Chapter 24 A Death Threat
Byron gritted his teeth, feeling a wave of frustration and disbelief. He thought about everything that had transpired between him and Athena. To anyone who knew their relationship, it would have been obvious—she would try everything to win him back now that he was getting engaged. Surely, that was the logical conclusion.
In a way, Lola was right. Athena, upon learning about his engagement, had finally shown her true colors. She was no longer the sweet, loving woman who tried to please him at every turn. She had become distant, indifferent—no longer the woman who loved him. And now, she was even going on a trip with another man.
Byron let out a bitter laugh. How could she think she could just leave me? His heart was a chaotic mess of anger and disbelief. She doesn’t care about me at all. Not anymore.
Lola, on the other hand, was furious. She had always viewed Athena as a threat, but now her anger had reached new heights. “Byron, you know what’s at stake,” she snapped. “The Crawford family cannot afford to lose this marriage with the Ross family. If anyone tries to ruin it, I will make sure they pay the price.”
Byron’s hands gripped the steering wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He slammed the brakes, the tires screeching against the pavement. His heart was racing, and he felt a rush of adrenaline surge through him.
Lola’s voice crackled through the phone, panic rising as she heard the screech of the tires. “Byron! What happened?”
Byron’s voice was icy, his words deliberate. “Don’t deal with Athena.”
There was a heavy silence on the line. Lola’s voice was sharp when she spoke again. “Then break up with her. She’s just a distraction now. You don’t need her.”
Without waiting for a reply, she ended the call, clearly angry. Byron, however, didn’t move for a long time. He was still processing everything—his thoughts tangled between guilt and frustration.
After a few moments, he stood abruptly, startling Lola and Heather, who were still trying to decide where to have the engagement party. “I need to go on a business trip,” he said quickly. “You two can handle the arrangements. I’ll leave the details to you.”
Without waiting for a response, Byron grabbed the car keys and left in a hurry, not sparing another glance at his mother or Heather.
Athena arrived at the hotel and quickly settled in, her thoughts racing as she unpacked her things. She hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the chaos surrounding her. Between the project she was working on and the strange tension with Byron, everything felt out of place.
She sent a quick message to Gideon, telling him she had arrived safely in Salin City. Within moments, her phone rang. It was Gideon.
“Are you with Carlos and his men?” he asked, sounding slightly concerned.
“No,” Athena replied, her tone light. “I made up an excuse. I haven’t been in much contact with them.”
“Good,” Gideon sighed in relief. “I’ve looked into it. The man behind Carlos—Arlan Forcina—is no small player. He’s a local bully, and he’s ruthless. Stay cautious.”
Athena frowned, unsure what to make of it. “I’ll be fine. I’ll wait for you in the hotel.”
“You don’t know this area well enough,” Gideon replied firmly. “I’ll be there by four this afternoon. Stay put, and don’t open the door for anyone except me.”
Athena was puzzled by Gideon’s sudden seriousness. He had always been carefree and laid-back, but now he was acting with a rare intensity. She wasn’t sure what had changed, but she trusted him.
Meanwhile, Gabe had been waiting outside the hotel, watching Athena’s every move. He had never been one to shy away from showing his interest. When he saw her leave the hotel, he immediately approached her, eager to catch up.
“Miss Newton, you seem to be busy,” he teased, his grin wide.
Athena gave him a lighthearted smile, trying to mask the unease she felt. “It’s not time for lunch yet, Gabe.”
Gabe was undeterred, his eyes sparkling. “I’ve got time to spare. How about we grab something to eat?”
Athena sighed, already knowing Gabe’s persistence. “Alright. Let’s go.”
They walked together, but as they moved through the street, Athena couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. She had been in Salin City for less than a day, and already things felt more dangerous than she had expected. As they continued, her thoughts were interrupted by the sight of Gabe’s car. It was a silver SUV, but something was off.
She noticed the windows were smashed, and the body of the car was badly dented.
“What happened?” Gabe asked, his voice filled with confusion and anger.
Athena approached cautiously, noticing a piece of paper wedged into the shattered windshield. She reached for it, her heart sinking as she read the ominous message.
[Miss Newton, it’s a small surprise. I hope you have a good time with your boyfriend in Salin City. Don’t meddle in other people’s business. Anyone who stands in my way will pay the price.]
Athena’s blood ran cold. “A death threat?” she muttered, looking at Gabe.
Gabe’s expression hardened. “It looks like you’ve made someone very angry. Don’t worry. I’ll take care of this.”
“No,” Athena replied quickly. “It’s connected to the project with Imbe Group. Don’t get involved. This is bigger than we thought.”
“Byron?” Gabe asked, his voice dripping with jealousy.
Athena sighed, not wanting to engage in a conversation about Byron. “Don’t worry about him. Just call the police.”
It wasn’t long before the police arrived, but the situation didn’t improve. The surveillance footage from the area was corrupted, so they had nothing to work with.
By the time they returned to the hotel, it was nearly four o’clock. Athena called Carlos to reschedule the afternoon meeting, pushing it to the following day.
Gabe, worried about Athena’s safety, insisted on sending her to her hotel room first. He repeatedly reminded her not to open the door for anyone but him.
When he left to change rooms, Athena thought she was finally alone. But just as she was about to close the door, the doorbell rang again.
Could it be Gabe? Athena thought, rolling her eyes.
She opened the door reluctantly, prepared for more of Gabe’s nagging. But when she looked up, her breath caught in her throat.
“Byron?” she whispered, her heart racing.
He stood in front of her, looking every bit the man she once loved—and still could love, if only things were different. His presence felt like a storm, one that neither of them could control anymore.
Byron’s voice was firm but vulnerable. “We need to talk.”