Chapter 26
She had often wondered if she’d ever cross paths with Emmett again, but she never expected it to happen so soon.
In the long, sterile hospital corridor, they stood, locked in a quiet, unspoken
moment. Their eyes met across the distance, and for what felt like an eternity, neither of them moved or spoke.
Three years had passed, yet the silence between them seemed heavier than ever, a chasm of unspoken words neither knew how to bridge.
The clarity in Athena’s eyes, sharp and resolute, contrasted with the quiet sorrow in Emmett’s gaze, a silent farewell that had lingered in the past three years, a time that had been marked by regret and struggle. He deserved this pain, he knew, but it didn’t make it any easier.
“Mommy… who is this uncle? He looks
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scary…”
Eira s innocent question shattered the thick silence, dragging Athena back to the present.
Quickly, Athena recovered, her voice softly murmuring, “Mommy doesn’t know this uncle.”
Emmett, still processing the shock, barely registered the words. This girl… was Athena‘ s daughter!
But she looked so young, no more than three, exactly the age when Athena had left.
Emmett‘ s heart raced with anticipation. Could it be that the miscarriage record was just a façade?
What if Athena had never miscarried, and this little girl was their daughter?
“Athena,” he breathed, his voice trembling with excitement, “you disappeared for three years to have our child!”
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He didn’t notice the bewildered look in Athena’s eyes before he surged forward, pulling her into his arms with an almost. desperate urgency. “I knew it; I knew your couldn’t stay away. You loved me too much to leave, didn’t you? You knew how much I missed you, and now you’ve come back!”
“No… Emmett, please, let go of me…”
Athena struggled, but her attempts were in vain.
Emmett‘ s desperation only grew stronger, his arms tightening as if he could hold onto her forever. No matter how Athena pushed or resisted, she couldn’t escape the intensity of his embrace.
Eira wedged between them, flushed red from being squeezed too tightly. At the same time, Athena, overwhelmed by the force of Emmett‘ s grip, felt the heat of frustration rising. She could only curse him silently in her mind.
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Chapter 26
Athena couldn‘ t understand what had gotten into him. Three years ago, he had acted as if she didn’t matter, using her as a mere stepping stone in his pursuit of happiness with Aliana, crushing her heart. without a second thought. Yet here he was now, his eager gaze betraying an excitement he could hardly contain.
But no matter what, there was one thing she couldn’t let stand: a
misunderstanding that had to be cleared
- up.
“Eira is not your daughter.”
With a swift motion, Athena grabbed Eira and stepped back, avoiding his embrace. She explained firmly, “She has nothing to do with you. Please don’t get the wrong idea.”
The “How is that even possible?!” Emmett‘ s hevoice cracked with disbelief. He couldn‘ t
fathom the idea that Athena could have a child with someone else. “When you were
young, your hair was just like hers. She
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looks so much like you!”
Athena, at a loss for how he could see any resemblance between them, took a deep breath before responding, her patience tested but unwavering. “If you don‘ t believe me, we can do a paternity test.”
She would rather endure a paternity test than allow the idea of any father–daughter bond between them to take root. Her words were resolute; this child was likely not his.
Emmett stared at Athena in disbelief, and suddenly, his eyes filled with tears.
“How could you have a child with someone else?”
“Turns out the one who betrayed first was you.”
The words struck Athena like a slap, and before she could even process his pain, her mind flashed back to three years ago.
With a mocking edge in her voice, she couldn’t hold back. “What about Aliana?
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Didn’t she have your child? That kid must be about three now, so why are you still trying to steal mine?”
“No!” Emmett’s panic surged, his voice trembling. “Aliana wasn‘ t pregnant. She lied to me!”
Athena’s heart skipped. She had never even considered the possibility that Aliana had never been pregnant.
