Chapter Three

But why was it in the same room as she? She didn't commit a crime, did she? Athena didn't consider the pendant as stolen since she found it, so it wasn't stolen, right?

All those thoughts flooded her head and not even a single answer could be found. Athena heard the sound of approaching footsteps and felt thankful – maybe her questions might get answers.

Then a jingling sound of keys as they unlock the door from the outside. The door opened, and a man came walking gingerly in. 

Athena was yet to get a glimpse of his face when he violently groped her cheeks, causing her immense pains. 

She cried out in pain, yet his insane hold didn't lessen one might, instead it tightened. 

"Liam, don't hurt my new toy, okay?" Athena would be damned to forget that cocky tone. Then again, how could she steal a glimpse when this man held her cheeks so brutally?

Her eyes fell on him and despite the pains she was going through, she noticed how gorgeous his eyes were. 

"My pendant"

Athena assumed she didn't hear him, so winced more agonizingly. 

"My pendant, bitch! Where is my fucking pendant? Luke tells her to provide it now unless she's going to die!

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Pain. That was all Athena felt at that moment – who wouldn't when his pointy fingers were being forced into the fleshy part of her cheeks?

She was certain his fingers had successfully been driven into her cheeks, and now balls of blood were streaming down her cheeks. Though that wasn't what was occurring, yet she felt it would if he doesn't stop any moment from now. 

"Ah!" her cries were laced with utmost pain, yet he didn't seem to care. No, all that clouded Liam' head was his pendant; the ruby pendant gifted to him by someone who meant the world to him. 

That pendant was something he was ready to risk his life for, then again it got missing due to a silly mistake by someone. 

Due to his countless subordinates scattered all over the streets of NY, he got to know a random red hair picked it up. Now that he has her, why wouldn't she provide his goddamn pendant?

His patience was definitely running out at a fast rate, as he snarled nastily at Athena. 

"Woman, speak! Where is it?" he growled aggressively at her while rough handling her cheeks. "You're… You're hurting me" Athena could no longer withstand the pains as her tears rolled seamlessly down her eyes. 

At the sight of her tears, Liam gritted then tossed her face roughly to a corner as he retracted. He glared menacingly at Athena, who incessantly whimpered in sheer pains. 

He went mute as he slowly dipped his hand into his pocket, and watched her noiselessly. No one could comprehend the amount of desperation that was eating him up – he wasn't angry. Angry at himself for losing the pendant, but badly wanted it back. 

Why wouldn't she speak or rather give it to him already? His entire body steadily trembled due to the immeasurable amount of desperation which flowed through him. 

"You want to damage her or what? Do you have any idea how much trouble I went to get her?" the sultry tone of Luke spoke from behind, yet Liam didn't bother to gaze at him. 

He knew he'd come closer and truthfully, he did so. Unlike his brother, Luke was an addict when it came to smoking – always, a stick of cigarette would be stuck between those thin pinkish yet slightly dark lips of his. 

"She's a beauty, ain't she?" Luke grinned while he placed an arm on Liam' shoulder, yet he sharply slapped his arm off. "Don't touch me" he hardly spoke without even glancing at him. 

All his attention was fixed on the hurting lady in front of him – Liam waited until she was stable before he'd ask her any questions. 

Ultimately, Athena stopped the flow of tears, but her cheeks retained their redness and the constant smoke which invaded her nostrils got her coughing violently. 

Luke smirked dangerously as he went closer. Since she sat on a chair, he had to squat just to lock eyes with her. 

"Remember me, red hair?" Luke' smirk was synonymous with cunning as he retained an unshakable gaze with Athena. 

His set of dashing gray eyes were something she'd never forget – while narrating her encounter to Caleb, she made sure to exclude how otherworldly he was. Luke Steele could melt any lady with a mere smile – any lady, but not Athena Stanford. 

Her lips twisted into a deep frown as her eyes glared resentfully at him. 

"You!" she roared meanly at him, yet he smirked more. "Oh? You remember me. I'm so glad, red hair" he briefly took out the stick of cigarette in between his lips to let out smoke which engulfed Athena's face. 

Again she coughed, but he didn't seem to mind. "You're intolerable to smoke, it seems. Better get used to it, red hair" his gaze fell on her lips. 

Oh, those same lips which attracted him like a magnet and pulled him to this beauty at The Elite Restaurant. He recalled perfectly how she rebuked and disgraced him at the restaurant – not like it was her fault; he was persistent. 

Luke gently leaned in for a kiss, but instead got a mouthful of saliva on his face – she literally spat disgustingly at him. 

Liam persisted with his cold expression despite how satisfying that scene was – his brother was a certified asshole. Luke gritted as he straightened up afterward and brought a handkerchief which he used to wipe the liquid off his face. 

He gazed back at Athena, only to find her glaring murderously at him – he couldn't comprehend how much she hated perverts. 

Yet, he didn't mind her glare – she'd be his. He'd make sure of that. "Hate me all you want, red hair, you'll eventually be mine" Luke winked before he left luxuriously. 

Athena was soon left all alone with… Liam. He took a step forward before staring blankly at her. 

"Look up" instantaneously, she carried out the instruction, but oh God…!