Troy And Athena (Forbidden Love Series Book 15)

Troy's parents looked on as Troy slowly took out Brandon's ring from her fingers and placed it into his pocket. His piercing and hypnotic gaze held her captive. She was powerless to do anything else. He placed the ring his mom gave him onto her finger. Athena couldn't do a thing, she was too dumbstruck by everything happening around her. She had just come here to make dinner for him and his family but instead she was getting engaged to him. She just couldn't believe it! 

"Athena placed this ring on Troy's finger, dear," said his mom, placing a ring into her hand. It was a plain band with an emerald studded in the center. Athena stared at it. Was this engagement for real? 

"Troy, hold out your hand. She's feeling shy," said his mom, looking too excited. Troy held out his hand, still holding onto her gaze. "C'mon Athena, " goaded his mom. Athena placed the ring onto his finger. His eyes sparkled as if promising her to make this as real as it should be,  promising her of a happily ever after! Strangely both rings fitted perfectly as if they had been made for them! Athena at last tore her eyes off from his and looked down at her finger. The ring sparkled but not more than his eyes did. The ring seemed to look like it was a symbol of love, like it was ready meant for her. Shs sighed. She had left one fake relationship to enter into another one. Couldn't she ever have a relationship which would be real? Couldn't she marry because of love? 

"Congratulations children, you both have made us the happiest parents alive, " gushed his mom. Athena came out of her trance and smiled at her. Since childhood, she had grown up without the love of her own parents, so she knew the importance of parents in one's life. She could never hurt anyone else's. It wasn't in her nature to create a scene and hurt someone. She stared at the engagement ring on her finger and wondered what Troy would have to say to this. His parents blessed them and congratulated them on being formally engaged in front of the family. 

Dinner was served and everyone walked towards the dining table. Troy helped his mom but his attention was fixed upon Athena. He had no idea why she hadn't made any fuss like he had expected her to make. She had meekly accepted everything and got engaged to him. She didn't even protest when he took away the engagement ring that Brandon had given her. Troy suddenly felt guilty for intruding into her life, forcing her to do things that she maybe didn't want to do, for taking advantage of her. But it was already done and unknowingly she had broken off her engagement with Brandon and had become his. He was so excited that he couldn't wait to talk to her. 

He watched her walking along with his dad, deep in conversation with him about her work. He was amazed at how in a single meeting, she had been able to impress his parents without even making any effort to do so. She was just her simple self. The dress that she wore was quite simple and nothing expensive yet she looked alluring in it. Her fresh, dewy face was without any makeup yet she looked so beautiful that he could kiss her senseless and yet not be satisfied, 

In fact, her eyes looked a little dazzled and she looked a little confused. It was quite natural to be. Anyone else would have created a scene or maybe tried to charm his parents to take advantage of the situation. His mom's friend, Jill Browning's daughter, Janette tried to extract gifts out of his mom every time she came. He was glad that their plans to get him married to that clingy bi*ch didn't work. 

They sat down to eat. Troy helped Athena to her seat. "Thank you," he whispered into her ear as he helped her. Athena didn't say a word to him. She was waiting for an opportunity to get him alone. She wanted to ask him why he lied to his parents, why he deceived them?

The meal was extremely delicious and his parents kept the conversation centered around his mom's accidental fall. "So Athena, when are you going to introduce us to your parents?" Asked Troy's dad. Athena's face paled at the question. It was the only reason why she had feared meeting new people. She didn't know how to explain to people that her parents were alive but they never bothered with her. To them she was an unwanted child whom they had abandoned nineteen years ago. 

She looked down at her plate, a constriction forming at her throat, choking her. Sweat accumulated on her forehead and the palms of her hand and the fork slipped away and clattered onto her plate. She looked up helplessly at Troy only to realize that he didn't know anything about her parents. 

"I .. I mean, my parents aren't there in my life anymore, " she mumbled out, looking at Troy's parents with  widened and panic-stricken eyes. Would they judge her like everyone did? She felt Troy's hand cover hers under the table. She loved the warm comfort and clasped his hand tightly as if her life depended on it. She was glad of the silent support.

"Oh honey! We're so sorry. We didn't know," said Troy's mom. "It must have been so painful for you to lose both of them. I'm sure they're watching you from heaven, dear," said Sally Wagner, feeling awful for the young girl.

Athena shook her head. She realized then what they might have concluded. "No no, my parents are alive. They just separated. They're not together anymore, " she told them.

"Oh that's alright. We could meet them separately if that's what you want, " said Troy's dad. Athena felt the tears prick  in her eyes. How could she describe her strange situation to others? 

"Actually I don't know where they are. They've abandoned me, dumping me at my granny's house when I was five. They haven't kept in touch or asked after me in the last nineteen years. My grandfather died after a few years and now it's just me and my granny. She's unwell. You have to come home to meet her," said Athena, forcing a fake smile out of her lips although her eyes had swelled up with tears. 

"Oh!" Gasped Troy's mom, feeling horrible for the young girl. 

"I'm sorry dear. I must meet your granny then. She should be an extraordinary woman to have raised you so well, right?" Asked Troy's dad with an infectious grin on his face, trying to cheer her up. Athena wiped her tears and smiled.

"Yes, that she is," she agreed, feeling relieved that they didn't pity her or judge her in any way. They discussed granny's health and finally dinner was over.

"Mom, dad, I think I'll drop Athena home. It's getting late. I'll come back tomorrow morning," said Troy, kissing his mom's cheek and hugging his dad. Athena's heart started beating faster and faster knowing that now she'd be alone with Troy finally. She would get to demand an explanation for what he had done today. 

After bidding goodbyes to his parents, Athena climbed into his Porsche, silently. He started his car and expertly maneuvered it out of the sprawling property. "Athena? Are you angry with me?" He asked her softly. Athena looked out of the window. 

"You shouldn't have lied to your parents, Troy, " she told him.

"I didn't have any idea that it would go this far. I just wanted to save myself from Janette and Meredith. They're mom's friend's daughters and if I didn't do something about it, she would have set me up with any one of them. Please look at me, Athena, " he begged her. Athena turned towards him.

"I thought you would protest and create a scene but you accepted everything. Why didn't you protest?" He asked her curiously. 

"I couldn't hurt your parents. They looked so happy thinking that their son was settling down. I don't have parents who love me Troy. I was a mistake in their lives, a mistake whom they abandoned and never looked back at. I know how important parents are in your life. I can't ever think of deceiving anyone's parents, " she told him. Troy was floored by her words. It was clear how pure her soul was. Her parents really were heartless and selfish that they brought a child into the world only to forget her. 

"Getting engaged to you wasn't a mistake, Athena. I wanted to be engaged to you. I wanted to marry you, " he told her. Steering away from the road, he parked the car in a deserted place near a park. "Will you go on a walk with me, please?" He pleaded with her, looking at her expectantly. 

Athena nodded and climbed down from the car. Troy caught her hand and led her towards the park. They went inside yet Troy didn't leave her hand. "This is real, Athena. You're mine now, you're engaged to me," he reminded her, his eyes shining with a raw emotion, a raw hunger that overwhelmed her senses.