CONTENT WARNING: SENSITIVE THEMES AHEAD, INCLUDING SELF-HARM AND DEHUMANIZATION

The  entrance of the ballroom welcomed the man who tidily dressed in a black suit, his blue eyes pierced through the crowd. As he stepped forward, the crowd seemed to be taken aback by his entrancing eyes. His car,  his watch, his shoes, each and everything on him announced his limitless wealth. Women looked at him with seductive eyes as if they just wanted to be one of his girls.

Following him, Athena came forward. She wore an elegant gown. Her braided jet-black hair decorated with small red roses, her amber eyes, her bold eyebrows, her sharp nose, nothing could hide her melancholy. 

People were truly shocked to see Mikhail with a lady who was entirely different from him, she had no aura at all, she shook just like a scaredy cat. Their eyes yelled, 

How the hell did she end up with him? Was he threatening her to be with him? Had his preferences in women changed over time?

Athena was scared, she gulped, her hands trembled, and her head felt dizzy. But, Mikhail didn't pay any attention to her. She could feel many eyes on her. She couldn't move an inch. While Athena stood there like an offender in front of them, a lady came through the entrance with a sly smile on her face. Her presence sent ripples through the crowd. A beauty with long straight raven hair, her lips dyed in crimson, walked through the crowd like a fashion model. Men  drooling over her, but her dangerous gaze was enough for them to get a hold of themselves.

Nathalia Marlowe. The one who could manipulate anyone within her sight, a true beauty possessing the heart of a beast.

She walked past Mikhail, locked her gaze at Athena and asked,

"What is your relationship with Mikhail?"

Mikhail, side glanced at her and smirked as if he had expected this outcome.

Athena didn't know what to say nor did she know what to do. She looked at Mikhail with the eyes that seemed to be begging. Mikhail, who was enjoying this situation, just smiled at Athena. It was his way of saying, 'deal with it yourself.'

Athena couldn't raise her voice to reply to Nathalia. He didn't have a ring on his ring finger , nor  they had a marriage certificate, so who was Athena to him? She didn't know. A guest? Maybe...

Athena murmured that she lived in his house. Nothing more. There was no relationship between them for her to call him a husband or at least a friend.

Nathalia took a glass of vintage wine, took a sip, with a snigger, poured it over Athena. The wine dripped from Athena's gown. Her hair, wet, tears intermixed with the sugary wine flowed down, making her look like she was crying blood. Humiliation intermixed with sadness made her stumble. Her blurred eyes saw nothing but Mikhail, who was looking at her laughing and leaving with Nathalia. Slowly but steadily, her eyes blackened out.

The air smelled heavily antiseptic. The heart monitor beeped, matching her heartbeat. Athena opened her eyes. The sunlight didn't let her open eyes fully. Her eyes were red and puffy due to all the crying. Away from her, Mikhail was sitting with his gaze locked onto his phone. She didn't make a noise and closed her eyes.

"Are you going to ignore me, my wife?" 

Mikhail asked her sarcastically.

She opened her eyes and answered him.

"Why should i?"

Athena talked back to him as if she got an enlightenment after passing out and Mikhail was surprised to hear her talking like that.

 Mikhail looked serious.

"My wife, are you really alright? ...You should rest some more."

She turned her face.

 "Rest?"

Her voice was barely audible.

"I've been running my whole life from everyone. Now, i don't think i can do that anymore. Just kill me."

Mikhail was silent. He looked angry for the first time. His gaze, enraged.

"Are you telling me to kill you? Why should i kill you? .... Don't even think about anything like that."

Mikhail yelled at her. His voice, so mature unlike his usual mocking tone.

Athena asked him,

"Didn't i embarrass you today by showing my pathetic look to all, as your partner? I messed up all your plans for today, you should've been at your company by this time. Now tell me, is there any reason for you to let me live? What right do you have to tell me not to die?"

Mikhail's heart throbbed. Looking at her, he knew she was barely holding back her tears. Her questions made him flustered. Who was this woman to him? Why is her thinking of death made him mad? Why? He had never once been influenced by anyone, but this woman, what made her so special to him? Why did her words make his heart bleed?

While he was immersed in his own thoughts, her voice sounded.

"Get out."

He stood up with a startled face and left her alone in the room. His face was no longer smiling as he usually does. He knew somewhere in his heart, he needed her. The thought of her hating him made his face red with seething anger, much more than he thought.

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