Chapter 35 Miss You
Byron’s eyes softened slightly as he turned his gaze back to Heather. She was standing by the bed, still a little unsteady, holding the glass of water he had just given her. He had expected her to rest, not to bring up Athena.
He hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to answer. Heather had been a constant in his life, someone who had always been there for him, yet this question felt like it cut a little too deep.
“What do you want to know about her?” Byron asked, his voice careful.
Heather took a sip of water before speaking, her tone soft and contemplative. “You’ve always been distant when it comes to Athena. You two have a complicated history, but I’ve never heard you talk about her much. Why is that? You seem so… different with her.”
Byron shifted uncomfortably. It wasn’t like him to open up, especially when it came to Athena. He was usually so guarded with his emotions, but there was something in Heather’s voice that made him pause.
“It’s… complicated,” Byron said, his gaze drifting back to the phone he had been holding. He couldn’t help but think of Athena’s recent post, the one where she shared pictures of her family. It made his chest tighten. “She’s not someone I can easily explain.”
Heather raised an eyebrow, sensing there was more to the story than he was letting on. “Is it because of Freya?”
Byron’s expression hardened for a moment before he replied, his voice low. “It’s not about Freya.”
Heather, however, wasn’t convinced. “Byron, you’ve never had trouble with emotions, not until Athena came into the picture. You’re not used to having someone you can’t control, and I think that’s what bothers you most.”
The words hit Byron harder than he expected. He didn’t respond immediately, instead walking over to the window, his back to Heather as he gazed out at the rain pouring down. It was a reminder of the coldness that had started to creep into his life—his emotions, his decisions, and now, his growing obsession with Athena.
“I’m not trying to control her,” Byron finally said, his voice quieter now. “But I’m not sure how to let go.”
Heather studied him carefully, her expression softening. “You can’t hold on to someone who doesn’t want to stay.”
Byron didn’t reply immediately, letting the words hang in the air. His mind wandered back to Athena’s posts—her kitten, the joy in her smile that he hadn’t seen in a long time. It reminded him of everything he had taken for granted. He had always been the one to make the decisions, to shape the future. But Athena… she had a life of her own now. And Byron wasn’t sure if he could accept that.
“Maybe you’re right,” he muttered under his breath, more to himself than to Heather.
Heather watched him carefully, sensing the internal struggle he was going through. “You need to figure out what you really want, Byron. Otherwise, you’ll only hurt yourself more.”
Byron nodded absently, still staring out the window, his thoughts consumed with Athena and the uncertainty of everything between them. His grip on the glass tightened, as if trying to hold onto something he couldn’t keep.