Athena froze, trying to hold back her tears. She fought to endure the pain in her heart and body. Arthur's words felt like a shot of encouragement, almost pulling her back into the mysterious gray eyes before her.
“This is your phone. You can use it to contact me in emergencies.” Arthur suddenly pulled something from his pocket, leaving Athena stunned.
“Impossible! How is this phone still intact?”
“When I first found it, the screen and casing were badly damaged. Luckily, the data—”
“So you were the one who found it? How long have you known me, Arthur? Were you the one who found me first after the accident?”
Arthur fell silent for a moment before reaching for the medicine box. He immediately treated the wound on the tip of Athena's lip with great care, allowing the woman before him to continue wondering.
“Arthur...”
“May I remove the bandage on your hand? The doctor was supposed to change it and check your condition yesterday, but—”
“Leon canceled everything?” Athena sighed in resignation, realizing Arthur was dodging her question yet again. “I know. He seems to enjoy torturing me. But it's fine. The pain here is nothing compared to the gaping wound in my heart.”
Shaking his head slowly, Arthur gently caressed her face, which he had just finished treating. The gesture startled Athena for a moment, only for her to be even more shocked when Leon's booming voice called from outside.
“I'll go meet him. After this, rest. You need to gather your strength before you fight for what's rightfully yours,” Arthur said firmly, making Athena try to smile.
“Thank you, Arthur. Even though I don't know your true intentions for being here yet, I'm sure you're not here to make my suffering worse.”
Arthur nodded and left the cramped room that was barely fit to be called a bedroom. He headed toward Leon, glancing at his phone gallery for a moment with his signature mysterious gaze.
“No! She can't end up like her!”
“Mrs. Athena! Oh my gosh! She's really here!”
A week later, a large crowd gathered outside a famous corporate office in the city. Reporters pushed and shoved to catch a glimpse of the person they had been waiting for, ignoring the security guards' warnings.
“Damn it! That thug was right! How did they all find out about Athena's visit to this office?” Leon muttered angrily, reluctantly grabbing his wife's left hand. He had to pretend to be affectionate toward Athena in public, especially now that negative news about him had started to spread.
“Remember my words, Athena. If you dare defy me, your mother will be left stranded in the hospital without my financial support!”
“Hmm... Keep threatening me, Leon. I'll do my best to turn things around. Because without me, you'll have nothing!”
“Step aside! Make way for Mrs. Athena and Mr. Leon!”
Arthur's commanding voice startled Athena as he suddenly wrapped an arm around her waist. Taking a deep breath, Athena tried to stay calm amid the crowd.
“Mr. Leon, you've finally appeared with Mrs. Athena? Is this just a distraction to quell the negative rumors about your marriage?” one journalist asked bluntly after breaking through the security barrier.
“Is it true, Mr. Leon? Reports about suspicious details surrounding Mrs. Athena's accident are surfacing. Don't you have anything to say?”
“We need your response, Mr. Leon! The public is eager to know Mrs. Athena's true condition!”
“Dammit!”
Smiling at her husband's annoyance, Athena tried to quicken her pace as the reporters crowded around her. She occasionally turned her head toward Arthur, who stood guard behind her, until it finally ended when Edward cleared the lobby.
“This is it, Athena! Don't give up now. Use this golden opportunity to bring down Leon, the man who betrayed your love!”
Just as Athena finished speaking in her mind, Crystal suddenly appeared from the CEO's office. The woman smiled nonchalantly, as if everyone around her had been eagerly anticipating her presence.
“Well, how does it feel to be back in the spotlight? Enjoying it, aren't you?”
“Honey, you're here? What if—”
“Shh! I've already asked Edward to cover for my presence here, babe. The staff will think I'm here to help this crippled woman, even though I just want to keep an eye on you and stay close!”
Shaking his head slightly, Leon embraced the seductive figure before him. He kissed her deeply, and the bold display of intimacy made Arthur and Edward quickly excuse themselves.
“Unbelievable! Don't they ever get enough of each other at home?!” Disgusted, Athena slammed the door shut behind her. She grabbed her notebook, scribbled something, and threw it onto the table in front of Leon and Crystal, who were still entwined.
“She wants this room? How dare this woman!” Crystal reacted first, leaning provocatively against her lover.
“Do you think you can control me?!” Leon sneered, making Athena write something else.
[This room, or I withdraw from your collaboration project with the Mayor? I'm sure that'll only make the public and your business partners even more suspicious!]
“Damn! This...” Crystal moved to confront Athena, but Leon stopped her and whispered something that made her smirk wickedly.
“Let her have the room, honey. I'm sure she won't last long after witnessing our activities here!”
Shaking her head quickly, Athena cursed inwardly at Leon and Crystal's growing intimacy. She immediately stepped back, gripping the table beside her tightly, before her eyes were drawn to a folder bearing a hospital logo.
“This can't be a coincidence! This is the hospital where my mother was treated! How does Leon have these documents?!”
Taking advantage of their distraction, Athena snatched the file. She quietly stuffed it into her blazer and hurried outside when she began to hear the disgusting sighs of her husband and ex-best friend. Then she slammed the door shut behind her as she grumbled,
“They're completely crazy! If they're involved in my mother's suffering too, I won't hesitate to expose all the evidence to the public!”