Gazing sorrowfully at the grand house she had once considered her palace of happiness, Athena could only cry in silence. After spending several days in the hospital, her heart had grown increasingly restless. Returning home meant Leon could do whatever he wanted to her, including mistreating her.
"Mrs. Athena, please come with me!" Edward's voice suddenly broke the silence, making Athena turn her head.
She immediately brushed away the hand of her assistant, who had now become Leon's accomplice, and struggled to walk on her own despite her unsteady steps.
"Well, well... So you've been allowed to leave the hospital?"
To her surprise, Athena encountered Crystal there. Her wide eyes narrowed sharply, a reaction that drew only a faint smile from the woman before her.
"How are you, Athena? I'm so sorry about the accident. Leon told me your hand is paralyzed and that you've lost your voice. How does it feel, Athena? It must be painful, right?" Crystal continued, taking a small step forward on her long legs. She seemed about to touch Athena's face, but Athena quickly swatted her hand away and shot her a sharp warning look.
"I already know about your affair with my husband, Crystal! There's no need to pretend to be kind to me anymore! Remember, I won't let you keep exploiting my condition like this!" Athena thought bitterly, her silent fury only making Crystal chuckle.
"What a pity, my dear friend. You're completely powerless now. I really do feel sorry for you, Athena. As your good friend, why don't I take over your role as the lady of this house? I'm sure Leon wouldn't mind. That way, I can help him and spare him the trouble caused by someone like you."
"Fine, go ahead, Crystal. That will only give me more time to gather evidence and expose all your dirty schemes!" Athena thought again, glaring at the woman before her. Her intense stare finally made Crystal shiver slightly.
"I'm worried she's possessed, Edward. Take her to her room immediately. Remember, her new room! Not her old one, because I'll be taking that one to stay with Leon!"
"Yes, Mrs. Crystal!"
Snorting, Athena squinted at the woman she had once introduced to the public as a rising singer. She wanted so badly to grab the hair of this two-faced woman who had shown her no gratitude, but sadly, she couldn't act yet. Her position in this house was still too precarious.
Athena knew she needed time to fight against all of Leon and Crystal's treachery. She realized she couldn't rush things, especially since she was truly alone now, with her father long gone and her mother still lying comatose in the hospital.
"Please, Mrs. Athena!"
Determined not to be touched, Athena tried to walk ahead. The sound of a car engine starting made her turn her head, but what she saw only made her stomach churn violently. She inadvertently witnessed Crystal's overly enthusiastic greeting to the man who was still legally her husband.
"You're finally home, babe! That crippled woman arrived just before you did," Crystal whispered sweetly but sharply, her hand brushing against the chest of the man who had once again been named one of the most handsome men in a famous magazine.
Leon cast a glance at Athena and offered a crooked smile. One of his strong hands wrapped tightly around Crystal's slim waist. He kissed her makeup-covered face affectionately and handed her his briefcase.
"Get the document from my bag, honey. There's something this crippled woman needs to sign immediately!" he ordered sharply, his piercing gaze making Athena's heart race even faster.
Athena didn't know what document her husband meant, but she was sure it would only worsen her situation.
"A wealth transfer document?" Crystal's murmur reached Athena's ears, making her pale face freeze in shock.
"Unbelievable! They've gone completely mad! If I sign that document, what else will they do to me? I doubt they'll let me go even if I hand over everything I own!"
Shaking her head in refusal, Athena pushed away the pen being offered to her with her left hand. She tried to shove Edward, who was holding her in place, nearly causing the forty-year-old man to stumble.
"Enough! I knew she'd rebel like this!" Leon growled in frustration, briefly rubbing his face. "Ed, you handle all of Crystal's and my needs from now on! Let him deal with this crippled woman!"
At Leon's snap of his fingers, Athena's breath caught as a burly, intimidating man approached her. Her heartbeat quickened, especially when the tattooed man easily restrained her movements.
"My apologies if I hurt you, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you again," the man whispered in her ear, his voice chillingly familiar.
Athena's eyes widened as she recognized his voice. She turned to study his face but couldn't place him until her gaze locked onto his brown eyes.
"It can't be! Isn't he...."
"Hurry and take her to her room, Arthur! Her room is in the back, near the kitchen. Ask the staff where the old storage room is!"
Shaking her head, Athena turned her gaze back to Leon. He had relegated her to a small storage room near the kitchen while allowing Crystal to share his room, completely heedless of the house staff's opinions.
"Come with me, ma'am!"
Struggling again, Athena was ultimately shoved forward. She winced in pain as her wounds were accidentally jostled and glared at Crystal, who waved mockingly at her.
Athena shook her head as she surveyed the tiny space that had once been a storage room. The damp walls and musty smell overwhelmed her, and the only piece of furniture was a small, unsuitable bed. Her breathing grew labored, not only because of the room's poor condition but also because of the bleakness of her future.
"Mrs. Athena?" Arthur called, his gaze fixed on his new mistress.
Realizing this, Athena felt both uneasy and cautious. Slowly, she stepped back, her mind racing as she tried to remember where she had seen him before.
"Is there anything else I should be doing? I'm certainly willing to help you, especially with your revenge plans!"