Chapter 56 Huge Transfer
Byron didn’t expect anyone else to be in the room. His frown deepened when he saw Heather standing there. Without a word, he went straight into the cloakroom to change into his home clothes before returning.
“Who let you in?” he asked, his voice colder than usual.
Heather hesitated for a moment, then spoke cautiously. “You forgot your phone. Miss Newton called just now…”
Byron’s irritation flared. “When? You didn’t answer it, did you?”
He hurried over to snatch his phone from her hands, as if he couldn’t get it back fast enough.
“I… I accidentally picked it up,” Heather replied quickly, her voice soft. “But she hung up right away. I think she must’ve dialed the wrong number.”
Byron didn’t respond. Instead, he dialed Athena’s number, his brow furrowed with frustration.
The line rang, but when it finally connected, all he heard was the cold, impersonal notification that the number was no longer in service.
“She’s cautious. She never dials the wrong number.” Byron’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at the time. Without another word, he called the hotel.
After a brief inquiry, he discovered that Athena had already checked out and was heading to the airport.
“She’s flying back to Girard City. I’ll pick her up,” Byron said, grabbing his coat from the back of the chair. He turned toward Heather, his tone sharper. “You can handle the engagement details on your own.”
As he rushed out the door, his mind raced. He had a sinking feeling that Athena had called him for a reason—there was something important she needed to say. His thoughts flickered briefly to the messages she’d sent him earlier on WhatsApp, wondering if she regretted them.
But none of that mattered right now. What mattered was that he wanted to see Athena. As soon as possible.
Heather watched Byron leave, a storm of emotions swirling within her. She stood up, about to follow him, but stopped herself. Instead, she sat back down with a resigned sigh. Her eyes fell on the two real estate certificates on the table, her thoughts darkening.
“If only that damn flight had an accident… and she never came back,” Heather thought viciously, her grip tightening around the papers. But she quickly pushed the thought away, realizing how futile such wishes were.
Byron arrived at the airport not long after, pacing at the pick-up gate, an image of quiet determination. His height and commanding presence drew the eyes of many, but his focus was on one person—Athena.
Minutes ticked by slowly. He stood tall, scanning every passenger who walked through the gate. But Athena wasn’t among them.
Frustration began to gnaw at him. Just before he lost patience, he pulled out his phone and dialed Athena’s number again. But still, nothing but the sound of it being switched off.
His jaw clenched as he tried not to let his irritation show. After a few more minutes, he called Liam.
Liam’s voice trembled when he answered. “Mr. Crawford… Miss Newton didn’t get on this flight.”
Byron’s heart skipped a beat. “What do you mean? She didn’t get on?”
“I… I’m not sure, sir,” Liam stammered. “Maybe she decided to stay an extra day in Salin City…”
Byron’s patience snapped. Without another word, he ended the call, frustration bubbling to the surface. He stormed back to his car and, with a clenched fist, sent Athena a message on WhatsApp.
Call me back.
He hit send, but his phone froze for a moment as a flood of new messages flooded in.
And then, Athena’s transfer reminder popped up on his screen.
Athena, on the other end, was a few steps away from all of this. Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen, her eyes narrowing at the message. She didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, she turned her phone off, the buzzing of it suddenly too much to bear.