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Shadow of deceit

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.

FamodunOluwasegun · วัยรุ่น
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49 Chs

Chapter Seventeen

Liam POV

What is wrong with me, why can't you just let go of her and let Logan have her after all,all I wanted from her was for her to just be by my side as an assassin. For her to learn everything she needs to know to make her stronger and worthy for everything. Now why is it hurting me so much?

I couldn't sleep at night and kept thinking about everything, how could everything possibly turn around like this, why was I so foolish not to think of that she won't get pregnant after what happened between she and Logan and how could Logan do something so rash without protection. It wasn't like Luke impregnated Jadennnnn and one thing I know is Jadennnnn betrayed Logan but Logan never thought about it all he was so concerned about was the fact that Luke slept with the girl he loves.

I stood from my bed after few hours of not being able to sleep and funny enough it was almost 4am in the morning,I must really be thinking alot.

I opened my bedroom door and everywhere was silent even the maids won't be awake by this time, I decided to just walk down the hall slowly like a vigilante when I sighted Athena's door opened and when I perked in Athena was fast asleep with Logan still resting his head on her belly while sitting on a chair beside her. I can't believe Logan really wants this child with Athena despite not loving each other. Just this little news he already seemed so happy and content maybe this was what Athena was brought into our lives for, to make Logan the man he was supposed to be and also make him happy. I smiled at how happy he was , what if all this turns around and Athena falls in love with him? That would be a very good news but what about Luke sincere feelings for her and also about me, I know I don't know what I have for her but one thing is for sure, I like the way I feel whenever Athena is beside me mostly when we train together, something about her is just so perfect something I can't explain. The way she smiles and giggles it makes me want to cup her cheeks but now I get reminded frequently of how incompetent I am and the fact that she can't be mine, what am I even saying she isn't mine.

I paced slowly towards the balcony when I saw Luke smoking as he smiles at my presence.

"Also having sleepless nights?" He asked, avoiding my gaze.

"Yeah". I replied smiling as I relaxed on the balcony rails.

"I love her, that I am sure of. I really love her at first. I thought it was just a joke and nothing more but now I can't say that when it is clear to me now that Logan got her to himself, I am sorry Liam but I felt like straggling him despite the fact that we were brothers ``. Luke said but this time his gaze was fixed on me as I tried to look unaffected at how miserable and restless his facial expression was.

"I never got Jadennnnn pregnant and she liked me back so I thought it was all over between the both of them." Luke said, I can't believe my brothers are slowly drifting away because of a woman we just knew. This is the disadvantage of Athena being with us.

"Let go of Athena ". I said to Luke who stared at me rather too shocked at what I just said.

"How can you say something like that? You know how much I love this girl and because of the love I had for her, I still had to bring her to you despite how dangerous you were and how much I would have avoided all this", Luke said, now throwing his cigarettes away.

"You have to support me time and mostly in getting what I want, you can't just let Logan win again after everything that happened." Luke said to me and just by looking at him, I knew he was being serious.

"What made you fall in love with someone like Athena yet, after everything ". I asked Luke who chuckled out loudly.

"Even you love her". Luke said, pointing at me as I stared back at him, a bit surprised.

"Why would you assume something like that? Don't ever say that. I care for Athena but that doesn't mean I am hopelessly in love with her, I don't even love her wtf is coming out of my mouth". I said to Luke he stared at me for a while before walking past and making sure to bump his shoulder with mine.

"You have to support me now", he whispered as he left.

This was getting more crazy and toxic than I thought, Luke would make sure Logan would do this and with each of their skills and talents they would just destroy each other and that ain't globe for us.

Amanda pov 

Athena thought you would get everything you wanted just as I planned, I had already planned everything I wanted and they were all gladly falling into place but despite everything I did, Luke won't still let go, after my little midnight conversation online with a few friends I noticed the time had really gone far and it was almost morning, I went to the kitchen to have a glass of water before going back to bed for a few hours. When I noticed two figures in the balcony and decided to eavesdrop on them, it was Luke and Liam. I know they would be plotting something against Logan, I moved closer so I could know what they were discussing about because Luke really looked frustrated and I know Athena was the main topic of their discussion.

"I love her, that I am sure of. I really love her at first. I thought it was just a joke and nothing more but now I can't say that when it is clear to me now that Logan got her to himself, I am sorry Liam but I felt like straggling him despite the fact that we were brothers ``. Luke said to Liam with his gaze fixed on Liam while Liam tried to look unaffected at how miserable and restless his brother facial expression was.

"I never got Jadennnnn pregnant and she liked me back so I thought it was all over between the both of them." Luke said, 

"Let go of Athena ". Liam said to Luke who stared at Liam rather too shocked at what he just said.i was also surprised at how quick he was to pick a favourite brother.

"How can you say something like that? You know how much I love this girl and because of the love I had for her, I still had to bring her to you despite how dangerous you were and how much I would have avoided all this", Luke said, now throwing his cigarettes away.

"You have to support me time and mostly in getting what I want, you can't just let Logan win again after everything that happened." Luke said to Liam and just by looking at him, I knew Luke was being very serious with what he just said.

"What made you fall in love with someone like Athena yet, after everything ". Liam asked Luke who chuckled out loudly, I also always wondered what made Luke fall in love with her no matter what he does or say I still won't believe he is actually in love with her, it just doesn't make sense.

"Even you love her". Luke said, pointing at Liam who stared back at him shocked and , a bit surprised at how he just made accusations, this was getting more and more interesting than I thought so it's not just two brothers but three triplets who are in love with each other.

"Why would you assume something like that? Don't ever say that. I care for Athena but that doesn't mean I am hopelessly in love with her, I don't even love her wtf is coming out of my mouth". Liam said to Luke, Luke stared at Liam for a while before walking past and making sure to bump his shoulder with Luke.

I made sure to still wait and listen to their last words, because I know they won't just let the discussion end there.

"You have to support me now", Luke whispered to Liam as he left. It was a good thing I was able to listen to their conversation now I know where to strike next.

Making Logan closer to Athena wasn't enough I need to work more and think more with a much more better approach, I won't let what happened before with Jadennnnn happen again and mostly I need to investigate more on Athena.