The Bigshot's Superstar Wife - Chapter 27

Chapter 27: Secret Identity

When night fell, Athena felt the weight of exhaustion pulling her toward sleep. I suddenly feel extremely tired today…

She intended to rest early, but Mors had other plans. “Go ahead and sleep,” he told her, his voice steady and calm. “I need some fresh air.”

She nodded, trusting his words, and slipped under the blanket. The quiet hum of the evening lulled her into a light slumber. I can finally rest.

Yet, the peace didn’t last. Athena’s senses stirred as she caught the faint whir of a machine cutting through the stillness. Huh? The sound of a hovercar’s engine!

Her eyes remained shut, but instinct told her something was amiss. She reached out tentatively, her fingers brushing against the cold, empty spot where Mors should have been.

Her heart quickened. Wasn’t it stipulated that visitations during the filming are strictly prohibited? Why did someone land here? And even at night!

Then came the rustle of leaves outside, subtle but distinct. She strained her ears and caught the low cadence of Mors’ voice drifting through the night.

“Did you get the samples?” he asked, his tone authoritative and firm.

“Yes, Your Highness,” came the reply, clear and deferential. “The samples are already en route to the laboratory.”

Athena froze. Your Highness?

Alarm shot through her veins, and curiosity overpowered her hesitation. She slipped out of bed as quietly as possible, her movements fluid and deliberate. Who?

Is there a royal around? Years of training as an assassin made her an expert at vanishing into the shadows. Steeling herself, she crept toward the source of the voices.

Through a gap in the hut’s makeshift bamboo wall, she saw Mors standing in the moonlight, his tall frame exuding a regal presence she hadn’t seen before.

Surrounding him were three figures clad in dark, intricate uniforms. Their kneeling postures and bowed heads marked them as loyal subordinates. Athena’s breath hitched.

Royal shadow guards? The realization struck her like a thunderclap. Only members of the Andromeda Galaxy’s direct royal lineage had the right to such an address and entourage.

Yet, Mors Jericho was only the great-grandson of a Duke in Sinalta, an esteemed title, but far from royal. Why are they greeting him?

Her chest tightened as the implications settled in. He’s hiding something from me. He’s not who he claims to be.

Athena’s mind raced with possibilities, but she kept her emotions in check. Revealing herself now could jeopardize everything.

She stayed rooted in her spot, her sharp gaze locked on the man she thought she was beginning to understand. The man she had trusted.

The man who might be more dangerous than she ever imagined. Athena’s heart pounded as she strained to catch every word of the conversation.

“The samples we collected last time,” Mors began, his voice low yet carrying unmistakable authority, “were promising.”

“The potion managed to alter surface-level appearances for three days. But that’s not enough.”

“I need something more potent, something that changes not just the exterior, but also the essence and innate power of a person.”

One of the shadow guards, still kneeling, dared to respond. Is he talking about an experimental trial?

“Your Highness, we’ve secured rare ingredients from the northern territories. Some are said to enhance innate mental power, while others can manipulate core memories.”

“Good,” Mors said, his tone sharp and calculated. “Make sure to keep this operation discreet. The Andromeda Council must not suspect a thing. I don’t need their interference.”

Athena’s stomach twisted as she absorbed his words. Mental power? Altering someone’s core memories? She clenched her fists to suppress a shiver.

This wasn’t just about poisons or simple alchemy, Mors was dabbling in something far more dangerous, something that could fundamentally change a person’s identity.

One of the guards shifted uncomfortably before speaking. “Your Highness, if I may… Is it wise to proceed with these tests? The risks…”

Mors cut him off with a sharp glare. “I don’t need a lecture on risks. I’m well aware. What I need are results.”

“These experiments are crucial. Without them, my plans will fail, and the galaxy will remain under the control of those fools who believe their power is absolute.”

Athena’s breath caught in her throat. Plans? What plans?

Mors wasn’t just conducting rogue experiments, he had a larger scheme in motion. One that involved wielding power on a scale she couldn’t yet comprehend.

The second guard bowed his head further. “Yes, Your Highness. We will ensure everything is prepared by the time you return to the capital.”

“Good,” Mors replied, his voice laced with finality. “Dismissed.”

The shadow guards stood in unison, bowed once more, and disappeared into the darkness with an almost supernatural grace.

Mors remained, staring out into the night, his expression unreadable. Athena pressed her back against the bamboo wall, her mind racing.

He’s not just testing poisons. He’s experimenting with things that could rewrite someone’s existence.

Why?

For power?

Revenge?

As she slipped back to her room, careful not to make a sound, one thought kept echoing in her mind, Who exactly is Mors Jericho? And what role am I playing in his grand plan?

Athena lay perfectly still in bed, her eyes closed but her mind far from sleep. The events of the night had left her uneasy, her thoughts tangled with questions she couldn’t answer.

What is he hiding? The man she had come to trust, the one who had vowed to protect her, seemed to be keeping secrets, dangerous ones.

She barely heard the soft creak of the door as it slowly opened. The air around her shifted, a subtle change that told her Mors had entered the room.

Her heartbeat quickened, and she kept her breathing steady, pretending to be asleep.

Mors stepped closer, his movements deliberate, careful. Athena felt the weight of his presence beside the bed, the warmth radiating from his body.

He paused for a moment, as if sensing something was amiss, but then as if convinced she was still lost in slumber, he leaned forward.

The softest whisper of breath brushed against her skin as his lips gently pressed to her forehead.

Athena’s pulse raced at the sudden intimacy, the unexpected tenderness of the kiss. It was soft and fleeting, yet it carried a weight she couldn’t ignore.

She could feel his warm lips lingering there for a heartbeat longer than necessary, a sense of longing in the touch that didn’t match the man she had just observed.

This wasn’t the cold, calculating figure she had seen with his shadow guards, it was someone entirely different, someone closer, perhaps even… vulnerable.

But the kiss wasn’t just that.

It was a test.

Athena felt it.

His lips brushed against her skin with an almost imperceptible hesitation, as though he was checking if she was truly asleep and if she would react to him.