Chapter 234 I Want Him Punished
Athena remained silent, tossing her bag aside as she slumped onto the couch next to her mother, whose body tensed visibly. Even her father could tell from Athena’s expression that the blind date had been a disaster. They had all gathered in the living room as they usually did, waiting to gauge her reaction, a ritual that Athena was acutely aware of. She knew her parents were eager to discuss the outcome of the blind date, just as they always did.
As Athena’s family observed her unusual behavior, their anxiety mounted, intensifying their curiosity about what transpired. Speculations ran wild—they feared Athena might have been mistreated and bullied, and their imaginations fueled their growing anger. Before even knowing the full truth, they were already on edge, imagining the worst-case scenario.
The tense silence shattered with Athena’s icy tone, hinting at an impending storm. "Mom, Dad, Uncle... I want him punished," Athena declared through gritted teeth. Her mind raced with thoughts, and emotions swirling chaotically. In her anger-fueled state, she struggled to articulate her thoughts clearly but said the outcome she wanted and demand for consequences was resolute in her voice.
Upon hearing Athena’s demand, her father and uncle immediately sensed the severity of the situation. Anger simmered beneath their controlled exteriors, their concern shifting swiftly to the source of Athena’s fury. They abandoned any thoughts of hesitating and collectively urged her to explain further, their minds racing with apprehension and their chests tightening with worry. Sasha, visibly concerned, gently clasped Athena’s hands in hers, meeting her daughter’s gaze with unwavering worry. "Honey, please tell us what happened. Why are you so upset?"
"Mom, that man, Tyler Lennon, tried to drug me," Athena uttered each word deliberately, her voice low yet charged with seething anger. Her expression remained icy, reflecting her deep fury. The room fell silent, pierced only by a collective gasp of shock. Each person present pondered the implications, struggling to comprehend the audacity of Tyler Lennon’s actions. To target the sole heiress of the Jackson and Lowery families in such a manner seemed beyond reckless. Did he not grasp the repercussions of antagonizing two powerful families simultaneously?
Even before Athena’s father could voice his anger, her uncle roared, shooting up from his seat in a surge of fury. "That bastard!" His voice thundered through the room, his eyes ablaze with rage, already turning red. "How dare he!" Athena was like a daughter to him, cherished and protected just as fiercely as by her parents.
Upon hearing Athena reveal that someone had tried to drug her during what was supposed to be a harmless blind date, it was beyond their worst expectations. Sasha, who had arranged the date, felt a pang of guilt. She had pushed Athena into these situations in hopes of seeing her daughter enjoy her youth and possibly meet someone. However, seeing Athena’s close friendship with Hera had led Sasha to worry that her daughter might be interested in women instead. While she admired Hera herself and saw her as a second daughter, Sasha couldn’t help but feel uncertain about what Athena truly desired.
She thought that encouraging her daughter to date at her age might bring about a change in Athena. Sasha could see that while Athena often talked about handsome men, it seemed more like admiration for their appearance than genuine romantic interest. Perhaps, once Athena found someone she truly liked, Sasha hoped she could stop worrying about her daughter’s love life altogether.
But now, it seemed like she had unwittingly led her daughter into a dangerous situation. Sasha felt overwhelmed with emotion, on the verge of tears, when a loud thud at the door startled everyone. Turning their attention from Athena, they saw her older brother standing there, his face twisted with anger as if ready to confront someone. He had rushed home from the company upon hearing Athena might return soon, bringing the food he thought Athena loved, only to drop it to the ground upon hearing Athena reveal that someone had tried to drug her.