena Newton, and this was her life.
But the decision still felt so heavy. She placed a hand on her stomach, the reality of it sinking in. A life had begun, and yet, there were so many things she needed to untangle before she could even think about moving forward. She had already given up so much of herself to Byron over the years—her time, her energy, her heart. Could she afford to bring a child into this fractured world?
Athena let out a shaky breath. No. She couldn’t. She wasn’t ready to let Byron, or anyone else, have this kind of hold over her. She had spent years living in his shadow, pretending to be someone she was not. She had been the dutiful secretary, the obedient lover, but that person wasn’t her. It was all a performance, and she was done with it.
This child—this unexpected, unplanned part of her life—could not tie her further to Byron. The thought of it felt suffocating. She didn’t want to be his burden, his mistress. She didn’t want to continue living in a life that revolved around his whims and his demands.
Athena knew what she had to do. She couldn’t keep this child. It was painful, it was gut-wrenching, but it was the only choice that made sense. If she kept it, she would never be free. She would always be bound to Byron in some way, whether through his money, his expectations, or this child. She couldn’t allow that to happen.
The decision was final, but still, she felt a tug in her heart as she stood there, her hand still resting on her stomach. Could she really go through with this? The weight of the decision pressed on her chest, suffocating her with its enormity. It felt wrong, but at the same time, it was the only way forward.
She had to reclaim her life. No more playing the part of the obedient secretary. No more living in the shadow of a man who could never truly love her. She wasn’t going to live in a world where she was just a substitute, a replacement for someone else. She deserved more than that.
With a shaky breath, Athena made up her mind. She would go to the clinic. It was time to put an end to this chapter of her life. She couldn’t let herself become a part of Byron’s mess any longer.
She grabbed her phone, ready to make the call. But before she did, she paused and gazed out of the window once more. The rain continued to fall, and for the first time in years, Athena felt a sense of clarity. She was free. The chains that had bound her for so long were finally breaking, and though the road ahead was unclear, it was hers to walk.
She wasn’t going to let Byron, or anyone else, control her future. The power to choose was hers, and for the first time in years, she felt that power surge within her.
Athena was done with being a replacement. Done with playing the part. She was going to take control of her life, no matter the cost.