Chapter 2
Cullen grinned. "No rush. What I plan to give Sasha is far more than this. In a month, it’ll be the promotion day for partners at Magana Law Firm. I'll make sure she gets that spot myself. That will be my confession gift to her."
The room burst out in laughter.
"Wow, Cullen, you're seriously devoted to her."
"Isn't making partner at Magana Law Firm Athena's biggest dream? If Sasha steals it right out from under her, she'll go nuts."
"With where she comes from, just being with Cullen for a while is already a blessing. She should count herself lucky. What more does she want?"
*****
Outside the door, Athena froze, her legs buckling as she slumped against the wall and sank to the floor.
So Cullen had never loved her, not once. All this time, his heart belonged to Sasha, the very girl who'd made her life hell back in college.
The fortress she'd spent fourteen years building crumbled to dust in a heartbeat.
Athena was born in a remote town. When she was ten, her mother remarried, and from then on, her life was pure hell.
At fourteen, her stepfather forced himself on her.
The first time, she finally got up the nerve to tell her mother. her mother slapped her hard and snapped, "You little liar, always making up stories to seduce men."
The second time, she went to her teacher. The teacher just stared at her for ages, then shrugged, "That's family business. I can't help you."
The third time, she called the cops. She gave her statement, and two officers came to check things out. Her stepfather denied everything, saying she was just messing around. After the cops left, he dunked her head in the tub, holding her down until she nearly drowned. When he finally let her up, he smirked, "Try calling the cops again, and you'll never come up for air."
After that, Athena shut herself off from everyone, to the point of near-paranoia.
She stopped talking to people, stopped making friends, stopped joining any group activities. She became a cold, heavy fortress, and impossible to breach.
She buried herself in her studies, desperate to get away from that nightmare.
She made it into Zavala University of Political Science and Law, and that's where she met Cullen.
Cullen was her upperclassman, and also the president of the student council.
Back then, he was the total package. Handsome, sharp, and from a family with serious clout. He was the ultimate heartthrob of the law department.
Athena used to admire him from afar, like he was some distant mountain or a shining moon, way out of her league. She never thought their paths would ever cross.
After graduation, they ran into each other at an academic conference.
By then, he was already the youngest prosecutor at the Zavala Prosecutor's Office.
From that moment on, he started showing up in her life more and more often.
Whenever she was stuck on a tough case, he'd stay up late with her, digging through case files till midnight. When she won a big case, he'd set up a little celebration for her. And whenever she flew back from a business trip, he'd be right there at the airport to greet her.
The moment that truly moved her was after one particular trial. As soon as the hearing ended, the defendant suddenly whipped out a knife and went straight for her. In a heartbeat, Cullen pulled her aside and ended up getting stabbed, the blade missing his heart by barely half an inch.
After that, Athena started to trust that Cullen really loved her.
She even began to feel lucky. After ten years of shutting herself away, she'd somehow found someone who understood her, accepted her, and slowly, patiently broke down her walls.
She began to open up, telling him what her stepfather had done, and sharing all the pain and helplessness she'd carried for years.
Cullen wrapped her in his arms, resting his chin gently on her head, his voice soft but firm. "With me around, no one will ever hurt you again."
She believed it was a promise.
But no one expected that the one she trusted most would expose her deepest wounds to the world, just to help the woman he truly cared about.
Athena staggered toward the Zavala Prosecutor's Office, barely able to keep herself upright.
Thankfully, as a lawyer, she had a habit of recording everything, just in case.
She'd recorded every word Cullen had said earlier.
She forwarded the recording directly to Procuratorate Discipline Inspection Division.
[I'm reporting Prosecutor Cullen for abusing his authority and leaking confidential case files. The consequences are severe!]
Then she called her college advisor.
"Professor Dudley, I'm really interested in that study abroad program you mentioned last time. Is there still a chance for me to join?"
Baylor Dudley sounded genuinely surprised. "Athena, you're one of the most renowned lawyers in Zavala. This program lasts a whole year, won't it mess with your career?"
Athena answered decisively, "Honestly, being a lawyer has worn me out these past few years. I need a break, and this is the perfect opportunity to reset."
"Alright, just fill out the application and bring it to me. The program starts in a month."
After hanging up, Athena felt completely drained, like all the life had been sucked out of her.
She never imagined that the man she'd finally let into her heart had never loved her.
Her heart was bleeding, but she refused to shed a single tear. She was too stubborn to let anyone see her break.
One thought kept repeating in her mind. She must save herself from danger, again and again, no matter how many times it takes.