Chapter 251 At Least Check if I’m Alive
Athena’s expression softened for a moment as she listened to Byron’s pained voice through the phone. But just as quickly, she steeled herself, reminding herself why she was so far from him in the first place.
“Why should I check if you’re alive, Byron?” she replied coolly, her voice devoid of warmth. “I’m not the one who nearly killed our children.”
Byron’s chest tightened as her words hit him like a blow. He wanted to protest, to argue, to say that he was sorry, that he had changed, but the words stuck in his throat. All the guilt he felt seemed to wash over him anew, heavier than ever.
“Look,” Athena continued, her tone shifting slightly, “I called the doctor. You’ll be fine. I’m just… taking some time for myself.”
Byron bit back a bitter laugh. Time for yourself? It felt like a lifetime since he had cared for her the way she deserved. Instead, he had selfishly torn apart everything they once had, and now, even when he was sick, she was the one who had to take care of herself, leaving him to wallow in his regrets.
He swallowed his pride. “Please… come back. Just for a moment.”
Athena didn’t answer immediately. She could hear the desperation in his voice, and a part of her almost faltered. But then, she reminded herself of the countless times he had let her down, of the moments when he had taken her love for granted, when he had taken everything from her.
“I’ll be back when I’m ready, Byron,” she said softly, but firmly. “And don’t expect me to stay because of your illness. I’ve made my decision.”
Byron felt a pang in his chest as her words sank in. She was slipping further and further away, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He could hear the finality in her voice, and yet, he refused to give up.
“Athena… I’m sorry for everything,” he said, the words feeling foreign and painful on his tongue, but he said them anyway. “If I could go back and undo it all, I would.”
“I know you would, but it doesn’t change anything,” she responded quietly. “Words mean nothing now. You can’t take back what’s been done.”
The call ended abruptly, and Byron was left alone in the silence, the weight of his fever, his guilt, and his regret pressing down on him harder than ever.
Meanwhile, Athena continued her walk around the island. The beauty of the surroundings couldn’t lift the heaviness she carried. She felt the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze from the ocean, but none of it was enough to soothe her mind.
She had made up her mind. Byron had no place in her future. And yet, every time she thought about leaving, a part of her hesitated. Would it truly be worth it to disappear? Could she truly start over without looking back?
But deep down, she knew there was no other choice. To stay with Byron now would mean a life of resentment and pain. She needed to let go, for her own sanity, for her own peace of mind.
Byron’s fever eventually broke, but his emotional turmoil only deepened. He felt the absence of Athena like a void, a painful, gnawing emptiness. He was alone, and for the first time in a long while, he realized how utterly lost he was without her.
But Athena had already made her choice. And Byron knew that no amount of apologies or regrets would change that.
As he lay there in the silence of the room, he understood—perhaps for the first time—that he had lost her for good.