Chapter 23 Naive and Innocent
“I read some recommendations online. There’s a local restaurant with great dishes, though it’s a bit far. If we go later, we might have to wait in line,” Gabe said with enthusiasm.
Over the years, Athena had been surrounded by individuals who were either manipulative or carefree. She hadn’t encountered anyone as genuine as Gabe in a long time.
For a moment, Athena couldn’t help but reflect on the past—before everything had changed. Back then, she had been full of warmth and sincerity.
“Alright, since I’m treating you to dinner, I’ll leave the decision to you,” she said, her tone calm and patient, as if comforting a child.
Gabe’s face lit up with delight at her response.
Athena gathered her bag, and the two left together. The autumn streets of Salin City were covered in golden leaves, creating a picturesque scene.
Sitting in the passenger seat, Athena listened as Gabe happily told her about the sights they were passing. It was clear he had done his homework and was eager to share his excitement with her.
Athena, feeling relaxed, didn’t engage much in the conversation, but Gabe seemed pleased by her presence.
“After this intersection, there’s a bit of traffic ahead,” Gabe said, spotting a parking space on the side of the road. He slowly parked the car. “How about we get out for a walk?”
“Sure,” Athena replied. She had been feeling a bit nauseous from sitting too long, but the moment she stepped out of the car and breathed in the fresh autumn air, the discomfort faded away.
Her baby seemed considerate of her, always reminding her of when to slow down. Most of the time, she felt fine, but intense emotions could sometimes trigger nausea.
Gabe walked up beside her, and the two strolled toward the restaurant, unaware they were being followed, either at a distance or up close.
Gabe had made a reservation, and they waited for a table to free up before entering the restaurant. The menu was filled with beef and mutton dishes, which were a bit too rich for Athena’s taste. She didn’t have much of an appetite and only ate a small amount.
Meanwhile, Gabe seemed carefree and enjoyed his meal without a care in the world. It was a pleasant lunch, but Athena couldn’t fully relax, her thoughts drifting elsewhere.
Afterward, the two walked back to the car. Along the way, Athena answered a couple of work calls. The second one was a bit surprising.
The call was from a general manager of one of Imbe Group’s subsidiaries. As soon as the call connected, he asked, “Miss Newton, we’ve been unable to reach Mr. Crawford…”
Athena cut him off sharply, “I’m no longer Mr. Crawford’s secretary. Please contact the Office of the President directly.”
The manager hesitated, quickly muttered something, and hung up.
Gabe, who had been walking beside her, glanced over at Athena. “Athena, that day at the pier, a woman said a lot of negative things about you.”
Athena turned her head slightly and met his gaze before looking ahead again, the autumn breeze carrying a swirl of fallen leaves.
She sighed softly. “Forget it, it doesn’t matter,” she said, dismissing the topic.
Gabe regretted bringing it up. Everything had been going so well, and he had to mention Byron again. Why did he always blurt out the wrong thing?
“Do you want to ask about my relationship with Byron?” Athena asked.
Gabe froze.
“Athena, I… I didn’t mean to pry,” he stammered, looking flustered.
Athena gave him a steady, clear gaze. “I’ve been with Byron for five years,” she said simply, her voice calm and matter-of-fact.
Gabe stiffened, clearly surprised. But Athena wasn’t bothered. She wasn’t a naive girl anymore.
She knew Gabe had feelings for her, but she had no intention of starting a relationship—especially now.
She was pregnant, and her life was complicated enough without adding a boyfriend into the mix. The world of wealthy families was a maze of secrets and heartbreaks. She had witnessed enough tragedies during the years spent by Byron’s side.
She had no interest in marrying into wealth only to live a life of misery.