"Ms. Chancellor, are you sure you want to cancel the wedding? This venue took a year to secure. If you back out now, it’ll be at least another two years before you can book it again. Shouldn’t you speak with Mr. Davidson first?"

Athena Chancellor’s pale face betrayed her exhaustion, but her eyes were resolute. She gave a firm nod.

"There’s nothing to discuss. Cancel it."

The sharp pain in her lower abdomen surged as the anesthesia wore off, gripping her body with unrelenting intensity. Each word she spoke felt like a battle, her strength barely holding.

Yet, the moment she regained consciousness, her first action was clear. She reached for her phone and canceled the wedding, her decision unwavering despite the storm raging through her body.

After all, if she hadn’t canceled, the thought of two weddings with the same groom would have been nothing short of a farce.

The receptionist on the line hesitated but quickly processed Athena's request, adhering to the golden rule of customer first.

Within a minute, a text message confirming the cancellation appeared on her phone.

Staring at the message, a year of effort crumbled before her eyes. Yet, instead of heartbreak, Athena felt an unexpected sense of liberation, as though a weight she hadn’t realized she was carrying had been lifted.

"Please ensure this remains confidential. Don’t breathe a word of it to Emmett."

The staff assured her repeatedly, though their curiosity lingered. Just a month ago, on Athena’s birthday, Emmett Davidson made headlines by lighting up the skies of Ravenloch with fireworks. This grand display captivated social media.

At the time, everyone marveled at how Emmett and Athena, after five years together, still seemed wrapped in the warmth of love, the perfect couple in everyone’s eyes. How could things have spiraled so quickly, ending in the cancellation of their wedding just weeks later?

Athena hung up the phone, her fingers already reaching for a ticket, when the door to her hospital room creaked open, cutting through her thoughts.

Emmett had just returned from an international conference, his suit still creased from the long journey. Without a moment’s hesitation, he rushed to Athena and enveloped her in a tight embrace, his voice full of regret.

"Athena, I’m sorry. I’m late."

"How are you feeling? Does it still hurt? I was only gone for two days, and now you're in the hospital. What did the doctor say?"

Athena was held so tightly she had no chance to catch her breath. Just as she opened her mouth to respond, a faint, nearly undetectable scent filled the air.

It was the same scent she had once noticed on another woman.

Suddenly, a wave of nausea hit her, settling in her stomach like a stone.

Wasn’t it more likely that he had spent that so-called international conference in someone else’s bed?

The thought hit Athena like a punch to the gut, and in an instant, she broke free from Emmett’s embrace. Gripping the bed railing, she doubled over, dry heaving violently.

Emmett froze, a look of shock crossing his face before he rushed to her side. His beautiful eyes were filled with a mixture of concern and something darker, almost like excitement.

"Athena, could you be pregnant?"

Athena straightened up, carefully distancing herself from him.

"No, my stomach’s just been a little off lately."

"Really?"

Emmett’s voice dripped with disbelief, and just as he opened his mouth to press further, his phone rang.

The moment he saw the name on the screen, all his questions vanished, replaced by a faint smile that crept across his lips.

But instead of replying to the message, Emmett quickly powered off his phone and, like a clingy puppy, leaned in closer to Athena, completely abandoning his earlier concerns.

"Athena, I’ve already sent out all the wedding invitations. Soon, we’ll be married!"

"Let’s have a son first, okay? We’ll raise him right, and when he’s grown, I’ll retire early and spend every day with you."

Emmett spoke with such enthusiasm, oblivious to Athena’s pale face, as if everything were perfectly fine.

Meanwhile, the television broadcasted Aliana Forbes’s first interview since returning to the country.

Just half a month ago, Aliana had walked away from her thriving career in the Canadian film industry; her decision was firm and resolute as she chose to return home. Upon her arrival, she wasted no time in announcing her plans to marry.

In the interview, Aliana spoke with a sweetness that could melt hearts as she reminisced about her fiancé.

"We were each other’s first love. Time and distance came between us because we were so young and reckless back then. Still, I never imagined he’d show up in Canada, holding a bouquet of flowers, just to wish me a happy Valentine’s Day."

Her voice softened, brimming with emotion. "Maybe he’s watching this now, and if he is, I want him to know: no matter the years we’ve lost or the ones we still have, I love you, and I always will."

Aliana’s gaze lingered on the camera, her eyes shimmering with affection, as if she could see the man she adored through the lens, closing the gap between them.

The interview ended abruptly, and before Athena could fully process it, Emmett had already grabbed the remote and switched the channel with practiced ease.

"Hmm, it’s probably staged. People in showbiz love spinning fairy tales," he remarked, rubbing his nose in that familiar way. Tossing the remote onto the couch, he added with a smirk, "Who cares about their love story anyway? Ours is better, childhood sweethearts, a bond like no other, and destined to be together!"

Emmett probably didn’t even realize it, but Athena had long noticed his tell, a subtle nose rub he couldn’t seem to resist whenever a lie slipped past his lips.

She didn’t call him out on it. Instead, she sat in silence, her heart growing colder with each passing second.

A month ago, Emmett went on a business trip. What was his destination? Canada. The coincidence left a bitter taste she couldn’t shake.

And Aliana’s so-called first love, the man she hadn’t seen in five years, turned out to be none other than Athena’s fiancé, Emmett.

Emmett lingered by Athena’s side, enthusiastically discussing wedding plans. His words spilled out in an endless stream as if he couldn’t contain his excitement. To anyone watching, he seemed completely genuine.

It wasn’t until his phone buzzed with a call from work that he finally rose to leave. Leaning down, he pressed a lingering kiss to her cheek and said, "Athena, we’re going to be so happy."

Athena’s lips curved into a faint smile, a practiced gesture she’d perfected over the years.

She had once believed those words with all her heart.

For five years, they had shared a life that felt like a dream, traveling across mountains and oceans, weaving unforgettable memories in every corner of the world.

On every anniversary, Emmett had showered her with thoughtful gifts, each one more unique than the last. He had even gone as far as designing a villa for their future, every detail tailored to her desires.

Two years ago, after a devastating car accident left her unconscious, Emmett stayed by Athena’s side through every agonizing second. Even when he risked severe blood loss himself, he insisted on donating blood to save her life.

Because he had said that his life belonged to her.

When Athena finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Emmett’s swollen, tear-filled gaze, a mixture of relief and exhaustion etched into his face.

From that moment on, Athena had vowed never to let down the man who had given her his heart so completely.

But time had a cruel way of shifting promises, and the Emmett who had once declared his undying love now seemed like a shadow of that man, fading farther from where he once stood.

Watching his figure retreat down the hallway, Athena felt a hollow ache settle in her chest. Shaking off the lingering haze, she pulled out the IV needle with quiet determination and made her way to finalize her discharge papers.

The doctor handed her a prescription and reminded her to avoid intercourse in the near future. She needed to recover her body before thinking about having a child.

Athena nodded absentmindedly, her attention fixed on scrolling through flight options on her phone. Her finger hovered over the purchase button when a breaking news alert lit up her screen.

The headline redirected her to Aliana’s latest Instagram update, where a new post quickly caught her eye. It featured a photo of Aliana with a man, his face obscured, but his chiseled chest and the faint kiss marks on his neck were unmistakable.

[Here’s a little puppy who got so excited seeing my confession on TV that he came running over. Too bad someone’s camera-shy. Don’t worry, though, when our grand wedding arrives, you’ll all be amazed!]

Pinned beneath the post was a reply from an anonymous account. The image showed Aliana and the same man holding hands, her million-dollar engagement ring gleaming under the light.

The caption read, [Can’t wait to marry you.]

Athena felt a sharp ache pierce her chest, but she willed herself to stay composed. Suppressing the storm brewing within, she confirmed the flight details and clicked the purchase button without hesitation.

With that task completed, one final matter of importance remained.

Hailing a cab, Athena made her way to the Davidson family cemetery.

Her parents had once been devoted servants of the Davidson household. Over a decade ago, in a tragic turn of events, they had sacrificed their lives to save Emmett from drowning. Their loyalty had moved Azrael Davidson deeply, leading him to honor them with a place in the family cemetery and ensure that their orphaned daughter was raised with the utmost care.

Athena placed a bouquet of chrysanthemums gently before the tombstone, her trembling fingers brushing the petals as if seeking comfort.

“Mom, Dad, you always said Emmett was a good boy, the only one in the Davidson family who would protect me,” she murmured, her voice cracking. “But why… why was it him who hurt me the most?”

“He said he loved me more than anyone else. Then why did he betray me?”

“Mom, Dad, I have nothing left now.”

The floodgates of her sorrow opened, and Athena broke down, her sobs echoing in the stillness of the cemetery.

Her mind drifted to the days after her parents' death, a time when despair had consumed her. Night after night, she had cried herself to sleep, her small body ravaged by relentless fevers that no one could ease.

Emmett, torn by guilt and anguish, stayed by Athena’s bedside every night, his words heavy with remorse.

“I’m sorry, Athena… It’s all my fault,” he whispered, his voice thick with sorrow.

“Athena, please get better. You’re all the family they left behind.”

“I’ll protect you from now on, okay? You’re my family now.”

“My life belongs to you.”

From that moment, Emmett took on the role of her protector, her older brother, and she let herself believe him.

Then, in the warmth of early summer after graduation, he held her hand, making a promise to give her a beautiful future.

At first, Athena believed him completely. She trusted him with all her heart.

But as time passed, something in Emmett began to change.

The first hint of doubt crept into her mind the day she tried on her wedding dress.

In the car, Emmett refused countless phone calls before eventually powering off his phone completely.

Embarrassed, he tried to brush it off. “It’s just my assistant, Athena. She’s been pestering me about the smallest things. I’ll give her a piece of my mind when we get back!”

Ever gentle, Athena reassured him with a soft smile before heading off to try on the wedding dress.

A year ago, Emmett spared no expense in custom-making the dress abroad. When Athena slipped it on, she looked every bit the image of purity and grace. But when she stepped out of the fitting room, Emmett wasn’t there.

The room had been reserved just for them, leaving the space eerily empty. When she couldn’t reach him, Athena wandered the building, confusion building with every step, until she rounded a corner and froze.

Not far off, Emmett was holding another woman’s hand, his voice pleading, his tone submissive. The woman seemed emotional, brushing off his attempts to hold her.

But Emmett didn’t relent; he pulled her into his arms and leaned in for a kiss. In the dim corner of the bridal shop, the two were consumed by their passion, oblivious to the world around them.

Athena watched in stunned silence as though the very earth had been ripped from beneath her. It felt as though she had been thrown into the flames, her heart burning with a pain so fierce it was unbearable.

The man who had once promised to love her more than life itself was the one who had torn her apart.

Athena pressed a hand to her chest, her breath coming in gasps as tears blurred her vision, flooding down her cheeks.

By the time Emmett returned, Athena had collected herself. He didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. Seeing her standing there, so stunning, he was moved, walking over to wrap her tightly in his arms.

“Athena, you look breathtaking.”

Emmett buried his face in her shoulder, his lips grazing her earlobe, his voice a soft, seductive whisper. “My Athena is the most beautiful bride. I just want to make you mine, right here, right now.”

As Athena gazed at their reflection in the mirror, her heart sank. The sorrow in her eyes mirrored the emptiness she felt inside.