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Emmett hesitated mid–stride, a brief flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Ultimately, he decided to deceive.
“There’s an urgent situation at the office that needs my attention,” he stated.
Athena’s eyes locked onto him, her voice quivering with a soft request. “Will you return?”
Emmett’s heart raced at the gravity of her inquiry. He forced a grin, the falsehood flowing easily. “Of course I’ll be back. Just wait for me, alright?”
Without further comment, he hastily exited the room, his quick footsteps resonating in the quiet.
Athena perched on the bed’s edge, time crawling by agonizingly. She remained there from midnight until 3 a.m., a growing void in her heart.
But Emmett never returned.
As the night progressed, Athena’s phone vibrated with more images from Aliana, each one a
painful reminder of her triumph
Undeterred, Athena rose, her movements calm as she gathered every token Emmett had ever presented her: correspondence, accessories, real estate papers, vehicle registrations, and even her personal identification. She transported them to the terrace, each item laden with recollections she was prepared to incinerate.
Gazing at the collection, Athena’s mouth quivered slightly, her eyes clouded with bewilderment and helpless anguish.
Her thoughts drifted to that summer five years prior, to the moment Emmett declared his affection for her, making a vow
that now seemed like a cruel jest.
“Born in early summer, die in early summer.”
A shared lifetime, bound by the warmth of their youth.
Now, Athena’s lips curved into a frosty smile as she ignited the lighter. She observed the flames dance, consuming everything in their path. With the fire, the promises of their youth turned to cinders, as delicate and fleeting as the love they once cherished.
The following morning, Athena stood at the airport, clutching the bundle of had prepared for her.
papers the agent
Her gaze was unwavering, the uncertainty of the past fading behind her. She was set to board the earliest international flight to Finland, abandoning the dream of England she had once held
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so dear.
She hadn’t contacted the makeup artists, nor had she collected her bridal gown. The irony wasn’t lost on her, everyone, including Emmett, still believed she was engrossed in preparations to become the most stunning bride.
Just before boarding, Athena’s phone chimed. It was Emmett.
“Athena, there’s still a problem at work. We might need to postpone the wedding a bit. Can you
wait for me?”
His voice was rushed, tinged with a hint of anxiety. Athena glanced at the message Aliana had sent just thirty minutes ago, a faint smile playing at her lips.
“Go ahead,” she replied, her voice gentle and surprisingly supportive. “I’ll wait for you.”
She paused before adding, “Oh, and the wedding present I got for you is at home. Don’t forget
to take it.”
“Yes, ma’am, wife!” Emmett responded with his usual enthusiasm, planting a kiss on the phone before quickly ending the call.
Athena, with deliberate composure, navigated through the online portal, cancelling her number with a few swift clicks. She took the SIM card, the final link connecting her to the life she had known, and disposed of it in the nearest waste bin.
With her luggage in hand, she took one last look at the airport before she departed, leaving behind the place she had called home for 28 years.
Meanwhile, Emmett found himself entangled in Aliana’s persuasive words.
The previous night, she had used
she attempted to close the the threat of self–harm to draw him back to her. And now, as
gap between them, he abruptly pushed her away.
“You’re okay now, I need to go.”
For some inexplicable reason, he felt a growing unease, as though something valuable was slipping from his grasp.
“You’re marrying her tomorrow. Can’t you make it up to me tonight?”
“Making it up to you is fine, Emmett replied. “But not tonight.”
Aliana felt a twinge of hurt, tugging at his sleeve. “The baby and I have waited so long for you. Can’t she wait just a little longer?”
As she spoke, she leaned in to kiss him, but Emmett turned his head sharply, his jaw clenched. “Don’t play games, he warned, gently pushing her back. “I’ll come to you after I’m done.
But Allana wasn’t ready to give up. She wept, begging him, her voice breaking with desperation.
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Then, without warning, she removed her outer garments, revealing the alluring lingerie. beneath.
Caught in a whirlwind of temptation, Emmett wavered, his resolve crumbling in the face of her charm.
What was meant to be a few hours turned into a night that nearly made him miss his own wedding.
Emmett awoke with a jolt, his heart pounding. He quickly composed himself and dialed Athena’s number, desperate to explain.
To his surprise, Athena didn’t reprimand him. Instead, she quietly assured him she would wait. Her calm response affected him more deeply than he’d anticipated, and with a surge 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 erupted through the phone.
“Damn it, Emmett! Where on earth are you?!”
His best friend yelled on the other end of the line, “The staff said the wedding was cancelled two weeks ago! What wedding are you even going to?!”
“No… that can’t be true!” Panic coursed through Emmett as he struggled to comprehend the situation. Without thinking, he hung up and dialed Athena’s number.
But when the call went straight to voicemail, dread seized him. The number that had always been within reach was now disconnected.
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