Chapter 224 The Wishful Thinking Clown
Seraphina opened her mouth to explain, but a chilling atmosphere suddenly radiated from Gideon. His eyes were cold, his expression icy, and his voice dropped to a dangerous tone. “If anything happens to her, you’re done. Remember that. You’re done. Literally.”
Seraphina froze, her face paling at the sheer intensity of Gideon’s words.
Freya, standing nearby, trembled at the weight of the moment. She quickly stepped forward, her voice soft and pleading. “Gideon… She did it to protect me. Why do you have to scare her like that?”
Gideon’s gaze shifted to Freya, his features hardening. “Freya… Long time no see. How did you let yourself become like this?”
Freya sighed, her shoulders slumping in exhaustion. But there was no time for softness in Gideon’s eyes. He didn’t respond to her, his attention now fixated on the path Athena had taken. She had been clutching her belly when she left. Was she hurt? Did something happen to the baby?
The thought gnawed at his mind. Athena was strong, but this… this could be too much for her to bear. And even if she lost everything else, her babies had to be safe. They had to be.
Meanwhile, Athena’s steps were heavy as she made her way toward the car, her heart burdened with a thousand thoughts. She barely made it inside when Byron’s voice called after her.
“Thea!”
Athena turned to face him, her patience already worn thin. “What do you want now?”
Byron reached her in a few strides, desperation in his voice. “I want you to listen to me.”
He grabbed her arm, his grip firm, but Athena pulled away, the tension between them thickening. “There’s no need for that anymore, Byron. I’ve already told you—I’m not going to be a complication in your life. Freya is back. I won’t stand in your way.”
Byron’s face twisted in frustration, but Athena pressed on. “Actually, from the moment you lied to me, I saw this coming. This is exactly how it would end.”
“No, that’s not it!” Byron said, his brows furrowing deeply. “I was just afraid that if you knew Freya was back, you’d overthink everything. I didn’t want to cause you pain.”
Athena’s lips curled into a bitter smile. “So, this is all my fault now, is it?”
Byron softened, his voice lower and almost pleading. “No, Thea, it’s not your fault. I was wrong. But I’m telling you now, I don’t have those feelings for her anymore. All I want is to build a future with you.”
Athena fell silent, her mind swirling with a storm of emotions.
Byron continued, his voice cracking slightly with vulnerability. “Freya… She was forced into marriage. My grandmother, my mother, her family—they all pushed her into it. And her husband… he abused her. He cheated, he mistreated her, and he even had her sterilized…”
Athena’s heart clenched at his words. Her brows furrowed in confusion and concern. She couldn’t look at him the same way anymore, not with the weight of those revelations.
“It’s my fault, too,” Byron continued softly. “I was the one who sent her away, thinking it would help her heal. But all I’ve done is create more pain. I just wanted to make things right. But when I told her I was marrying you, she… she tried to end her life. Took sleeping pills the very next day…”
The air around Athena seemed to suffocate her. The weight of the situation—the lies, the betrayal, the heartache—crushed her chest. “What if she never gets better? Will you take care of her forever?”
Byron’s expression faltered, his eyes filled with uncertainty. “She won’t be like this forever. I’ve contacted the best experts. We’ll help her get through this.”
Athena shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes, though she refused to let them fall. “I can’t trust you anymore, Byron. I just can’t. We both need to calm down, think about what we’re doing.”
“Thea…” Byron reached for her again, but she pulled away, her gaze fixed firmly ahead.
“What do you want from me, Byron? To forget that I was nothing more than a stand-in for her? To play the dutiful wife while you take care of your true love?” Athena’s voice trembled with a quiet fury. “Look at her, Byron. She doesn’t even look well. You should go back to her.”
Byron’s face hardened with frustration and fear. “Promise me you won’t leave. Wait for me at home. I’ll make things right.”
Athena’s laugh was hollow, a bitter sound that rang in the air. “Mr. Crawford, are you really still using my loved ones to control me? Do you think I’ll just sit here and wait for you, knowing everything that’s happened?”
His jaw clenched, his expression darkening further.
Without another word, Athena shook off his hand, her movements sharp with finality. She climbed into the car, the door slamming shut with a heavy sound.
As the car pulled away, her tears began to fall. Slowly at first, then in an uncontrollable rush. The pain, the betrayal, it all felt like too much. What was she? What had she become?
A foolish, pitiful, delusional clown.