Chapter 203 Delusion Come True
Athena didn’t actually think it made a difference whether she had a father or not. But she knew that making Rose feel guilty was her best move.
“Athena, you’re still so young… You…”
“Are you trying to tell me not to keep this baby?” Athena cut her off, feigning surprise.
Rose hesitated, her voice faltering. “If it weren’t Byron’s, I wouldn’t try to persuade you…”
“Madam Stella,” Athena said, her tone turning serious. “This baby is my only family left in this world. I won’t give up on it, no matter what.”
“No, that’s not it!” Rose’s voice broke, and she burst into tears. “Not just the baby, Athena. You have me, and you have other family too—people who love you.”
Just then, Jaxson entered the room, carrying a bowl of porridge he had prepared earlier.
“Alright, let’s stop here for now,” Athena said, gently taking the porridge from Jaxson’s hands. She turned to Rose and added, “The most important thing right now is that you recover. You still haven’t found your granddaughter, so you need to stay strong.”
Rose nodded silently, and Athena began feeding her the porridge, spoon by spoon, with a care that reflected her sincerity.
As she gently wiped Rose’s face and hands with a towel afterward, the tenderness in Athena’s actions only made Rose’s heart heavier with guilt and fear. She had always believed she was doing what was best for Athena, but now… Now, it was clear she had a lot to answer for.
Rose stayed in the hospital for four days, and Athena never left her side. On the fifth day, Rose was finally discharged.
“Athena, I need to go back and handle some things, but I’ll come see you again soon.” Rose had hoped Athena might go with her, but Athena declined. After a moment’s thought, Rose decided to respect her decision and return alone. She’d come back to stay with Athena once the business was dealt with.
“Okay,” Athena said with a soft smile. “Hope to see you soon.”
After seeing Rose off, Athena returned to the hotel. As soon as she entered her room, her phone buzzed with an incoming call. It was Byron.
“Madam Stella is gone?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Athena replied, her voice distracted.
“I’m almost done with everything. I’ll pick you up tomorrow morning,” Byron said, his voice filled with a warm, almost longing tone. He paused before adding softly, “Thea, I miss you so much.”
Athena felt her cheeks heat up. “Be serious!” she retorted, though she couldn’t help the smile tugging at her lips.
“I am serious,” Byron teased. “I said I miss you, but I didn’t say what I’m going to do about it. How is that not serious?” His laughter echoed in her ear, making her blush even more.
Flustered, Athena quickly changed the topic. “Actually, you don’t need to pick me up. I can get back on my own.”
Byron’s voice turned more serious. “We have things to do after I pick you up.”
“What things?” Athena asked, curiosity piquing.
“We’re getting married,” Byron said, his tone solemn but filled with affection. “You should take me to meet the elders.”
Athena was silent for a moment, processing his words.
“Okay,” she finally replied, her voice quieter now. “I get it.”
Byron paused, sensing the shift in her tone. “Are you unhappy?”
“No, of course not,” Athena said quickly. “I’m happy. It’s just… it feels unreal, like a dream.”
Outside, rain poured over Girard City, as if the weather reflected Athena’s conflicted emotions. Byron, on the other hand, grew even more eager to see her. He had originally planned to pick her up tonight, but with flights grounded due to the storm, he knew he couldn’t go anywhere.
After the call, Byron stood up from his desk, turning to Liam. “I’m going to Greeli City for a few days. Make sure the final details here are handled.”
Liam, knowing exactly what his boss was up to, nodded with a grin. “Don’t worry, I’ve got it covered!”