Athena locked the door behind her the second it clicked shut.

The silence in the master suite was profound. Unlike the rest of the house, it was warm here. The air was thick with the scent of cedarwood, antiseptic, and something distinctly masculine.

The room was massive, dominated by a dark bed that looked untouched.

The coughing had stopped.

She heard the faint sound of draining water coming from the bathroom.

She moved quickly. Her dress was travel-stained, and the damp chill of the guest room still clung to her bones. She needed to wash off the Madden house. She needed to wash off the past.

The bathroom door was ajar. Steam billowed out.

Athena pushed it open. It was empty. The shower stall was glass, still dripping.

She didn't hesitate. She stripped off the white dress, leaving it in a pile on the tile floor. She stepped into the shower and turned the handle.

Hot water hit her skin like a blessing. She grabbed a bottle of black shower gel-Caesar's. She lathered it over her skin, covering herself in his scent. Sandalwood and rain.

Through the rush of water, she heard a commotion outside the bedroom door. Muffled shouting.

Athena turned off the water. She strained her ears.

"I know she's in there!" It was Alanna's voice. Shrill. Demanding. "Caesar, for your own safety! She's unstable!"

Athena smiled grimly. Alanna had come to 'rescue' her, which really meant ensuring Athena hadn't actually charmed the beast.

Athena stepped out of the shower. She didn't have fresh clothes.

She looked at the hook on the door. A dark grey silk robe hung there. It was huge.

Perfect.

She slipped her arms into it. The silk was cool against her heated skin. It swallowed her frame. She rolled the sleeves up, once, twice, three times, until her hands emerged. The oversized garment made her look small, fragile, and undeniably intimate.

She unlocked the bathroom door and stepped back into the bedroom.

At the exact same moment, the main bedroom door burst open.

It wasn't a key. Derik had kicked it.

Caesar wheeled into the room, his face a mask of thunderous fury. He had heard an intruder. He was ready to kill.

"Who the hell-"

His voice died.

He stared. Athena stood in the center of his sanctuary, barefoot, water dripping from the ends of her hair onto the Persian rug. She was wearing his robe. The lapels gaped slightly, revealing the creamy skin of her collarbone.

Derik, realizing the nature of the 'intruder,' immediately turned his back and pulled the broken door shut, standing guard outside.

Caesar's hands gripped his wheels. "What are you doing?" His voice was low, dangerous.

Athena didn't flinch. She walked toward him. "Emily said the plumbing in the guest room was broken. She told me to use this one."

She blamed the maid without blinking.

She stopped in front of him and crouched down, bringing her face level with his. The smell of his own soap on her skin hit him.

"You don't mind, do you, husband?"

The word hung in the air. Husband.

Outside, Alanna's voice rose again, screeching through the wood. "Mr. Williamson! My sister is dangerous! Let us take her!"

Caesar's jaw ticked. He looked at the door, annoyed by the noise.

Athena placed a hand on his knee. It was a bold move. He stiffened, but he didn't shove her away.

"That's my sister," Athena whispered. "She wants to take me back. Please... don't let her take me."

Her eyes were wide, pleading. It was a performance, but the fear of going back to the Maddens was real.

Caesar looked at her hand on his knee. Then he looked at her face. He knew she was manipulating him. He knew she was playing a game.

But he hated the screaming woman outside more.

"Push me," he commanded.

Athena stood up. A small, victorious smile touched her lips. She moved behind the wheelchair and gripped the handles.

Alanna stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, facing Mrs. Potts. Her face was flushed with fake concern.

"I simply must see Mr. Williamson. Athena has likely hurt herself, or him, by now. She needs professional help."

The elevator dinged.

Alanna looked up, a triumphant smirk ready on her lips. She expected to see Athena being dragged out by security.

Instead, the elevator doors slid open to reveal Caesar Williamson.

And behind him, pushing his chair, was Athena.

Alanna's mouth fell open.

Athena looked like the queen of the underworld. Her hair was wet, slicked back. She was wearing a man's grey silk robe that was clearly too big for her. It wasn't just clothing; it was a flag of conquest.

"Mrs. Potts," Athena called out, her voice lazy and bored. "Why is it so loud in my house?"

Mrs. Potts looked from Athena to Caesar, her eyes bulging. She saw the robe. She saw the proximity. She went pale.

"Athena?" Alanna choked out. "Why are you... wearing that?"

Athena brushed a wet strand of hair from her forehead. "Oh, this? Emily broke the water heater in the guest room. Caesar insisted I use his shower."

She lied so smoothly it was almost art.

Caesar sat silently, his expression unreadable. He didn't deny it.

"He... he insisted?" Alanna stammered. "But... you're sick. You're not well." She turned to Caesar, desperation creeping into her tone. "Mr. Williamson, she's having an episode. She belongs in a facility."

Athena let go of the wheelchair handles. She walked around and stood beside Caesar. She bent down, leaning in close. Her wet hair brushed against his ear.

"Darling," she whispered, loud enough for the room to hear. "Am I crazy?"

Her breath was warm on his neck. Caesar's muscles locked up. Every instinct he had told him to push her away, to break the contact. But the audacity of it... it intrigued him.

He looked at Alanna. His eyes were cold enough to freeze hell.

"She is my wife," Caesar said. His voice was flat, final. "And Williamson Manor doesn't answer to outsiders."

He gestured vaguely with one hand. "Derik. Remove her."

"But-" Alanna started.

Derik stepped forward, his bulk imposing. "This way, Miss Madden."

Alanna was herded toward the door like a stray cat. She looked back over her shoulder, her face twisted in humiliation.

Athena waved. A small, wiggling of fingers. "Bye, sister."

The heavy oak doors slammed shut.

The silence returned instantly.

Athena straightened up. The lazy, seductive smile vanished from her face as if a switch had been flipped. She stepped away from Caesar, putting a respectful distance between them.

"Finished acting?" Caesar asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Thanks for playing along," Athena said. "As payment, I'll fix your headache."

Caesar froze. His head had been pounding for hours, a rhythmic thud behind his eyes that usually signaled a long night of insomnia. He hadn't told anyone.

"I don't have a headache," he lied.

Athena ignored him. She stepped behind him again. Before he could react, her cool fingers found his temples.

He flinched, his hand shooting up to grab her wrist. He could snap it. It would be easy.

"Relax," she murmured.

She didn't pull away. She applied pressure, a circular motion that hit the exact trigger point of his agony. It was precise. It was professional.

The relief was instantaneous, startling him. His grip on her wrist loosened. His hand dropped.

He closed his eyes. Just for a second.

The relief lasted for two minutes. Then Caesar opened his eyes, and the walls went back up.

"You can go," he said.

Athena pulled her hands away. "Go where? The icebox?"

Caesar pressed a button on his armrest. "Mrs. Potts."

The housekeeper materialized from the shadows, looking significantly less arrogant than she had ten minutes ago. She kept glancing at Athena's robe with fear.

"Who gave you the authority to put the lady of the house in the condemned wing?" Caesar asked. He didn't yell. He didn't have to.

"I... I just thought... it wasn't ready..." Mrs. Potts stammered, wringing her hands.

"Prepare the Blue Suite," Caesar ordered. "Next to mine. Have it done before dinner."

Mrs. Potts paled. The Blue Suite was the second-best room in the manor. "Yes, sir."

Athena went back to the guest room to pack her meager belongings. As she folded the white dress, her phone began to vibrate against the nightstand. It danced across the wood, buzzing angrily.

Unknown Number.

Clovis.

She picked it up.

"Athena!" His voice was a roar. "You dared to stand me up? Do you know how long I waited in the rain?"

Athena laughed. It was a dry, hollow sound. "Three hours? Caesar waited all night in the storm for me once."

"Shut up about him!" That was a matter of a previous life. Clovis naturally did not know what Athena was saying. He just hissed. "Don't forget, I have those photos. The ones from the beach house."

Athena rolled her eyes. Photos of her in a bikini. Scandalous for a nun, perhaps, but hardly leverage in 2024.

"Send them," she challenged. "And I'll send the PDF of the embezzled funds from the Madden Trust to the Williamson Board of Directors."

Silence on the other end. Heavy, terrified silence.

"How... how do you know..."

"Clovis," Athena said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You think having the last name Williamson makes you royalty? Your father isn't even on the family tree. You're a tourist. And if you contact me again, I will ruin you."

She hung up.

She turned around. Emily was standing in the open doorway, holding fresh towels. Her mouth was agape. She had heard everything.

"So," Emily sneered, trying to regain her footing. "You have a lover. A fake Williamson."

Athena crossed the room in two strides. She invaded Emily's personal space, towering over the smaller girl.

"Go tell Caesar," Athena said. "Let's see who he believes. The wife who just cured his headache, or the maid who eavesdrops on private calls."

Emily opened her mouth to retort.

"And if you open your mouth," Athena added, leaning down, "I'll tell Mrs. Potts about the silver spoons missing from the pantry. The ones pawned on 4th Street."

Emily's face drained of blood. She dropped the towels .Emily doesn't know why the other party knows, and it's impossible to think that the person in front of her came back with her memory. Her secret doesn't have any privacy in front of Athena.

"Get my bag," Athena commanded. "Take it to the Blue Suite."

Emily scrambled to pick up the suitcase, her hands shaking.

Athena walked out of the room. She moved into the suite next to Caesar's. The walls were thick, soundproofed with layers of history and money. But as she lay down on the plush mattress, she felt the presence of the man on the other side of the wall.

The monster. Her husband.