FamodunOluwasegun

Athena Stanford is a 21-year-old orphan living in the bustling city of New York. She is jobless and lonely, but she catches the eye of Caleb Martin's, a charming and successful businessman. After a whirlwind romance, Caleb confesses his feelings for Athena, and they become a couple.

However, their happiness is short-lived when Caleb develops a nervous problem that requires an expensive operation. Determined to help the man she loves, Athena takes up various jobs to earn money for Caleb's operation. Her journey leads her to the Elite Restaurant, a prestigious establishment owned by the wealthy and powerful Liam Steele.

During her time working at the restaurant, Athena encounters Luke Steele, a notorious playboy known for his perverted interests. Luke becomes infatuated with Athena and starts pursuing her relentlessly, despite her clear rejection of his advances.

One fateful day, Athena stumbles upon a beautiful ruby pendant and impulsively decides to sell it to cover Caleb's medical expenses. Unbeknownst to her, the pendant actually belongs to Liam Steele, who values it dearly. Determined to retrieve his precious possession, Liam seeks out Athena, but rather than taking her as a slave as expected, he becomes intrigued by her resilience and independence.

Meanwhile, the Steele family faces internal turmoil when Logan Steele, Liam' brother, discovers that Luke has betrayed him by sleeping with Logan's fiancée, Jaden Ravenwood. Seeking revenge, Logan sets his sights on Athena, using her as a pawn to inflict pain upon Luke. With the help of his loyal bodyguard, Flynn Martin's, and devoted right-hand woman, Sandra Scott, Logan begins a dangerous game of manipulation, which further complicates Athena's life and fuels tensions within the Steele family.

Shadow of deceit

"What the hell do you think you're doing here?" Liam demanded, his voice dripping with venom.

I held my hands up in a gesture of peace, trying to remain calm despite the threat in Liam's eyes. "Liam, please, let me explain. I just want to make sure Athena is okay."

He scoffed, his grip tightening on a knife he had hidden in his jacket. "Athena is better off without you. If you come any closer to her, I won't hesitate to kill you."

My heart sank at his words, but my resolve only strengthened. "Liam, I understand your anger, but I've changed. I'm not the person I was before. I want to protect Athena, not hurt her."

Liam glared at me, his shoulders tense. "You expect me to believe that? After everything you've done?"

I took a step forward, desperate to reach out to him. "I know I hurt her in the past, but I've done everything I can to make amends. I want to be there for her. Let me prove myself."

Chapter Thirty Seven