Chapter 30
She threw her arms around Emmett, her voice bubbling with excitement as she whispered, “Emmett, I know we’re meant to be together forever. Our lives were always supposed to be shared.”
At first, Emmett had only been focused on executing his plan, but when Athena spoke those words, something in him shifted. Unable to resist, he kissed her, a kiss that was soft, sweet, and filled with the warmth
of the moment.
Yet, beneath it all, there was a bitter trace in his heart, a reminder of the promise he had broken with Aliana. But he pushed it
away.
Once he inherited the family fortune, he would make it up to Aliana, he convinced
himself.
As Emmett and Athena‘ s relationship blossomed, everything seemed to fall into
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place with an almost surreal ease.
No matter what he asked, Athena was always there, anticipating his every need. Her voice, always soft and soothing, seemed to know just what to say. And before he could even voice his thoughts, Athena had already understood, always one step ahead.
They were frighteningly in sync, their connection so seamless that Emmett began to take it for granted, the presence of Athena always by his side. Sometimes, if it weren’t for Aliana reaching out, he might have forgotten she even existed.
After three years together, they were naturally engaged and soon married. They expected the wedding to unfold without a hitch, but when Aliana found out, chaos erupted.
In a frantic panic, Emmett felt cornered
and was forced to travel abroad to calm Aliana down. To his surprise, as soon as he returned, Aliana couldn’t wait any longer
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and acted decisively.
A strange feeling of irritation washed over Emmett, though he couldn’t quite place why. The unease simmered within him, but he buried it, pushing it down as best he
could.
Soon after, Aliana dropped a bombshell, and she became pregnant.
Emmett was torn between shock and delight, but when he saw the pregnancy report, his first thought wasn’t about Aliana. It was about Athena.
In all their intimate moments, Athena had often spoken of their future together, of children. The thought of it lingered an unspoken dream.
Azrael had been adamant. He and Athena
had to have a son, a child who would
secure the family fortune in the old man’s eyes. But now, despite not even being married, Aliana was the one carrying his
child.
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Emmett was torn, elated, yet consumed with guilt.
He stretched the wedding budget to its limit while juggling Aliana‘ s situation. He had thought about it long and hard, and though his conscience tugged at him, he remained resolute in his decision.
He would marry Athena, get her pregnant, and then tell her the truth. He would make sure she was well–compensated, lived her days in peace, and everything would settle in its proper place.
Even on the eve of the wedding, Emmett was certain his plan was flawless and that it was the best possible outcome for
everyone. But what he failed to see was Athena‘ s own truth, a truth that would shatter his plans.
With a bouquet in his hand, rushing toward their new life, a friend’s voice stopped him dead in his tracks. The
wedding, it turned out, had already been called off.
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“Impossible!” Emmett’s first reaction was pure disbelief, but as he stood in front of the wedding venue, reality hit him like a punch to the gut. It had already been claimed by Athena, and now, another couple was exchanging vows where he had once imagined his future with her.
He felt like a stranger in his own life. Desperately, he searched for Athena, but no matter where he looked, she was nowhere to be found. The nagging question echoed in his mind: When had she planned to leave? Why hadn’t he seen it coming?
Emmett was consumed with confusion, unable to shake the haunting thought of losing her.
It wasn’t until Athena was gone that Emmett realized just how deeply she had been woven into the fabric of his existence. Her absence left a gaping hole he hadn’t known could exist.
To make matters worse, he uncovered a cruel lie: Aliana‘ s pregnancy was nothing
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more than a manipulation. There had never been a child.
Despite the sting of betrayal, Emmett couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of relief. At least now, he could wait. Wait for Athena to come back, though deep down, he feared she never would.
After everything had unraveled, Emmett could no longer deny the truth; Athena had become irreplaceable in his heart. He had fallen for her, this kind, gentle soul, without even realizing it.
But now, he had lost her, and the weight of his foolishness was crushing.
Late at night, when he was alone with his thoughts, Emmett would reflect. Each time he drank, the absence of Athena’s presence hit him like a cold wave. She was no longer there, offering him a warm bowl of hangover soup, smiling as she took care of him. His world had grown silent, empty, with only the air as his company.
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“Athena…” he whispered, his voice thick. with regret. “I’ve loved you for so long…”
With a bitter laugh, he downed a bottle of alcohol, the words spilling out as though they could undo the damage.
But as he spoke, tears began to flow, unbidden and unstoppable.
It was too late. He knew it too well now; Athena was gone, and she would never hear those words. She would never know how deeply he had loved her, always in the warmth of summer.
【(End)】
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