Chapter 211 Love Forever
“Is that enough?” Byron asked, laughing so hard that his eyes sparkled with amusement.
He leaned in, capturing Athena’s lips in a deep, lingering kiss. “This is more than enough!”
Athena’s cheeks flushed a deep shade of red. The tenderness in Byron’s kiss caught her off guard. In the past, their more intimate moments had always been filled with a mix of passion and distance. Byron’s behavior had been different, both in and out of bed—affectionate when coaxing her into intimacy, but distant when they were apart.
Athena reached for the paper bag by the entrance. “This is for Liam.”
Byron raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. “What is this?”
“Breakfast,” Athena explained quickly, anticipating his reaction. “Since Liam picked you up later than usual today, I figured he wouldn’t have time to grab breakfast at the company. This is just a little compensation for the delay.”
“You made it yourself?” Byron asked, his gaze softening a little.
“Not as delicious as yours,” Athena teased, trying to lighten the mood.
“Humph.” Byron looked at the bag with mild disapproval, but the warmth in his voice softened the sting.
Though Athena wasn’t sure if her words would reassure him, she felt better knowing Byron would at least take the breakfast with him.
“Don’t throw it away,” Athena added, her tone earnest. “I’ll check with Liam later!”
“I see!” Byron smiled, closing the door behind him as he left.
Athena stood there for a moment, watching him go. She looked around the apartment, an odd warmth filling her chest. Somehow, everything felt a little more… settled.
Later, Athena met Evie at the restaurant as planned. Evie was already there, sipping her coffee when Athena arrived.
Evie looked up at her, her eyes bright with curiosity. “Get married?”
Athena hesitated for a moment, then decided that Evie, now one of her closest friends, should be the first to know. After all, Evie had been by her side through so much, especially since she’d learned about Athena’s pregnancy and her complicated relationship with Byron.
“Yes, Byron and I… we’re getting married,” Athena said quietly.
Evie nearly choked on her coffee. Athena quickly lowered her voice, trying to calm her down. “Hold on, Evie!”
Evie’s excitement barely contained itself. “Byron!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide. “I knew you were the one for him! I knew you’d make it work! He must be over the moon!”
Athena smiled helplessly at her friend’s enthusiasm.
“You should’ve agreed! He wanted to marry today, didn’t he? You should’ve said yes. Now we’re all just waiting!” Evie continued, a slight pout on her lips.
“Don’t worry,” Athena said with a knowing smile. “If Byron can’t wait for a few days, how will he handle spending a lifetime with me?” She paused, the smile fading as she became more serious. “Besides, my grandmother always said that marriage is sacred and should be carefully planned. She believes that taking time to choose the right date will earn the blessing of the gods, ensuring a long-lasting bond. That’s how she and my grandfather had such a wonderful marriage.”
Evie nodded, her expression softening. “Yeah, they really were in love for a lifetime. I’ve never met your grandfather, but whenever your grandmother talks about him, it’s like she’s remembering something beautiful.” Evie smiled fondly at the thought. “Her cooking was also amazing. Way better than my mom’s!”
Athena nodded, her gaze thoughtful. “I want that too. A lifetime of happiness.”
Evie leaned forward, her voice sincere. “Then pick a date that feels right for you both. I can tell Byron loves you with everything he has.”
Athena gave Evie a small, affectionate smile and passed her a piece of chicken nugget. “Here, try this.”
Evie bit into the nugget, savoring the flavor, but then her expression changed. “By the way, Baxter came to me again.”
Athena’s smile faltered as a cold edge crept into her voice. “What does he want with you?”
Evie rolled her eyes. “He saw that Byron had broken off the engagement and wanted your phone number. Of course, I didn’t give it to him. But then he tried to convince me to persuade you to change your mind. He thinks Byron is just playing with you, that he’ll never actually marry you. Can you believe that?”
Athena’s eyes narrowed slightly. “I’m not surprised,” she murmured, the frustration clear in her tone. “Baxter’s always been like that—he never understood what I wanted.”
“Well, I think he’s completely wrong about you and Byron,” Evie said confidently. “You guys are meant to be.”
Athena smiled faintly, her thoughts swirling with the decisions ahead. But for now, she was grateful to have Evie by her side.