From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life novel Chapter 49

From Betrayal to Brilliance Her Rise to a New Life

Chapter 49 The Escape

Even if Lewis didn’t love Athena that much, he would never allow her to leave him.

Athena belonged to him.

He leaned down to kiss her, but Athena turned her head away.

Lewis grabbed her face, forcing her to look at him, and buried his head against her neck.

Finished

Humiliation filled Athena’s face. She bit her tongue hard, forcing herself to stay calm. This wasn’t the time to panic. She had to find a way to escape.

She reached up and wrapped her arms around Lewis’s neck.

Lewis noticed Athena’s sudden initiative and felt secretly pleased. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

He thought she was still in love with him–that all her anger had just been a show. In his mind, women were always pretending.

Suddenly, Lewis felt a sharp pain in his neck. His vision went dark, and he collapsed on top of Athena.

She let out a long breath.

If she hadn’t mastered human pressure points, she would’ve been helpless tonight–forced to endure Lewis’s disgusting touch. The thought alone made her sick and deeply humiliated.

Athena steadied herself and pushed the unconscious man off her with all her strength.

He was heavy and unresponsive. It took everything she had to move him. When she finally got free, she clung to the edge of the bed and slowly stood up.

She stood there, looking down at the man lying motionless on the bed, and let out a self- mocking laugh.

Just how blind she used to be.

Leaving through the front door was impossible. Bridget might still be waiting outside. The fact that mother and son had plotted together against her filled her with disgust. She found this entire incident ironic.

Snakes of the same nest. Not one of them was a decent human being.

Athena turned toward the balcony. It was the second floor. She could make the jump.

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Chapter 49 The Escape

74),

Finished

She opened the sliding glass door and climbed over the railing without hesitation.

Thud!

Pain shot through her leg the moment she landed, sharp and burning, like her bones were cracking apart. She winced and nearly collapsed. But the surge of adrenaline kept her going.

Dragging her injured leg, Athena limped forward, forcing herself to run toward the street.

At the Storm Estate, Zaden checked his watch with a look of impatience.

His expression turned cold as he adjusted his cufflinks. “I’m going out for a smoke,” he said flatly.

Zaden ignored everyone around him, stood up, and walked away.

The middle–aged woman nearby frowned.

“Zaden…” she called softly, but he didn’t answer. His figure vanished beyond the doorway.

A young woman sitting across turned toward Beverly Storm, forcing an awkward smile. “Mrs. Storm,” she asked hesitantly, “your son … He’s not interested in me, is he?”

She dressed in a stylish business outfit. Her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her makeup was flawless, every detail refined and elegant. Her manner was poised and graceful, clearly the mark of an heiress raised in privilege.

Beverly smiled warmly and said in a soft, reassuring tone, “Zaden’s just like that–quiet and distant. Don’t take it personally. Once you get to know him, you’ll see he’s a good man.”

“Mrs. Storm,” the young woman hesitated before asking, “I’ve heard that Zaden might have some problems in that area?”

Everyone in their social circle knew the rumors. Zaden rarely showed interest in women. And with his daughter’s unknown mother, gossip spread quickly that he simply wasn’t into women at all. His child must have come through some kind of medical procedure.

The young woman had been hesitant at first. But Zaden’s looks and his family wealth and status were too much to ignore. In the end, she’d agreed to meet him.

Still, those rumors lingered in her mind.

Beverly’s expression stiffened slightly. “Just baseless rumors!” she said firmly. “If Zaden really had a problem, how could he possibly have a daughter?”

She softened her tone and added, “Don’t worry. If things work out between you and Zaden,

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Chapter 49 The Escape

we’ll make sure the child doesn’t interfere with your relationship.”

The young woman nodded, finally relaxing.

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Finished

The thought of Zaden’s daughter had made her uneasy, but Beverly’s promise put her mind at

ease.

Meanwhile, Zaden had stepped outside. He had zero interest in the blind date. In fact, he found the entire setup tiresome.

Still, remembering Beverly’s repeated instructions, he knew he had to return soon and play along.

Just then, something caught his eye. On the sidewalk, a woman stumbled forward, nearly crashing into a trash bin. She didn’t even react–it was as if she couldn’t feel a thing.

That woman is …

Zaden frowned deeply. Something felt off. Without hesitation, he strode toward her.

Athena felt awful. Her whole body was burning, like she was about to explode. Her feet throbbed with pain, her throat was dry, and heat surged through her body until it felt unbearable–like she was trapped in her own personal hell.

Suddenly, she felt someone grab her arm.

“Let go of me!” she shouted instinctively, shoving the person away with what little strength she had left.

Zaden had noticed right away that she looked unwell. He had only wanted to help, but the moment he reached out, Athena pushed him away, rejecting his touch.

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