Chapter 9
Emmett paused mid–step, his expression momentarily betraying a flicker of
hesitation. But in the end, he chose to lie.
“There’s an urgent matter at work, and I need to handle it.”
Athena‘ s gaze fixed on him, and her voice trembled with a quiet plea. “Will you come back?”
Emmett’s heart skipped a beat at the weight of her question. He forced a smile, the lie slipping off his tongue. “I‘ 11 definitely come back. Wait for me, okay?”
Without another word, he rushed out of the room, his hurried steps echoing in the silence.
Athena sat on the edge of the bed, the minutes dragging on like hours. She waited from midnight until 3 a.m. with the same emptiness swelling in her chest.
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But Emmett didn’t come home.
As the night wore on, Athena’s phone. buzzed with more photos from Aliana, pictures that felt like daggers, flaunting her victory.
Unshaken, Athena stood, her movements. steady as she collected every memento Emmett had ever given her: letters, jewelry, property deeds, car titles, and even her own identification documents. She carried them to the balcony, each piece heavy with memories she was ready to burn.
Staring at the pile, Athena‘ s lips trembled ever so slightly, her eyes clouded with confusion and helpless sorrow.
Her mind drifted back to that summer five years ago, to the moment Emmett
confessed his love to her, making her a promise that now felt like a cruel joke.
“Born in early summer, die in early
summer.
A lifetime together, bound by the warmth
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Chapter 9
of their youth.
But now, Athena‘ s lips curled into a cold. smile as she lit the lighter. She watched as the flames danced, consuming everything in their path. With the fire, the promises of their youth turned to ash, as fragile and fleeting as the love they once shared.
The next morning, Athena stood at the airport, clutching the stack of documents the agent had prepared for her.
Her gaze was steady, the uncertainty of the past fading behind her. She was ready to board the earliest international flight to Finland, leaving behind the dream of England she had once held so tightly.
She hadn’t bothered to contact the makeup team, nor had she picked up her wedding dress. The irony wasn‘ t lost on her; everyone, including Emmett, still believed she was consumed by
preparations to become the most beautiful bride.
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Just before boarding, Athena‘ s phone rang. It was Emmett.
“Athena, there’s still an issue at work. The wedding might need to be postponed a little. Can you wait for me?”
His voice was hurried, tinged with an edge of nervousness. Athena glanced at the message Aliana had sent just half an hour ago, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
“Go ahead,” she replied, her voice soft and surprisingly encouraging. “I’ll wait for you.
She paused before adding, “Oh, by the way, the wedding gift I got for you is at home. Don’t forget to take it.”
“Yes, ma‘ am, wife!” Emmett replied with his usual cheer, planting a kiss on the phone before quickly ending the call.
Athena, with deliberate calm, navigated through the online portal, cancelling her number with a few swift clicks. She took
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the SIM card, the final thread connecting
her to the life she had known, and tossed it into the nearest trash bin.
With her suitcase in hand, she took one
last look at the airport before she walked away, leaving behind the place she had called home for 28 years.
At the same time, Emmett found himself tangled in a web of coaxing words from
Aliana.
The night before, she had used the threat of suicide to pull him back into her orbit. And now, as she tried to close the distance between them, he abruptly pushed her
away.
“You‘ re fine now. I need to leave.”
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a growing discomfort, as though something precious was slipping away from his grasp.
“You‘ re marrying her tomorrow. Can’t you make it up to me tonight?”
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Chapter 9
adre Making it up to you is fine,” Emmett
replied. “But not tonight.”
Aliana felt a pang of hurt, tugging at his sleeve. “The baby and I have waited so gong for you. Can‘ t she wait just a little
anger?”
irs.
As she spoke, she leaned in to kiss him, but fettimmett turned his head sharply, his jaw axinght.
Don’t mess around,” he warned, haduashing her back gently. “I’ll come to backin after I’m done.”
to close
ruptly
t Aliana wasn‘ t ready to give up. She ed, pleading with him, her voice racking with desperation. Then, without need turning, she shed her outer garments,
realing the enticing lingerie beneath.
e reason
as thoug ught in the storm of temptation, Emmett away tered, his resolve crumbling in the face
her allure.
er tom
tonight at was meant to be a few hours turned
o a night that nearly made him miss his
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own wedding?
Emmett awoke with a start, his heart
racing. He quickly pulled himself together and dialed Athena‘ s number, desperate to explain.
To his surprise, Athena didn’t scold him. Instead, she quietly assured him she would. wait. Her calm response struck him deeper than he’d expected, and with a rush of gratitude, Emmett hurried toward the wedding venue.
But fate had other plans. Before he could even get halfway there, his best friend‘ s frantic voice exploded through the phone.
“Damn it, Emmett! Where the hell are you?!”
His best friend screamed on the other end of the line, “The staff said the wedding was canceled two weeks ago! What wedding are you even going to?!”
“No… that can’t be true!” Panic surged through Emmett as he scrambled to make
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sense of it. Without thinking, he hung up and dialed Athena‘ s number.
But when the call went straight to
harvoicemail, dread gripped him. The number that had always been within reach was now disconnected.
dn
ed him
