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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 three

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Throughout the entire ride, her tears didn't cease even for a second. How could it when her heart has been shattered into several pieces? To think that Caleb would betray her in such a way made her feel suffocated.

Why would he do this to her? She was ready to give him everything that made her who she is. Was it her constant delay of them having sexual intercourse that led to him cheating?

"He…he promised to wait. He…!" again, she began balling her eyes out, but this time Flynn didn't attempt to glance at her. She needed to let her emotions out – not like he cared, but he had been in a situation like that before.

He continuously watched the road while swerving the wheels of the car without making a sound – the car was filled with Athena's cries of pain.

"He lied to me. He lied to me again! Caleb…how could you…how could you do this to me?" by now she had completely curled herself into a ball, which Flynn found funny.

A light chuckle elicited from his lips and unfortunately, Athena heard it. Her shaking lips twisted into a tight frown, then she gnashed at him.

"It's funny to you, ain't it? You'd never understand how it feels! A heartless being like you would never comprehend what I'm going through!" Athena didn't try to think through her words before blurting them out.

"Being cheated upon terrible and there's only one thing to help you get through it"

Athena sat up from the leather seat, then sniffed back her tears bitterly. "W-what?" she stuttered unintentionally, then again her emotions were getting the best of her.

"The bar. Once you get drowned in alcohol, your emotions ain't going to be able to stay, doesn't that sound right to you?" He said suggestively with his eyes gaping at Athena.

Her head was lowered, so she couldn't see the sly smirk on his lips. She complied with his suggestion without thinking it through – what was there to consider?

Her life was practically meaningless at this stage – what was there to lose? Caleb was the only thing Athena cherished, but he never felt the same way.

Mere thinking about their previous moments got Athena tearing up again. Slowly, she lifted her legs then curled them in a way so she could bury her face in-between her knee caps.

In that position, Flynn drove her to the bar.

~

~

"Caleb! I hate you soooooooo much!! Burn in hell! You son of a gun! Happiness will forever be far away from you! Arg!!" Her drunken yells filled the entire bar and that got so much attention attracted to her.

The Elite Bar shared a similar ownership to the Elite Restaurant – Liam Steele owned them both. Flynn knew well enough how rarely Liam visited anywhere, so concluded that bringing Athena here was the best choice.

Seated across her on a lengthy stool was Flynn with a cup of tequila in his possession. Athena, however, drank directly from the bottle, and she surely did consume unbelievable quantities in a single gulp.

"Yes!!! That's the stuff! I wish I could drain away that fucking bitch's life like this! Sandra! You'll die a painful death. I should have shot you in the freaking pussy. Fuck!!" again she screamed tipsily and this time, the bartender found it hard to condole her behavior.

He tried to talk to her, then again Flynn went to Athena. "She's with Lord Logan" his simple utterance got the bartender retracting fearfully.

He gazed back at Athena and shook his head – who knew she was the talkative type when drunk? Flynn took his attention to his wristwatch, then heaved once he saw what time it was.

"Where's Lord Logan? It's already night" he muttered worriedly to his hearing, yet his worries faded once his eyes landed on the masked stranger.

Though his face was nearly hidden due to the mask, one could instantly tell he was surreal.

Cladded in a black denim but ripped pants, a half buttoned shirt with a clearly expensive neck chain which dangled gorgeously on his neck, Flynn smiled at the presence of Logan Steele.

The aura of superiority which lingered around him would make the average man suffocate, and the stylishness of his steps made women swoon over his feet.

Indeed, Logan Steele was quite different from his brothers – everything about him was clad in mystery. The bar specifically housed a classy motel, and that was where Logan was headed.

He didn't bother to check in at the recipient, instead advanced to the magnificently designed curved staircase. Flynn, without being told, scooped up a drunk Athena, then trailed after Logan.

He arrived at his room, halted, then placed a knock on the door. Athena, on the other hand, was continuously cussing spitefully at Caleb – would she ever forgive him? Flynn wondered yet knew deeply he deserved it.

Shortly after he knocked, Logan reappeared but without the mask.

"Greetings, Lord Logan" Flynn bowed unhesitatingly, then again a response never came from Logan. He moved his ethereal set of oceanic blue eyes to the tiny Aphrodite in Flynn's arms.

"She's the one Luke has been lusting after?" his voice sounded overly smooth, and Flynn nodded.

"Hand her over" quickly, Flynn did as ordered. The door was shut almost immediately, he gave Athena to Logan before he began walking away.

In Logan's room, a drunk Athena ogled drunkenly at him before smiling sheepishly.

"Mr.… Mr. Steele. Oh, how handsome you are. Why didn't I meet you before that asshole came?" she giggled funnily with her fingers clipped around his neck.

Logan gazed at her blankly as he walked towards the king-sized bed. Once he lowered her on it, he steadily rid himself of his shirt and his porcelain skin came into view.

His eyes traveled to her exposed cleavage, which he finally gaped wholly at after ridding her of her blouse.

"Taking advantage of a lady isn't something I want to do, but… Luke, that bastard wants you. What better revenge than tasting you before he does?" Logan gritted before claiming Athena's lips in a rough, savage kiss.