The Bigshot's Superstar Wife

Chapter 83: Almost

Athena’s fingers trembled slightly as she clutched the book in her hands, her heart pounding from the near disaster of being caught.

The moment the library door had creaked open, she had barely managed to put Mors’ diary back in its place, erase her fingerprints, and wipe the camera footage before throwing herself into the nearest chair, pretending to be lost in a random book.

But now, with Mors standing right in front of her, his sharp gaze analyzing her every movement, she felt the weight of suspicion pressing down on her.

He smirked, holding the book she had grabbed in a hurry, flipping it upside down as he studied the cover.

"You’re learning how to read words upside down? Interesting," he teased, amusement dancing in his dark eyes.

Athena forced a small chuckle, playing along. "Well, I have to keep myself sharp. Who knows when I’ll need to read something from a difficult angle?"

Mors leaned down, his face just inches from hers, the warmth of his breath ghosting over her skin. "Hmm, is that so?" His voice was soft, yet laced with something unreadable.

Athena swallowed hard, maintaining her composure. "Of course," she said, her fingers gripping the book a little too tightly.

For a moment, he said nothing. The silence stretched between them, thick with unspoken thoughts.

Then, just when Athena thought he might call her bluff, Mors straightened, his expression returning to its usual unreadable calm.

"Dinner is ready," he said, stepping back. "We should eat."

Athena nodded, relieved he didn’t press further. She placed the book down carefully, following him out of the library.

As they walked toward the dining hall, Athena couldn’t help but steal glances at Mors. He was acting normal, perhaps too normal.

But if he truly hadn’t changed, why was he so different in this life?

She had almost found the answer.

Almost.

A wedding, yes, that was something that had been on her mind since their accidental marriage, but to make it public, to turn their private union into something so... formal?

"That’s..." Athena trailed off, her mind racing. The implications of Mors’ words hit her all at once, and she had a hard time catching her breath.

The Demerin and Jericho families would never have seen this coming. The shock alone would be enough to stir the foundations of both houses.

"You’re shocked," Mors said, his voice surprisingly soft, as if he understood exactly what was going through her mind. He leaned forward slightly, his hands resting on the table.

"I know this is sudden. But I’ve thought about it a lot. I believe we should be open with everyone, Athena. Not just for us, but for the future."

Athena swallowed, trying to steady her nerves. She had always known that Mors was a man of action, a man who didn’t hesitate to make decisions when he saw fit.

But this? This was something else entirely. It wasn’t just a decision for the two of them, it was a declaration.

A commitment that would have rippling consequences for their families and their standing in the interstellar world.

"Public?" Athena repeated, her voice a whisper. "Mors, that’s... that’s going to surprise a lot of people."

Mors smiled, but there was no humor in it.

"I don’t mind that. In fact, I think it’s time. It’s time for us to make our relationship real. To stop hiding behind shadows. We’ve been through enough, don’t you think?"

Athena’s chest tightened, her mind whirling. She didn’t know how she felt about this, about Mors’ sudden desire to make their relationship public. Hiding behind shadows?

There was a part of her that wanted to agree, to take the plunge and embrace the future with him.

But another part of her, the part that had always been cautious, that had always looked before leaping, hesitated.

The Demerin family, her family, had always been private, cautious even. To have her marriage revealed so suddenly would send shockwaves through her household.

But then there was Mors, his calm, steady presence. His commitment. The depth of his words, as if he were offering her a piece of his soul with every sentence.