The cab driver clearly didn't buy her story. As Athena prepared to get out, he kept on with his concerned advice.

"Listen, sweetheart, your boyfriend seems like a good guy. That car following us? Bet it's his, right? Even after a fight, he's worried about you riding home alone."

Athena glanced down the street and, sure enough, spotted Tyler's car parked a short distance away.

But she didn't go to him. Right now, her mind was consumed by a need to uncover the truth from all those years ago.

Back in her apartment, Athena immediately pulled out her phone, searching online for information about that actor-Adam. But all she could find was his name; any details about his family were vague at best.

With nowhere else to turn, she messaged a few old contacts from the tabloid circuit, hoping someone might have dug up more about Adam's background.

Despite all her years in showbiz, Athena had never really built up much of a network. She disliked socializing, and now, faced with this investigation, she found herself at a loss.

She sat on her couch, wired some money to those reporters, but the information that came back was frustratingly sparse. No one seemed to know how to reach Adam's mother or his younger brother.

Athena's anxiety grew. She finally had a few leads, but now she was stuck, unsure how to move forward.

She crossed to the window and peered out. Tyler's car was still parked below.

If it were Tyler, with his connections, he'd probably have the answer in no time.

She drew a deep breath, thoughts spinning, but in the end, her decision was made. She grabbed her keys and headed out.

Downstairs, she stopped in front of Tyler's car. He was in the driver's seat, lost in thought, but when he saw her, surprise flashed across his face.

Athena tapped on the window. Tyler rolled it down right away. "Tyler."


He opened his mouth, clearly expecting her to tell him to leave.

But Athena's gaze lingered on his face. She noticed a tiny mole had reappeared

at the tip of his nose-exactly where it used to be.

For some reason, her heart ached at the sight.

She'd barely noticed during their talk earlier that he'd gone and had the mole put back. Typical Tyler-always the player pretending to have turned

Lover

a new leaf Why bother with this charade?

s

Her emotions tangled, but she couldn't help but ask, "So, your mole is back again?"

Tyler stiffened, like a cat whose tail had just been stepped on.

"It's my face, isn't it? I can do what I want with it! If I want to put it back, I will. What's it got to do with you? What, you came down here to kid kick me out? Newsflash, you don't own this street-I can park wherever I want." s

He was halfway through his tirade when Athena suddenly leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to his lips.

It was as fleeting as a spring shower, but Tyler's pupils shrank as if struck by lightning. Every sharp word died in his throat.


A moment later, Athena walked around and slid into the passenger seat.

"You-"

"You-"

He stammered twice, lips trembling, utterly lost for words.

Athena buckled her seatbelt, leaned back, and said, "Let's not stay here. Take me home with you."

Tyler drove back in a daze,

half-convinced he was dreaming More than once he glanced over at the passenger seat, wondering if he was hallucinating from missing her so much. s

When they finally pulled up outside his house, he gripped the steering wheel in silence, making no move to get out.

Athena turned to him. "What kind of soup do you want tomorrow? I've learned a few new recipes lately."

That simple question hooked Tyler so completely, he forgot to breathe.

He didn't dare ask why Athena had suddenly changed her mind, or why she was

being kind again. He just followed her inside, his heart pounding.

In the bedroom, his hands moved with practiced ease, undressing her.


Athena didn't resist.

Tyler lost himself in her, clutching her as if afraid she'd vanish, kissing her over and over. He couldn't bear to let her go-not even as dawn broke through the window.

Chapter 2197

Athena was truly exhausted. More than once, she nearly drifted off to sleep, only to be jolted awake by what they were doing.

She gazed at Tyler, who was sprawled over her, his cheeks flushed with color and sweat streaming down his brow.

Tyler certainly kept

she really did prefer him with that little mole. If it disappeared, she

looked at her, his eyes

Damn it.

couldn't deny it she

had it put

pressing his lips to hers with a desperate hunger, as if he wanted

up early and make some soup, but after the way Tyler had kept her up half the night, she simply

the last rays of sunset were painting

and heard him on the

I had the mole restored. Mind your own business. So what if it's embarrassing? It's my life, not yours. And don't push me—I'm

when Tyler had the mole removed, everyone had asked him about

went and had the mole put back,

refused to say a word about it, except to snap at Bert, who knew the

egged him on, Tyler wouldn't have broken up with Athena so soon

Bert had the sense to try to talk

back together, but if she's just going to hurt you

a bit of a jerk, sure, but he had Tyler's

past, neither of them had exactly been upstanding

it matter? Whatever she wanted, he was willing to give

and Athena finally revealed her

face across the table. Even through her oversized T-shirt he could see the faint marks left on her skin from last

expression was calm,

Adam's mother and younger brother for me. Kerwin drowned trying to save his brother. When Adam was drunk, he let slip that five

gripped his fork,

was she still obsessing over

felt a wave of frustration rising, tempted to lash out, but he knew if he did, she might just walk

down at his glass of milk, misery churning

help you investigate everything that happened with Kerwin. But

"What terms?"

the rim of

he seemed to

minute ticked by

"Marry me."

she must have misheard.

"What?"

her disbelief plain.Chapter

speaking, he stood up, grabbed his suit jacket from the back of

seated at the dining table, unmoving. For once, she

the house,

he opened Bert's front door, he was greeted by clothes strewn all

mess aside and dropped onto

with a woman on the other side of the room, lost in a passionate embrace. When they noticed

"Tyler?"

in Bert's arms shrieked-clearly, she hadn't expected anyone to walk in at

a cigarette,

with a sigh and gently coaxed the

collect her clothes, head down,

nothing but a bath towel, Bert strode over and slumped down

me a heads-up before you drop by next time?" Tyler sat there, cigarette dangling from his fingers, looking utterly defeated. Bert frowned, puzzled. Weren't he and Athena back on good terms last

say it—


stubbed out his cigarette, his voice rough. "She only changed her attitude because she wants

juice, took a swig, and shrugged. "What's the point of digging into some guy's death after all these years? Even if she gets answers, nothing will change. The dead don't come back, That's why I don't get women sometimes. If a guy

before you know it."

to s

circle knew it—the men who lost their wives seemed to bounce back fast,

them never really moved

difference between men and

Years ago, his

to save

the baby, saying she wanted the child to stay with the man she loved-a

then, his

brother-in-law would raise that child with devotion after her passing. But within a year, the man had found someone new. The new woman hated the sight of the toddler so that precious ruit of love" became an eyesore. To please his new girlfriend, Bert's brother-in-law sent the child to live with the

are fickle, Bert thought. He was no


insisted on torturing

she just held on to Tyler, she

rest of her days. Instead, she insisted on digging into her first love's death,

it away and tossed it in

Chapter 2199

couldn't be bothered to ask any more

time playing video games, Tyler glancing at his

finally rang. Athena was calling. "The

all day, but at those words, he dropped his

sprawled out on the couch, raised his voice in

are you going? The food delivery's almost here, man. I can't eat

Athena

picking up a hint of

within half an

door, the familiar,

kitchen, apron tied around her

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