She couldn’t stop mockery from bubbling up inside her.

So that's why Byron gave her the 20 million and the villa,  was to keep her as his obedient sidekick, like a third wheel in his marriage?

She felt sick to her stomach and vomitted.

Athena remembered five years ago when the debt collector came knocking, and Athena's grandma, Romy Lewis, fell seriously ill, desperately in need of a large sum of money.

Just when all hope seemed lost, Byron entered the scene. Word had it that Athena bore a striking resemblance to Byron's one true love, Freya Bates.

But fate had different plans for Freya, who went abroad and married a renowned European aristocrat after Byron's accident left him in a vegetative state.

Byron might have fallen deeply in love with Freya and found it hard to move on when he recovered and realized he had been cast aside.

And then, Athena came into his life. He helped her settle her family's debts and arranged for the best medical care for her grandmother.

And so, she took on the role of Byron's secretary, secretly becoming his lover.

For the past five years, she concealed her true self, molding herself into a mirror image of Freya. She played the part of a tolerant and submissive woman, doing everything in her power to please Byron.

But it turns out that replacement are just replacement after all.

When she looked at herself in the mirror, she appeared pale and miserable.

There was no one better at being despicable than Byron.

He was on the verge of getting married, yet he couldn't refused to end things with Athena.

"Damn it! Does he think I enjoy being a replacement…?”

She curled her hands into tight fists.

“I quit!"

But the baby…

Athena glanced down at her belly, a bitter smile forming on her face.

Byron must never find out about the baby.

He would never allow someone like her to give birth to a child connected to him. So, it was safest for her to distance herself from Byron and Imbe Group after leaving.

After getting dressed, she prepared her resignation letter and made her way to the President's Office just as Byron's meeting was wrapping up.

She walked up to his door, just about to knock and enter, when she heard a loud, teasing voice coming from within. It was Gideon Hale, Byron's friend from a wealthy family in Hutchin City.

"Now that you're tying the knot, what's your deal with Athena?"

There was a moment of silence, before Byron responded coolly, "Nothing. I’m keeping her as usual."

"Is she up for being a mistress?" Gideon inquired.

"She's willing to do anything if I throw enough money her way," His tone dripped with mockery and disdain.

She stood frozen outside the door, her heart stinging with pain.

Their “relationship” was purely transactional after all...

After five years, she had become a mere product in his eyes, to be played with for the right price.

"Really?" Gideon's voice was excited now. "If I offer her a higher price, will she accept my proposal?"

Before anyone could respond, Byron's assistant, Liam Carson, spoke up from outside the door.

"Are you alright, Miss Newton?"

She quickly snapped out of her thoughts and nodded at him, then knocked on Byron’s office door and entered.

Gideon’s face was slightly red with embarrassment.

After a moment, he greeted Athena with a smile, as if he hadn't said anything inappropriate. "Hello, Miss Newton."

Gideon's words disgusted her, and she chose to ignore him.

She walked straight to Byron, who still had that same cold expression on his face.

"Can't you see I'm busy?" he grumbled, clearly annoyed.

"Mr. Crawford," Athena replied, her usual gentleness absent now. She held out her resignation letter with determination. "I’m quitting."

His face darkened instantly. "What do you mean?"

"When we were together, we agreed that I would never be your mistress and that I would leave once you married." Athena placed the letter on his desk. "I will wrap up my current tasks and unfinished projects as soon as possible. Sorry for interrupting your conversation with Mr. Hale."

After that, Athena turned and walked away.

She paused as she passed Gideon, looking absolutely astonished.

She was tired of being patient and kind.

She glared fiercely at the lustful man, as if he were a piece of trash.

That one look gave Gideon a clear answer to his question.

She would never sell herself to be a homewrecker!