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Even If It Hurts

Penulis: Allura.Shaletta
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-05-04 09:39:02

"Wh–what?"

Athena froze. Reyna’s words rang through the hallway like a bullet to the chest. Her breath caught. Her legs trembled. Her heart? Of course, shattered.

Athena stared at Arthur, hoping—no, praying—that he’d deny it. That he’d scream it was a lie. But all she saw was confusion. Horror and silence.

"You... you really did this?" she whispered, barely able to form the words. "How could you—"

"I didn’t know what happened, dear. I swear! I don’t remember anything. She just..." Arthur stepped forward, reaching for her, but she pulled away.

Athena’s tears, the ones she had tried so desperately to hold back, finally poured down her cheeks in torrents. Her body trembled with grief. Reyna, witnessing her pain, sneered with cruelty. Folding her arms across her chest, she stepped closer, her gaze sharp and arrogant.

"Believe it or not, but your perfect Arthur and I are closer than you think!"

"Reyna, stop it!"

"What? I’m just telling her the truth," she replied without a hint of guilt. "
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  • The Piano of Vengeance   You Were Always Mine

    "Reyna—""You think you can take him from me? After everything I’ve done? I won’t let you, bitch!"Reyna kept getting closer, forcing Arthur—who had only just realized her presence—to instinctively shield Athena behind him. His eyes widened, just as shocked as Athena. He never imagined that someone he had always treated like a sister would do something so dangerous to the woman he loved."You’re not a killer, Reyna. Put the gun down!" he said, trying to bring her back to her senses, even though he was still torn between belief and disbelief."I won’t let her take you away from me again!" Reyna just gave a faint smile before her gaze turned sharp again. "I can’t lose you! Not after everything I’ve done for you!""Reyna—""Stay out of this!" she screamed. Her face was twisted in hatred and desperation. "You kept ignoring me while I kept falling more in love with you, Arthur! And now she’s pregnant, you’re just going to go back to her like nothing ever happened?!""Reyna, please..." Arth

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-05-05
  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Downfall

    "Leon, where are you?"Athena's voice trembled as she pressed the redial button on her phone. Her fifth call in the past hour had been met only with the cold sound of a waiting tone. Worry gnawed at her, making her bite her lower lip, especially after her mother had called from the hospital, weakly repeating her husband's name."Mrs. Athena? Excuse me, but shall we leave now? Perhaps Mr. Leon is still stuck on the city’s connecting road?" Edward, her assistant, suddenly approached, nearly causing the wine glass in her tightly gripped hand to slip."I can't calm down until I see my husband, Ed. He promised to be with me, and my mother's call earlier... What if he's in some kind of trouble right now?" Athena sighed heavily, the finest goose feathers adorning her wide-brimmed hat shifting slightly with her breath."But, ma'am—""The businessman hosting this event is one of Leon's new associates, Ed. It would be better for me to arrive with him to avoid questions from the reporters that w

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Chains of Deception

    "How? Did you make sure everything was safe before the police and the hospital staff started the evacuation?"A faint voice gradually pulled Athena out of her long unconsciousness. She winced in pain, realizing that parts of her body couldn’t move freely. Athena tried to identify the voice she had just heard, but she heard nothing further until the sound of a creaking door made her instinctively close her eyes again."Is she still unconscious?" Athena tried to calm her pounding heart as she recognized Leon's voice. Her breathing became shallow as she gripped the thin blanket that partially covered her body."The doctor said Mrs. Athena will wake up soon, Sir. She didn’t suffer severe injuries thanks to the immediate help she received, but….""But she has some minor wounds and a broken right arm? Tsk, how disappointing! Why couldn’t it be more serious?"Startled again, Athena found it increasingly difficult to swallow. Her husband's cold tone echoed clearly in her ears. Her eyes began

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21
  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Crippled Queen

    Gazing sorrowfully at the grand house she once considered her palace of happiness, Athena could only cry silently. After spending several days in the hospital, her heart grew increasingly restless. Her return home meant that Leon could freely do anything to her, including mistreating her."Mrs. Athena, please come with me!" Edward’s voice suddenly broke the silence, causing Athena to turn her head. She immediately brushed off the hand of her assistant, who had now become Leon’s accomplice, and struggled to walk on her own, despite her unsteady steps."Well, well... So you’ve been allowed to leave the hospital?"To her surprise, Athena encountered Crystal there. Her wide eyes narrowed sharply, a gesture that was met with only a faint smile from the woman in front of her."How are you, Athena? I’m so sorry about the accident you had. Leon told me that your hand is paralyzed and you’ve lost your voice. How does it feel, Athena? It must be painful, right?" Crystal continued, taking a sma

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Revenge Plans

    "What?"Athena froze, staring at the man in front of her. Her mouth made no sound. She was only speaking in her mind. But Arthur, who seemed to read her thoughts, shook his head as if answering her question.With an unreadable expression, the man casually closed the door behind him. There was something peculiar about him. His gaze was sharp but not entirely threatening. Every movement he made was deliberate as if he were playing a role."He’s talking about revenge plans?" Athena murmured anxiously in her mind. "Who is he? And why did he say he was happy to see me again earlier?"Feeling his presence being observed, Arthur pretended to be busy with the dusty items around him. Especially after he increasingly felt as if Athena’s hazel eyes were dissecting him."Who are you?" Athena finally asked, her voice barely audible. Arthur turned to her coldly. Within seconds, he covered her mouth and pinned her onto the bed."Shh… Don’t be reckless!" he hissed sharply, causing Athena’s hazel eyes

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Silent Resistance

    "Damn it! So this disabled woman dares to defy me?!"Leon screamed internally. His face turned red as he prepared to snatch the small notebook Athena was holding, but Crystal moved first, gently stroking his thigh."Calm down, babe. Let that disabled woman do whatever she wants. She’ll never be able to beat us!" Crystal whispered, casting a disdainful glance at Athena.Turning his attention back to his wife, Leon suddenly smirked. Athena had no idea what was going through his mind, but one thing was clear—she was determined not to remain under the control of this cunning man."Ah, I’m relieved to hear that rumor wasn’t true. Honestly, I was worried it might affect your new project, Mr. Leon. As far as I know, Mrs. Athena still plays a significant role in the company you manage," said one of Leon’s business partners, prompting Athena to nod gracefully."Oh, so Mrs. Athena still has a significant role in the company?""Yes, Mr. Mayor," Leon interjected, trying to regain control of the c

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-21
  • The Piano of Vengeance   Completely Crazy!

    Athena froze, trying to hold back her tears. She fought to endure the pain in her heart and body. Arthur's words felt like a shot of encouragement, almost pulling her back into the mysterious gray eyes before her."This is your phone. You can use it to contact me in emergencies." Arthur suddenly pulled something from his pocket leaving Athena stunned."Impossible! How is this phone still intact?""When I first found it, the screen and casing were quite damaged. Luckily, the data—""So, you were the one who found it? How long have you known me, Arthur? Are you the one who first found me after the accident?"Silent for a moment, Arthur then reached for the medicine box. He immediately treated the wound on the tip of Athena's lip with great care, letting the woman in front of him continue to wonder inwardly."Arthur...""May I remove the bandage on your hand? The doctor was supposed to change it and check your condition yesterday, but—""Leon canceled everything?" Athena sighed in resign

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-27
  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Battle of Wits

    "Ahh! I love your touch, babe!"Leon smiled as he adjusted his shirt buttons. He was truly proud of his ability to seduce women, especially this time, as Crystal had moaned his name repeatedly after successfully forcing Athena out of the room.His idea to get rid of Athena had worked, hadn't it? It wasn't just successful, it was downright insane! No one would have suspected Leon's audacity to flirt with another woman in front of his wife. And no one could endure being in Athena's position."I think that woman won't dare to bother us anymore, babe," Crystal said as she rose from the desk where she had been lying moments ago. She walked toward the window, straightening her tight dress to ensure no one had been spying on her and Leon's activities."Hmm, we'll see. I doubt a woman like her will give up so easily," Leon replied coolly, causing Crystal to turn back toward him immediately."What do you mean? Do you think Athena plans to get back at us?"Nodding, Leon looked over the wealth tr

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2024-12-28

Bab terbaru

  • The Piano of Vengeance   You Were Always Mine

    "Reyna—""You think you can take him from me? After everything I’ve done? I won’t let you, bitch!"Reyna kept getting closer, forcing Arthur—who had only just realized her presence—to instinctively shield Athena behind him. His eyes widened, just as shocked as Athena. He never imagined that someone he had always treated like a sister would do something so dangerous to the woman he loved."You’re not a killer, Reyna. Put the gun down!" he said, trying to bring her back to her senses, even though he was still torn between belief and disbelief."I won’t let her take you away from me again!" Reyna just gave a faint smile before her gaze turned sharp again. "I can’t lose you! Not after everything I’ve done for you!""Reyna—""Stay out of this!" she screamed. Her face was twisted in hatred and desperation. "You kept ignoring me while I kept falling more in love with you, Arthur! And now she’s pregnant, you’re just going to go back to her like nothing ever happened?!""Reyna, please..." Arth

  • The Piano of Vengeance   Even If It Hurts

    "Wh–what?"Athena froze. Reyna’s words rang through the hallway like a bullet to the chest. Her breath caught. Her legs trembled. Her heart? Of course, shattered.Athena stared at Arthur, hoping—no, praying—that he’d deny it. That he’d scream it was a lie. But all she saw was confusion. Horror and silence."You... you really did this?" she whispered, barely able to form the words. "How could you—""I didn’t know what happened, dear. I swear! I don’t remember anything. She just..." Arthur stepped forward, reaching for her, but she pulled away.Athena’s tears, the ones she had tried so desperately to hold back, finally poured down her cheeks in torrents. Her body trembled with grief. Reyna, witnessing her pain, sneered with cruelty. Folding her arms across her chest, she stepped closer, her gaze sharp and arrogant."Believe it or not, but your perfect Arthur and I are closer than you think!""Reyna, stop it!""What? I’m just telling her the truth," she replied without a hint of guilt. "

  • The Piano of Vengeance   More Than Complicated

    "Hey!"Feeling the gentle caress on his strong jawline, Arthur tried to open his eyes. Still overwhelmed by sleepiness, he reached for the slender waist of the woman who seemed to be resting against his chest—only for his eyes to suddenly narrow sharply as he realized who was actually with him."What the hell is this?!"His heart stopped in an instant. Arthur woke with a pounding head and a mouth dry as ash. He blinked blearily, only to see Reyna lying beside him beneath the sheets, smiling like a cat that had just devoured the canary."You were amazing last night," she said casually, brushing her fingers through her hair. "I didn’t think you had it in you. I like it!"Shaking his head, Arthur then changed his position. With no clothes clinging to his body and the body of the woman beside him, he had expected it. But he quickly tried to deny it. "I don't understand. What are you talking about? How did you get here? And where are we now?!""You don’t remember?" Reyna asked with a tilt

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Wrong Kind of Right

    Hearing those words, Arthur shook his head as if denying a truth too painful to accept. He took a step forward, reaching out to grab the wrist of the woman standing before him, but Athena had already stepped back, her eyes silently pleading with him—don’t."We’re over, Arthur. I’m sorry I never got to say goodbye back then. I just… I couldn’t bear to see you hurting and—""And falling apart!" Arthur cut her off sharply, running a hand over his face, overwhelmed. "Goodbye or not, I still felt it! Every inch of it! Don’t you see that?""I’m sorry. I just…""Why?" His voice cracked, raw with pain, as she struggled to find her words. "Why him? Why choose him over me? Hasn’t he done enough? Hasn’t he already broken you, made your life hell, and—""Enough! Please!"Arthur shook his head again, this time more desperately. His eyes locked onto the woman in front of him, her body trembling as she sobbed—just like him, if not even more heartbreakingly.How did it come to this? What made her giv

  • The Piano of Vengeance   Love Isn't Enough

    Throughout the ride, Arthur couldn’t shake his assistant’s words from his mind. Every part of them rang true. No matter how much time passed, Leon, Crystal, and Caroline would never let him or Athena live their lives in peace. They would never be satisfied, not even now when he and the woman he loved were already suffering under the weight of their cruelty.If they truly had joined forces to weave this trap around him, especially with Reyna relentlessly working to tear him away from Athena, he genuinely didn’t know what else he could do. If Athena were still by his side, none of this would feel so overwhelming. He wouldn’t be lost like this, drifting without direction, weak and broken, like a man abandoned for days in a barren, merciless desert."Sir... it seems your persistence has finally paid off."His assistant’s voice pulled him back from the chaos in his mind. Arthur snapped his gaze forward, eyes narrowing slightly at the sight of a woman stepping out of a taxi. Her face was h

  • The Piano of Vengeance   Persistent

    "Mr. James! Did you just meet with Mrs. Athena inside? Has she returned? What’s your response to the rumors claiming that Mrs. Athena intentionally dropped her charges against Mr. Leon to reunite with her ex-husband?""Yes, Mr. James! As the person closest to her these past few months, surely you have something to say. Is the news true? Please, Mr. James, we've been struggling to reach her!""Yes, is your visit today connected to all this? Are you planning to cut ties and cancel your company's collaborations with hers out of disappointment? Rumor has it you only pursued the partnership to get close to her. Do you now feel betrayed, Mr. James? Played for a fool?"The flood of questions rained down without pause, each word sharpened by the blinding flash of camera lights. Stepping out of the Athena family’s corporate building, Arthur James hadn't anticipated the swarm of reporters that awaited him, hungry for a headline.Who had tipped them off? And how had the rumors spiraled so viciou

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Only Way Out

    "Sorry..."Not far from the city's chaos, in a modest apartment tucked inside a quiet complex, Athena sat curled in a chair by the window.She had rented the place under a false name, using forged documents—anything to disappear. She knew Arthur would look for her, and that was exactly why she had to vanish. It was the only way to protect both him and Reyna from more pain."I'm sorry, prince. I'm so sorry," she whispered again, though the words barely reached her ears anymore.Tears welled as she hugged her knees to her chest, forehead pressed to the cool glass. The world outside carried on—cars passing, voices rising—but none of it touched her.The ache wasn’t just emotional anymore. It lived in her body now—tight in her chest, heavy in her limbs. Across the street, a couple walked hand in hand. The man leaned in to adjust the woman’s scarf, s

  • The Piano of Vengeance   Twisted Devotion

    The rain didn’t fall that night, but the sky remained gray as if it understood that someone was lost in the deafening silence.In the room that once echoed with laughter, Arthur sat alone. The chandelier's dim light reflected dully in his lifeless brown eyes. His fingers gripped his phone tightly, as though he were holding on to the last pieces of hope, now almost completely shattered.Athena’s name was still displayed on the screen. And just like so many times before, there was no answer. He took a deep breath, trying to push down the tightness in his chest while replaying every memory he had of her."Ah, that tickles! Let me go!"That voice still sounded so soft in his ears—the way she giggled as he kept kissing her neck. The echo of her laughter was something he could never forget. Her gaze and her smile always warmed his heart, as if he could still feel them now."Where are you now?" he murmured, barely audible. "Why did you have to leave without a word? Didn’t you say you loved s

  • The Piano of Vengeance   The Unwanted Morning

    "Baby...."When Arthur opened his eyes the next morning, the first thing he reached for was her—soft skin, steady breath, that familiar warmth he’d grown addicted to. But his hand touched only the cool, empty sheet beside him. Frowning, he sat up, blinking through the haze of sleep."Baby?" he called out softly, expecting her to answer from the bathroom.Silence.He waited a few seconds, listening. Still nothing. Throwing back the covers, Arthur climbed out of bed and padded to the bathroom door knocking lightly."Baby? You in there?"No answer.A chill crawled up his spine as he slowly pushed the door open. Empty. Pristine. The room smelled faintly of her perfume, but there was no trace of her presence. No running water. No voice calling back.He turned around, eyes scanning the bedroom again. Her clothes

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