Chapter 35

**The Unexpected Messenger**

Athena Pov.

The bell above the door jingled softly as a man walked into Joe's Diner, instantly drawing the attention of everyone inside. He was strikingly out of place—his immaculate dark suit, sharply tailored, seemed to absorb the light around him. He moved with an effortless grace that made his entrance feel like a scene from an old noir movie. As the heavy door swung shut behind him, an odd chill seemed to settle over the diner. I paused, wiping my hands on my apron, and tried to ignore the shiver that ran down my spine. Something about him felt... off.

I put on my usual friendly smile and walked over, though there was a strange tension in the air. "Welcome to Joe's! What can I get for you today?"