Chapter 27 THE GILDED CAGE

Chapter 27 THE GILDED CAGE
Athena's footsteps stopped in front of a tall black iron gate, with a family crest with the initials "L" shining in the middle of a gold circle. The taxi that took her left as soon as she got off, leaving her pensive with a tired sigh.

The gate opened automatically as soon as her face was caught by a hidden camera. There was no sound except the creaking of the wheels of the golf cart that came to pick her up, driven by an old man in a gray suit.

The old man smiled politely, then greeted her, "Welcome back, Miss Athena."

Athena returned the smile with a small nod. It had been more than three years since she had set foot in this house—a house that was more like a palace, but for Athena... this house was not a pleasant place to rest.

The small carriage took her past the neatly arranged rose garden, the swimming pool that sparkled under the lights, to the front porch of the main house. The towering white pillars, the large glass windows reflected the night sky full of stars.

Silence. There was no hustle and bustle and friendliness that Athena loved like when she was with Zara in the apartment, or Mia's chatty voice on campus.

As she stepped inside, the scent of expensive perfume and aromatherapy candles filled her nostrils—flowing into her lungs. The high walls were filled with classical paintings, the marble floors were spotlessly clean.

Athena looked around her with a foreign gaze, but her footsteps stopped when someone slowly descended the large spiral staircase in the middle of the house.

"Mom?" Athena whispered, almost inaudible.

The elegant woman—with a silk dress and a perfect hair bun—stopped in the middle of the stairs, looking at Athena like she was looking at an uninvited guest.

"I thought you were comfortable living in that cramped room and rickety apartment," the woman said coldly. "Or... did you come back because you were tired of being a poor girl?"

Athena sighed. "I just want to relax for a while here. That's all."

The woman descended slowly, each step sounding like a warning drum of the punishment awaiting Athena. With only a few meters apart, they now stood facing each other—two women who looked similar but very different.

"Your daddy is abroad. If he knew you were back, he would force the entire media to make a story about 'the return of the missing heiress'."

Athena held back the bitterness in her heart. "Mom, I didn't come back, I just stopped by for a while."

Sovia... observed her daughter from head to toe, her eyes sharp as if she wanted to trace every life choice Athena made that she definitely thought was very wrong.

"Simple clothes and no makeup, sneakers, and... no earrings," Sovia said, with a voice that sounded like mockery.

"Is there something wrong? I just want to live a simple life!" Athena replied, softly but firmly.

Sovia snorted. "You were born to be on top. What you've been doing all this time is the same as breaking the line of destiny, Athena!"

Athena smiled bitterly. "If the line of destiny really existed, I shouldn't have come back here."

Athena stepped into the living room, reminiscing about her childhood which was mostly doing the dream activities of children out there.

Classical piano, private tutors, ballet, modeling classes. Everything was too perfect—but it felt empty.

There were many things that Athena left behind besides the extraordinary luxury, leaving a great disappointment for her parents who had high hopes for her as an heir. Not only that, she also disguised her last name which no one knew.

Athena Lennox-Stewart.

Except for Zara, the only friend who knew that Athena was not just an ordinary girl from an art college. But also an heir to a business empire whose wealth was wider than many people could understand.

"Rod, take Athena to her room, give her everything she needs. Ask two guards and one maid to watch her and serve all her needs," said Sovia, to a butler. "I will follow after my work is done."

Athena heard her mother's voice which was not loud but also not soft, but she didn't care, and continued to walk up the stairs to the second floor.

The door opened, revealing the contents of the room that had not changed since the last time she left it. A large room with cream and gold nuances. Clean, fragrant, and neatly arranged, she knew her parents must have often visited or slept here, seen from the hairpin that Sovia left on the nightstand.

Athena sat on the edge of the bed, took off her shoes and hoodie, then lay down. She took out her phone, opened messages from Zara.

Zara: Are you here? Let me know soon.

Zara: I told Mia you were out of town. Don't worry, everything is safe.

Zara: Earlier, Julian came here, bringing a bouquet of flowers and chocolates. I said you were going out for a while, he wanted to wait but Auree called him, so he left immediately.

Athena sighed, the last sentence made her even more certain that no one saw her as the real Athena.

The girl's fingers began to type.

Athena: Don't tell anything about me.

Athena sent a photo of herself to Zara, then put the phone anywhere. She was silent, her eyes staring at the ceiling of the room with a small chandelier still hanging from the ceiling. The only spot she liked in this house.

She pondered for a long time, feeling that all this time her efforts to be a simple girl had ended in vain. Trapped in a circle of four senseless men, who took her like a toy.

"If they knew, who I really am... would they see me as Athena?"

And that time came—when everyone knew—she hoped that the people who sincerely wanted to be friends with her would not turn away.

Athena woke up, her hand feeling the small nightstand next to the bed, then stopped at the second drawer. She opened it slowly. Inside, a pile of old papers, childhood photos, and... a cream envelope whose color had faded. On it was written in a handwriting that she was very familiar with.

For Athena, if one day you come back.

– Your Daddy

Her heart was beating fast, she opened the envelope with trembling. Inside, there was a letter written in black ink, neat and full of emotion.

Athena, my cute little girl,

If you are reading this, it means you are old enough to face the world. Maybe you came back because you were tired, maybe because you wanted to remember, or maybe because you are finally willing to accept your true self.

Forgive me, for letting you go with wounds. I know, our world is too complicated. Wealth, family name, and all the things that you think do not make you who you really are. But, I am always proud of your choice.

No matter how far you run, I know you will find your way. When you are ready, stand with your head held high, not as Lennox-Stewart, but as an extraordinary woman who dares to love her life to the fullest.

I love you always.

– Daddy

Tears rolled down her cheeks. The letter was like a warm hug, as if her father understood that whatever path Athena chose—wealth or simplicity—all had their own advantages and disadvantages. As if the man knew everything, that nothing was perfect, but he assured her... that everything would be okay in time.

She hugged the letter to her chest, letting her longing and sadness mix together. For the first time, she felt that this house was truly the right place to run away from her chaotic thoughts.

Athena was about to put the letter back where it was, but her eyes accidentally saw an old wooden box in the corner of the deepest drawer.

"What is this? It doesn't seem to belong to me," she muttered as she slowly opened the box.

It was filled with family documents, old newspaper clippings, and... a small photo tucked between two old books.

That photo was the one that intrigued her the most. A portrait of a boy, his face serious, wearing a suit with a bow tie, his gaze sharp, but there was a familiar impression that reminded Athena of someone.

She turned the photo over, on the back it was written in ink that had begun to fade....

"Athena's future husband - the Lancester family."

Athena's world seemed to stop spinning. She sat, frozen, while looking at the photo with trembling.