Chapter 97 Tell Her Something Funny
Byron’s black shirt hung loosely on Athena, reaching just above her knees. She hadn’t expected him to return so soon, so she casually buttoned the shirt without bothering to put on any trousers.
When she heard the sound of the door opening, a sudden jolt of fear ran through her, and she quickly turned to face him. Her hair, still a little messy and scattered around her waist, framed her face in a way that made her skin look more delicate—highlighting the marks on her neck and collarbone.
Byron stood in the doorway, momentarily frozen, his eyes scanning her. The sight of her like this, with such a vulnerable air, caught him off guard.
Athena felt uncomfortable under his gaze, her bare feet standing on the cold floor. “How did you come back?” she asked, her voice shaky.
Byron raised his right hand, holding a bag of food, but didn’t answer right away. His focus was on her.
“When I left this morning,” he said, his voice calm but with an edge of something unspoken, “you mentioned wanting the Fluffernutter from Goodcents.”
Byron had rushed out earlier in the day for a meeting. Before leaving, he kissed her awake, knowing she was still groggy. He had expected her to scold him, but instead, she had acted as though she’d been wronged. She’d clung to him, asking for the Fluffernutter in a way that melted his heart.
After his meeting, instead of going straight back to work, he’d driven all the way to Goodcents to pick it up for her, knowing it was one of her favorite things.
Now, as he stood there, watching Athena’s confused expression, he realized she didn’t remember a thing.
“Don’t talk nonsense,” she protested, shaking her head. “I just woke up. When did I say I wanted Fluffernutter?”
Byron closed the distance between them, wrapping his hand around her waist. “Seems like I overdid it last night,” he said with a malicious smile, “and now your mind’s all blank.”
Athena instinctively tried to pull away from him, but Byron held her even tighter. “Who gave you permission to wear my clothes?” His voice was casual, though there was an undeniable hint of enjoyment in his tone.
Athena gritted her teeth. “I didn’t have any clothes to wear. If I didn’t wear yours, what, you wanted me to walk around naked?” Her frustration was clear. “Let go of me!”
Byron didn’t let go. Instead, he lifted her effortlessly, one arm around her waist. “Byron!” she exclaimed, struggling in his grip.
He placed the breakfast down on the counter and carried her into the bedroom, setting her down on the bed. Athena’s heart raced, and she quickly gave in, fear clouding her thoughts.
“Byron, I won’t wear your clothes again, alright?” she pleaded, her voice softer now.
He tossed her back onto the bed, leaning over her with a playful but firm grip on her chin. “No,” he replied. His touch wasn’t harsh this time, but his eyes bore a subtle intensity that made her heart race.
Athena’s eyes welled up, her vulnerability pushing Byron to the edge. He wanted to protect her, shield her from whatever pain she was holding inside. If only her eyes weren’t so filled with stubbornness and anger, he thought.
“From now on, wear whatever you want,” he said gently, his lips brushing against her cheek. “You look beautiful in my clothes. I like it.”
Athena’s face flushed, and she pushed against him with mock indignation. “I knew you were doing this on purpose!” she snapped. “Where are my clothes?”
Byron’s tone remained unrepentant. “They’re ruined. I threw them away.”
Athena’s eyes widened. “You threw them away?” she said, incredulous. She couldn’t believe he’d discarded her clothes so casually.
Byron smirked, clearly enjoying her reaction. “By the way, let me tell you something funny,” he added, lowering his gaze to trace her lips with his fingertips.
Athena, skeptical, raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t exactly the humorous type, and his jokes were usually cringeworthy. But she listened anyway.
“Someone hired a marketing company last night,” Byron continued, a mocking smile tugging at his lips, “and spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to post something on the internet exposing me.”
Athena’s eyes widened in disbelief. She had no idea what he was talking about, but something about the way he spoke hinted at a deeper story.