Chapter 19
Emmett’s joyful expression when he first learned of her pregnancy lingered in Aliana‘ s mind like a cruel mockery. She had believed that by threatening him with the child, he would surely spare her. There was always a way out, she had thought. Once she had a foothold,
We’d find a way
to bend Emmett to her will once more.
But Emmett‘ s reaction shattered her hopes. He stood unmoving, as cold and unyielding as stone. The absence of the tenderness she had expected left Aliana frozen with terror.
“Only Athena is worthy of carrying my child!” Emmett’s voice was icy, and his boot kicked her to the ground with brutal force.
Pain flared through Aliana’s body, but it was nothing compared to the weight of despair crashing down on her heart.
It was over. She realized, as the finality of
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his words hit her, that everything was lost.
“Take her to the hospital. I don’t want to see her, or the bastard child in her womb, again,” Emmett ordered, his tone devoid of warmth.
Aliana’s heart drowned in fear and regret. Desperate, she sobbed and pleaded for mercy, but Emmett, once tender and loving, remained unmoved, as distant as
ever.
It dawned on her that she had never truly understood Emmett. She had inflated her significance in his life, but to him, she was nothing more than a passing indulgence.
The subordinates, showing no mercy, dragged Aliana away. Her struggles and desperate pleas were ignored, and nothing she did could change her fate.
Emmett stood alone in the silence that
followed, an emptiness suddenly
blossoming in his chest. What had it all amounted to? Athena was gone, no longer
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by his side.
The live stream, still running, had hit an all–time high in viewership.
Emmett picked up the phone his subordinate had offered him, his face marked by sorrow and regret. He stared into the camera, his voice laden with genuine remorse.
“Athena, are you watching? I see my mistakes now. Please forgive me. Can you come back to me? I’ve looked deep into my heart, and I know it’s only you. Please, come back.”
He recorded the confession, ensuring it would be uploaded to video portals around the world.
He waited, holding onto the hope that one day Athena would see this, understand the depth of his feelings, and return to him.
Emmett’s public spectacle had done its job, and sure enough, Athena, halfway across the world, was forced to see the
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headlines.
She scrolled through the video, barely registering the misery Aliana was enduring. When Emmett’s confession flashed on the screen, all Athena felt was amusement.
Did he love her? Not really. It seemed more like he longed for what he couldn’t have. Now that the “prize” he coveted was out of his grasp, his heart was unwilling to accept the loss.
With a sigh, Athena shut off her phone and pulled her scarf tighter around her neck, hiding her expression. Her gaze followed Eira, skipping happily ahead of her.
The two had spent the day strolling through the town, letting the little one soak in the New Year‘ s joy.
Eira’s hands were full, clutching sugar paintings, window flowers, and lanterns, each new treasure adding to her wide–eyed wonder.
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Athena had meant to warn Eira that too much candy could lead to a toothache, but the moment the little one pouted, her heart melted. Even when they passed a stall selling peanut brittle and candied
hawthorns, Athena couldn’t bring herself to refuse her.
Eira ran ahead, her festive outfit bouncing with each joyful step. Athena watched her, her heart a mix of helplessness and affection.
In her focus on Eira‘ s frolic, Athena accidentally bumped into someone.
Quickly, she apologized, kneeling to gather the items that had scattered. Only then did she notice the elderly man, a red scarf wrapped around his neck, his face kind and gentle.
The old man smiled warmly, unruffled, and pulled a red envelope from his pocket.
“New Year‘ s greetings, wishing you good luck!”
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Athena couldn’t refuse, accepting the envelope and watching the man shuffle
away.
His slow pace reminded her of Azrael. She wondered how he was faring now.
Though she had left everything behind, the one person she missed most was her grandfather, who had always treated her like his own.
