Athena was resting after the conversation with her parents. Her breathing is deep indication that she is fast asleep. The moon illuminated her delicate face accompanied with her smooth skin coming. But for a moment her peaceful face was covered with anxiety.
In her dream, she was in a very nice place. The field is full of flowers, butterflies, and the breeze is just soothing. The rays coming from the sunlight illuminated her surroundings.
Athena heard the laughter of children playing. She closed her eyes to feel the breeze but in a moment the calm breeze and the sunlight that lit her gone.
For a moment, she was at the end of a cliff, the cliff where her life ended. The goons that chasing her was there but they weren't moving, as if they are freeze.
She looked around her, but all of a sudden the surroundings are being swept-back by the wind and the settings are shifting from one place to another, the ground and her clothes were changing and things are flashing backwards. It was so fast that she could not follow the pace of the surroundings until...
"Well.. I don't know if I should tell you, but someone came to visit when you left. And they are saying that they are your real family. Sis.. does that mean you are adopted?"
Athena remembers those, those words that begins her nightmare.
"But don't worry, if that's true. I heard they'll be back tomorrow."
Athena's face shows her confusion in what is happening in her surroundings.
"You're the worse! You don't want me to be happy, to be with my parents!!"
"It's not like that, Athena. Listen for a moment.. "
At the same time the sound of something seemed to break rang up.
"Athena, they are your real parents. "
It was so vague but so vivid in Athena's memory.
"Cecil, let me in! I just want to talk to mom and dad."
"Just stop, Athena! You're just adopted! You have no right to stay here anymore! They don't want to talk to you anymore! So stop! Be thankful that you're still alive and did not die from my attempt to kill you from drowning!"
"W-what? I-It's you? You did that?"
"So what?"
The setting change again.
"From now on, you are Kierra Alzona. The heiress of Alzona Cuisine."
Now, Athena's more confuse, why does this scenes are playing in front of her?
"But, it's not right for us to make her the heiress just because she's the oldest. What about your another granddaughter, Annika?"
"And what do you want to happen?"
"She has to prove herself."
Athena noticed the change of her clothing.
"And now, besides my grandson, Raiden, who will manage my company, I would like to announce to you all the merging of the Sy Group of Company and Alzona Top Cuisine by marrying my grandson, Raiden, to the heiress of the Alzona Cuisine, Kierra Alzona. "
The surroundings once again changed and reveal a scene that Athena will never forget.
"If she wants to marry me, she have to prove herself first. She has to work in our company."
"But Raiden, she'll manage their restaurant, too!"
"That's what I want! If not, then let's stop this madness."
The surroundings changed and Athena found herself in a place she was so familiar with.
The kitchen that witness her hardship since she start to study cooking for many years from nothing so that she can prove that she is deserving.
Athena turned around not wanting to witness her poor old self and then, the situation changed. Sitting in front a desk facing Raiden that is standing still in front of her.
"You, finish all of that. If you do that well, I might accept you and agree to marry you."
And there was a series of changing back and forth from working in restaurant and Raiden's company.
' Enough .. That's enough! STOP!!!!' Athena's inaudible cry. Tears also began to drip down from her gray eyes that show her pain, anguish and hopelessness.
"Who ordered you to do that, is it our opponent company? Which of them? "
"Ma'am, I don't understand you. I'm just doing my job well."
"Admit it. Who ordered you to ruin our reputation? Answer me or else!"
"Ma'am, Have mercy! I'm the bread winner of our family and the only capable one!"
"What are-"
"What's that! How ruthless! Gosh! Is that the heiress of Alzona Cuisine?"
"What a bad attitude!"
"How disappointing! I will never eat here if ever she inherits it."
Athena legs weaken because of the pressure of seeing those memories of her despair and harsh past.
"Kierra, we have decided to change you as the heiress and let Annika inherits the restaurant because of the misunderstanding happened these past few days our investor are selling their shares and our sales plummets. You can still manage it or you can choose any position you have in mind."
"It's okay, it's for the better."
'Yeah, for the better of their future I never belong.' Athena snicker as she remember how stupid she is for believing in their lies.
"Kierra, can I ask you to please assist Annika first? I mean, she is at the peak of her career. She can't afford to be distract, I know you knew the pressure if she became the heiress."
My first breakdown.
"Kierra, I believe you are worth it, will you marry me?"
"Yes! Yes, of course!"
"But I hope we can keep it a secret, for.. only the two of us? Also, our family if you want? You know, I'm worried because when we're still engage your life is always in danger. What would happen if they knew that you are my wife already?"
A false happiness, pretend love.
"Abusive employer, also a promiscuous women"
"According to last news, the former heiress of Alzona family is involved in corrupted management and now involved in sleeping around with different men."
"What a whore! She already has the best and still look for a fake."
"How did the Alzona's raise her?"
"For the commentor above, remember? She was found just around four years ago?"
"I agree with the one above, if ever the Alzona's raise her. She won't be like that, just look at Annika Alzona."
"You're right! She's so far from Annika Alzona who was sensible and ladylike."
"Don't compare that bitch with my Goddess Annika. She's not on the same level."
'Stop! Please stop! Help me! Enough!"