Dear Ex-wife Marry Me novel (Maja) novel Chapter 2194

Athena’s reaction was just as Tyler expected—like she’d been pricked by something sharp. She snapped her head up and glared at him, her eyes full of venom.

Tyler only shrugged, flipping through the contract in front of him. It didn’t take long to realize it was a complete farce—nothing but an unfair deal dressed up in legal jargon.

Athena stood, turning to leave, but Tyler called after her.

“Athena, I can’t figure out why that guy wants you in his bed. You’re like a plank of wood—who’d be interested in that?”

Athena’s steps faltered for a moment, but his words didn’t hit any raw nerve. She didn’t even bother to look back, just walked right out the door.

Left behind, Tyler sat in his chair, the corner of his mouth twisting into a bitter smirk. Insults aimed at her, she could shrug off without a care. But if the words were about Kerwin—that was another matter altogether.

How deep must her feelings have run, to still remember him after all these years? Even after his death, he lingered in her heart.

Over the next few days, it started to feel like Tyler was everywhere Athena went. Once or twice could be chalked up to coincidence, but the seventh or eighth time—there was no way it was accidental.

Tyler seemed to have returned to his old ways, charming and flirtatious in every social setting, always the center of laughter and conversation. Yet, even as he worked the room, Athena could feel his gaze flicking to her from the corner of his eye.

There was one difference, though. Unlike before, he was never surrounded by a crowd of adoring women anymore.

Athena was only at tonight’s dinner because her bit-part character had just wrapped filming. She’d always known her role was insignificant—gone before the fifth episode—but tonight’s gathering was to celebrate the lead actor’s birthday. Everyone was clustered around him, offering flattery and birthday wishes.

The lead, in turn, made a show of ingratiating himself with Tyler, though Tyler, for all his easygoing smiles, kept his distance, never quite letting anyone close.

Athena set down her wine glass, ready to slip away, when she overheard the lead actor, tipsy and rambling to someone nearby.

Athena helped the actor upstairs. Just as they reached the elevator, he suddenly pressed her against the mirrored wall, his words dripping with arrogance.

“I’ve noticed, you know. During filming, you were always sneaking glances at me. You’ve had a crush on me for a while, haven’t you? Listen, I’ve got a girlfriend, so let’s keep whatever happens tonight between us, okay? Don’t go telling her.”

As for the others who watched them leave together, this was the sort of industry where secrets stayed buried—no one would say a word to his girlfriend.

Athena caught the calculating look in his eyes, but she didn’t struggle. Instead, she pressed on with her questions.

“Was it your mom and your brother who left you behind back then?”

His expression twisted with irritation. “Yeah. She took her favorite son and disappeared as soon as the money hit her account—half a million dollars, just like that. But look at me now: I’m famous, I’ve made way more than half a million. And when my precious little brother got sick, she came crawling back, asking for money. Like hell I’d give her a dime. Better to let the brat die. She raised him to be selfish and entitled, anyway.”