Chapter 261 I Am Jealous of Byron
Heather’s world was collapsing around her. The storm of public opinion, the shameful rumors, and the loss of everything she had fought for seemed to have no end. She had tried to call Byron, desperate for an explanation, but her calls went unanswered. It didn’t take long for her to realize that she wasn’t the one in control anymore—she had lost everything.
The events that had transpired over the past few days played over in her mind like a cruel joke. The Ross family had abandoned her, her reputation was tarnished beyond repair, and her father no longer viewed her with favor. Everything she had spent years building—a life of power, luxury, and security—had crumbled, and now she had nothing but the bitter taste of regret.
Her thoughts turned to the Ross family, who had quietly distanced themselves from her. Her younger sister, once seen as inferior, was now taking over the business and heading to Milan to take charge of the company’s expanding operations. Heather’s heart ached at the thought. She had always been the favored daughter, the one with the plan and the ambition to surpass her siblings, but now she was a pariah.
The more Heather thought about it, the more the weight of her downfall became unbearable. The netizens, who had once praised her beauty and success, were now discussing Athena with admiration. The very woman who had once been beneath her was now the subject of endless praise. Athena’s charity work had won her the love of the public, and the more Heather saw, the more it felt like a slap in the face. Athena had taken Byron from her and now had the approval of everyone around her. How had things gone so wrong?
The videos of Athena were everywhere, and they painted a picture of kindness and intelligence—traits Heather had never been able to fully embrace. Athena’s involvement in charity projects had become a symbol of her generosity, and it was clear that her actions spoke louder than Heather’s ever had. The fact that Athena had raised millions for blind children, and that people were talking about her with such respect and admiration, made Heather feel smaller than ever before. She had only cared about winning, about being at the top, while Athena had focused on giving.
And the worst part? Byron had stood by her all this time, and now he was gone. Athena had won him over with kindness and humility, something Heather had never been able to understand. The online videos and the posts about Athena’s contributions to charity painted a picture of the woman Heather could never be. Athena’s sincerity was what had drawn Byron in, and Heather had been too focused on herself to see it.
As the comments continued to flood in, many praising Athena’s capabilities and beauty, Heather couldn’t help but feel a deep, gnawing jealousy. She had always been the one with the charm, the beauty, and the social standing, but it was Athena who had won the heart of the man she loved. Byron had made it clear that he was done with her, and now the whole world knew why.
Byron’s statement had been a dagger to her heart, but it was the truth she had been avoiding for too long. He had left her, not because of some business marriage or family expectations, but because she had failed to meet his standards—because she was too focused on herself and not on the love he had offered her.
Heather felt the bitterness rise in her throat. She had tried so hard to be someone she wasn’t, to fit a mold that had never truly been hers. And now she had lost everything because of it.
As she sat there, scrolling through the endless praises for Athena, Heather realized that she was no longer the woman who had it all. Athena was the one who had it all now. The public, Byron, and even her family had moved on from her, and Heather was left with nothing but the ruins of her own ambition.
She wasn’t sure what to do next. The damage had been done, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t undo the harm she had caused herself. Byron was out of her reach, and so was the life she had once imagined. Athena had won, and Heather was left to pick up the pieces of a life that was slipping further and further from her grasp.
As the comments on social media continued to flood in, Heather could only watch as the world continued to turn its back on her.