Chapter 20 You’re Cuckolded
Byron’s departure left both Lola and Heather in confusion, as neither of them understood what had caused him to suddenly act so distant. Lola turned to Heather, a concerned look on her face.
“He’s been acting strange lately, don’t you think?” Lola asked, her voice tinged with worry.
Heather, ever the calm one, gave a soft smile. “It’s probably just the pressure of the engagement and everything around the company. Men sometimes don’t show how stressed they are.”
But Lola wasn’t entirely convinced. She had watched Byron closely enough to know when something was off, and this felt like more than just business pressure.
Meanwhile, Byron had stormed off to his car, the weight of the photos haunting his thoughts. His mind was a storm of confusion and frustration. Athena had always been so independent, so resolute in rejecting his wealth and gestures. But now, these photos of her with Gabe—laughing, spending time together—it struck something in him. It was the feeling of betrayal, the unease that he had been replaced.
His fingers tightened on the steering wheel as he drove away from the hotel. His first instinct was to confront Athena, demand answers, but something told him that rushing into this wouldn’t help. The mess was already too tangled.
Back in Salin City, Athena and Gabe arrived at the hotel, unaware of the whirlwind their innocent actions had set off. Gabe was still concerned about her hand, but Athena reassured him that it was nothing serious. She had to admit, it felt nice to have someone who cared so much.
As they made their way to their room, Athena’s phone buzzed again. She didn’t even need to check the message to know it was from Byron. The tension between them still lingered in the air, a silent storm waiting to break. But Athena didn’t want to deal with him right now—not when there was so much to focus on with the trip and the business matters at hand.
“Let’s go for that dinner,” Gabe suggested, flashing her one of his usual bright smiles. “You’ve had a long day.”
Athena hesitated but nodded. She needed a distraction, a break from the constant pressure. They stepped out of the hotel, unaware of the eyes watching them from a distance.
Later that evening, as Byron sat in his car, the harsh light of the streetlamp casting shadows across his face, he thought about Athena’s words that morning. She had refused his money, his gifts—everything he had given her. It felt like she had truly moved on.
But did that mean she had moved on to Gabe?
With a clenched jaw, Byron made up his mind. The next step was clear. He needed to confront Athena, to figure out where they stood, even if it meant losing his temper.
His phone buzzed again, and for a split second, he thought it was her. But it was a call from his business associate, pulling him back to reality.
“Mr. Crawford, we need your approval on the new contract details.”
Byron sighed, his mind still on Athena. But business came first, and for now, he had to push his personal feelings aside. Yet, as he sat there, his fingers hovered over the phone, longing to reach out to her, to demand answers.
In Salin City, the evening grew late as Athena sat across from Gabe in a quiet restaurant. They had finished their meal, the conversation light and filled with laughter, but Athena couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. She had heard nothing from Byron all day, and yet the weight of his absence hung heavily in her mind.
“Something wrong?” Gabe asked, noticing her distracted expression.
Athena gave a small smile. “No, just thinking about work.”
But deep down, she knew it was more than that. The uncertainty of her relationship with Byron gnawed at her, and she wondered if she was ready to let go completely.
As the evening wore on, Athena couldn’t help but feel like the calm before a storm. And somewhere in the distance, Byron was preparing for the very same storm to hit.
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