Athena Raven Lark had everything a girl could dream of, a life of abundance, surrounded by opulence and comfort. But tragedy strikes when her parents die, but was it all to their death? They left her and her younger brother behind. Forced to live with her less-than-loving aunt, Athena's world is turned upside down. Then she meets Azazel Black, the son of a devil, whose obsession with her goes beyond reason. He will stop at nothing to possess her, even if it means destroying everything in his path, including her. His dark and twisted love threatens to consume them both, leaving Athena trapped in his web of obsession. But when Athena is accused of a crime she didn't commit, the murder of Azazel Black’s mother, the evidence against her is damning, and Azazel is convinced of her guilt. He subjects her to the relentless wheel of revenge, leaving her isolated and alone, with no one to turn to for help. As Athena struggles to prove her innocence, she wonders if she'll ever be able to escape Azazel's clutches. Will she survive his trial of obsession or become his victim, forever lost in the darkness of his love? The truth lies buried deep within the shadows of their twisted relationship, and only time will tell if Athena will be able to break free from Azazel's hold.
Lihat lebih banyak"Hari ini, kamu boleh pulang ke Jakarta," ucap Renata, pemilik perusahaan tempat Sofia bekerja.
Sofia Storia, wanita berusia tiga puluh tahun yang menjabat sebagai administrator di salah satu perusahaan distributor makanan ringan ternama di Jakarta, tak bisa menyembunyikan kegembiraannya. "Baik, Bu," jawabnya dengan senyum mengembang. Tentu saja Sofia merasa bahagia. Sudah tiga hari ia tak bertemu dengan Alvian, suami yang sangat dicintainya, karena kesibukan pria itu mengurus pembukaan cabang baru di Bandung. Sofia berniat memberikan kejutan. Dengan sengaja, ia tak memberi kabar bahwa dirinya akan kembali lebih cepat dari waktu yang telah ditentukan sebelumnya. "Bu, saya pamit," ucap Sofia pada Renata yang tengah sibuk dengan dokumen di meja kerjanya. "Hati-hati di jalan, Sofia!" jawab perempuan berusia empat puluh tahun itu. Sepanjang perjalanan, Sofia menikmati alunan lagu-lagu favoritnya. Wanita mandiri itu mengendarai mobilnya sambil bernyanyi riang, membayangkan ekspresi terkejut Alvian saat melihatnya pulang lebih awal. *** Sesampainya di apartemen, Sofia terpaku. Ruangan yang selalu rapi dan bersih itu kini tampak kotor dan berantakan. Beberapa bungkus makanan ringan berserakan di atas karpet. Asbak dipenuhi puntung rokok dengan abu yang bertebaran di sekitarnya. Di atas meja ruang televisi, dua botol minuman berdiri tegak. Sofia melangkah masuk, mendekati dua botol yang asing baginya. Didorong rasa penasaran, ia membuka tutup botol untuk mengetahui jenis minuman apa itu. Belum sempat mendekatkan hidungnya ke mulut botol, aroma menyengat sudah menusuk indra penciumannya. "Aneh. Siapa yang meminum minuman ini? Bukankah Mas Alvian tidak pernah mengonsumsi alkohol?" gumamnya sambil mengamati botol bertuliskan Martell. Matanya beralih pada puntung rokok yang berserakan. Terlihat noda merah pada pangkal beberapa batang rokok. Seperti bekas lipstik. Tapi, lipstik siapa? Belum hilang rasa herannya, tiba-tiba terdengar suara Alvian sedang berbincang dengan seorang wanita dari balik pintu. Menyadari kehadiran mereka, Sofia bergegas masuk ke kamar dan bersembunyi di balik lemari pakaian. "Sayang, aku benar-benar ketagihan dengan permainanmu semalam," suara bariton Alvian menggema memecah keheningan. Jantung Sofia berdegup kencang. "Tidak mungkin! Mas Alvian tidak mungkin melakukan itu!" batinnya menepis kecurigaan. Dengan gemetar, Sofia memberanikan diri mengintip dari celah lemari. Pemandangan di depannya menghancurkan dunianya seketika. Di atas ranjang yang selama ini menjadi tempat mereka berbagi kasih, Alvian dan seorang wanita tengah bercumbu mesra. Desahan wanita itu memenuhi ruangan. Dengan jelas, Sofia melihat suaminya yang selama ini terlihat setia sedang menindih tubuh wanita ramping dan seksi, menciumi leher jenjangnya dengan rakus. Tubuh Sofia membeku. Napasnya tercekat, darahnya mendidih. Tanpa pikir panjang, ia keluar dari persembunyiannya. "Ya Tuhan... apa yang kamu lakukan, Mas?" teriaknya dengan mata terbelalak dan napas memburu. Mendengar suara Sofia, Alvian tersentak dan menghentikan aksinya. Ia berdiri menghadap istrinya dengan wajah terkejut. PLAK! Sebuah tamparan keras mendarat di wajah Alvian. "Tega sekali kamu mengkhianatiku!" sentak Sofia dengan wajah merah padam. Pipi Alvian memerah membentuk bekas telapak tangan. Dengan wajah angkuh, ia menahan tangan Sofia ketika wanita itu hendak menamparnya untuk kedua kali. "Diam!" bentaknya kasar. "Seharusnya kamu berkaca, mengapa aku melakukan ini!" Ia menghempaskan tangan Sofia dengan kasar. "Apa kurangnya aku, Mas?" tanya Sofia dengan suara bergetar. Air mata menggenang di pelupuk matanya. Menyaksikan pertengkaran sengit pasangan suami istri itu, Clara—wanita yang berprofesi sebagai penyanyi karaoke—hanya tersenyum sinis. "Kamu masih bertanya apa kekuranganmu?" Alvian mendengus. "Lihatlah dirimu yang tidak terawat itu! Bagaimana aku bisa bernafsu jika tubuhmu seperti itu? Bertahun-tahun aku sabar menerimamu, bukannya memperbaiki diri, kamu malah semakin tidak menarik dan membosankan!" Bukannya meminta maaf, Alvian justru mencaci dan menghina tanpa peduli perasaan wanita yang telah menemaninya selama lima tahun. Mendengar hinaan itu, Sofia menangis pilu. Ia tak menyangka, hanya karena perubahannya secara fisik, Alvian tega mengkhianatinya hingga melakukan perbuatan hina di kamar mereka sendiri. "Aku akan adukan kelakuanmu pada ibumu!" Sofia mengancam sambil menyeka air mata. "Silakan! Aku tidak peduli!" jawab Alvian angkuh. Sofia mengalihkan pandangan pada wanita yang duduk di tepi ranjang. Ia melangkah mendekati Clara, namun Alvian dengan cepat mencekal tubuhnya. "Lepaskan aku!" Sofia meronta. "Dengar, wanita jalang!" teriaknya pada Clara dari balik tubuh Alvian. "Kau akan menyesal telah menghancurkan rumah tanggaku!" Clara hanya tersenyum sinis, sama sekali tak terpengaruh oleh ancaman tersebut. "Lepas! Aku tak sudi bersentuhan denganmu!" Sofia menepis tangan Alvian dan bergegas meninggalkan kamar yang kini telah ternoda oleh pengkhianatan. *** Dengan berlinang air mata, Sofia mengendarai mobil sedan warisan orangtuanya menuju rumah mertuanya yang berjarak dua kilometer dari apartemen. Ia berharap Ambar, ibu mertuanya, akan berpihak padanya. Namun, harapannya sirna. "Sofia... memang benar kata anakku. Kalau kamu tidak merawat diri seperti ini, mana mungkin Alvian berselera padamu. Jangankan menyentuh, melihat saja dia sudah malas," ucap Ambar, menatap Sofia dari ujung kaki hingga kepala dengan pandangan merendahkan. "Tapi Bu, aku seperti ini karena efek obat penyubur yang Ibu berikan agar aku cepat hamil," jawab Sofia terbata. "Kamu malah menyalahkan aku? Kalau kamu bisa cepat memberiku cucu, aku tidak perlu memberimu obat itu. Atau jangan-jangan, kamu memang mandul?" tukas wanita berusia lima puluh lima tahun itu tanpa belas kasihan. Hati Sofia semakin terluka. Mertuanya yang selama ini ia hormati seperti ibu kandung justru ikut menghakiminya. Ambar memang mertua yang sangat mengekang. Selalu ikut campur urusan rumah tangga anaknya dan menyalahkan Sofia yang belum juga hamil setelah lima tahun pernikahan. Di matanya, apapun yang Sofia lakukan selalu salah. *** Karena tak mendapat pembelaan, Sofia meninggalkan rumah mertuanya dan menuju rumah peninggalan almarhum orangtuanya yang kini ditempati paman dan bibinya. "Maaf. Anda mencari siapa?" tanya seorang wanita asing dari balik pintu. "Apakah Bibi Ella ada di dalam?" tanya Sofia keheranan. "Oh, Bu Ella sudah tidak tinggal di sini. Kami pemilik baru rumah ini. Seminggu lalu kami membelinya dari Bu Ella," jelas wanita itu ramah. Bagaikan tersambar petir di siang bolong, Sofia tak menyangka bahwa bibi dan pamannya—satu-satunya keluarga yang ia miliki—tega menjual rumah warisan orangtuanya tanpa sepengetahuannya. *** Di balik kemudi mobilnya, Sofia terisak pilu. Ia merasa tak ada seorang pun di dunia ini yang menyayanginya. Kini, ia sendirian dan bingung harus ke mana. Dengan perasaan hancur, Sofia mengarahkan mobilnya ke pemakaman kedua orangtuanya—satu-satunya tempat yang sering ia kunjungi ketika merasa terpuruk. Di hadapan pusara orangtuanya, ia mencurahkan semua kesedihannya. Tak kuasa menahan perih, Sofia menangis tersedu-sedu. "Ibu, mengapa kau tinggalkan aku sendiri? Semua orang begitu kejam padaku. Kini aku tak tahu harus ke mana. Rasanya aku ingin menyusulmu, Bu," ucapnya terbata dengan isakan pilu. Di tengah area pemakaman yang luas dan sunyi, Sofia duduk memeluk nisan ibunya. Air matanya jatuh membasahi rumput yang tumbuh di atas pusara. Rasa sakit yang ia rasakan begitu menghujam jantungnya—seperti mati namun masih bernapas. Angin sore berhembus dingin menerpa tubuhnya. Awan hitam berarak di langit dan suara gemuruh petir mulai terdengar samar-samar. Di tengah kesunyian itu, tiba-tiba terdengar suara bariton yang lembut dari belakangnya. "Menikahlah denganku."“Capo,” a strong man strode into the hospital room, his eyes glinting with concern.“Sir is in critical condition. We don’t know what to do,” Elijah, the head of security for the German mafia, informed him, his voice heavy with worry. “He was beaten black and blue, and the hole in his voice made it difficult for him to talk. The doctor says it might take him forever to speak again. Rustom is dead, and most of our men are gone. The responsibility lies with you.”The 13-year-old boy, Alex Knight, sat weeping in the room's corner, his shoulders shaking with grief. He may have been young, but he had a commanding presence and a ruthless stature that belied his age.“Who did this?” he gritted his teeth, his voice trembling with anger.“The French, we know that much,” Elijah replied, folding his hands solemnly.Alex’s bloodshot eyes widened with fury, and his fists clenched tightly. “I swear I will get my vengeance, and when I do, they will beg for mercy.” Elijah nodded in agreement. “We’ll
Everyone was invited to their wedding except the Black parents, Sophie and Blanche. Athena was pacing nervously in her room when someone knocked on the door, and she answered, “Come in,” when Narcissa walked in.“Cissy,” she hugged the girl.“How are you, Theia?” Cissy couldn’t help but admire how beautiful Athena looked in her wedding dress.“I am good. Where were you? We were so worried about you,” she sat on the ottoman before her vanity.“I found myself and love, too,” she winked. Athena looked bewildered.“Love?” disbelief coated her tone.“Yes, I will introduce her to you once you are done with your wedding,” she kissed Athena’s cheek. She was about to leave when Athena stopped her.“I am sorry for causing you pain, Cissy. If only I had known……” but Cissy stopped her.“Don’t worry about it, Athena. I am happy for you and my brother, and my adorable nieces and nephews, I love you all equally, and honestly, I should apologize for not trusting you,” she pinned her veil on her head.
Athena and Azazel hadn’t talked about their relationship much. Their relationship was evolving, but into what she didn’t know. She was sure that Athena had feelings for him, but to what extent? She couldn’t figure it out. “Athena,” Azazel yelled, coming home. “In here,” she replied, washing the milk bottles and setting them on the warmer. “Get ready. We are going out,” he turned her to his side. “No, Zae. We need to…” he silenced her by placing his fingers on her lips and closing them. “Not another word. You haven’t gone out since we had our little ones. Let’s go out, besides we have a village to watch, and you already pumped your milk,” he noticed the bottles on the counter. Knowing that there was no excuse, Athena gave in. She entered her bedroom and noticed a dress on the bed. She put on the outfit and put on some light makeup. Hearing the sound of heels, he turned around, and his heart skipped its beat. She looked ethereal in that georgette dress, “I look fat,” she adjusted t
After many months of speculations about what happened to Azazel Black, the world finally realized that he was alive. Since he was alive and well, his company was soaring, the stocks reaching the skies. The company celebrated, and so did the underworld. But there was no news of Hans anywhere, not in the business world or the underworld. He permanently cut ties with Olivia and Charles. After Tristan explained what they did to Cissy, he didn’t have it in his heart to call him his parents, they reached out to him, but he cut them off. As much as it hurt him to do it, he did not want his father to do the same things he did to him and his brother to his children. He wanted his children to become compassionate like her. He officially canceled his wedding with Sophie. The girl was furious and tried to blackmail him into doing what she wanted, but Azazel was ahead of her. He threatened to kill her career if she tried to disturb Athena or her family. He was still in touch with Arthur as he was
“Do you think I should come back?” Azazel asked, sipping his whiskey. “You should,” Tristan knew Azazel and Athena loved each other, but there was something holding them up from being together, he had seen both suffer being away from each other, and God knows they were stubborn. “Although if you come back, I hope she kills you. I am tired of your ass,” Tristan was eager to see Azazel getting ass whopped by Athena. “Do you think she will be angry with me?” Azazel had a worried look on his face. “Oh, I am sure she would end you, and I am so rooting for it,” his brother needs that for following this stupid plan. “Love makes people do things, Azazel. I have never seen you pine for anyone like this. If this isn’t screaming that you love her, I don’t know what does. And as for Athena, I have seen her try and eat flowers instead of apples. She is completely off focus,” Tristan remembered the times Athena forgot to focus and did things the wrong way. The girl put cabbage in the washing ma
Days were OK for her, but she felt the most sadness at night. It was her childhood all over again. But she wasn’t alone this time. She had her family, but his absence affected her the most. God took her parents and gave him to her, and now he took him away and gave her parents. She sat there and let the tears flow. Athena didn’t move out of her room. She still used the old space Azazel and her shared. This comforted her, as his scent was everywhere, particularly in his clothes. She stepped into the closet and took one of his jackets, hugging it close. She stood there, inhaling his scent. Another tear dropped when she heard a knock on the door. Wiping her tears, “Come in,” she announced to the person. Her mother walked inside. Looking at Athena standing there with a shirt, Iris sighed. “Penny for your thoughts?” Iris turned her daughter to her side. She formed her lips into a thin line and shook her head. “I am your mother, Theia, come here,” she opened her arms, and Athena ran into
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