Athena transferred the money to the agent without hesitation, forcing her emotions into submission as she braced herself for what was coming next. She would pack everything with precision, cleanly, and quietly while Emmett was away.

What she didn’t expect, though, was the person who awaited her as soon as she opened the door.

In that single, breathless moment when their eyes locked, Athena felt the intense urge to flee. But her gaze, almost against her will, dropped lower, landing on the woman standing in her home.

Aliana wore nothing but a green camisole, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders, droplets of water falling to the floor.

Aliana was the first to break the silence, casually running a hand through her damp hair as she flashed a smile. "Hello, I’m Aliana."

There wasn’t a hint of guilt for invading Athena’s space. If anything, the smug look on her face only deepened. "Your eyes... they look so much like mine."

In the past, before Athena had discovered the truth about Emmett, she would have snapped back, her pride too sharp to ignore such a provocation. But now, she simply smiled and nodded, her response calm and almost detached.

"They do look quite similar," Athena agreed, her voice steady.

Aliana raised an eyebrow, her expression one of mild disbelief as she studied Athena. She had sent message after message, each one filled with intimate photos of her and Emmett, taunting Athena with their closeness. Yet, not once had Athena replied.

What Aliana didn’t know was the countless nights Athena had spent drowning in heartache over those photos.

Through Aliana’s eyes, Emmett appeared so effortlessly charming that even candid shots seemed to belong in a high-fashion magazine. But Athena couldn’t shake the memory of how much Emmett had despised being photographed. In all their five years together, they had never once taken a photo together.

Lost in her thoughts, Athena was snapped back to reality when she saw Emmett stepping out of the room.

The moment his eyes landed on Athena, his face tightened as if he’d been caught.

“Athena, why are you back so suddenly?” Emmett hurried over, his grip on her hand firm as he stammered, “Don’t misunderstand. Aliana is the fiancée of one of my close friends. She’s filming nearby, and when their hot water system broke, she came here to freshen up.”

Aliana’s expression soured immediately. The flicker of resentment in her gaze was unmistakable as she glared at Athena.

Her gaze flickered between Emmett and Aliana before she finally spoke, her tone icy but polite. “I hear you’re about to marry soon. Congratulations, Miss Forbes.”

Athena, holding Emmett’s hand firmly, gave a smile that could have melted ice. “Since you two are old friends, I won’t question your relationship,” she said, her voice sugar-sweet. “But let’s do this: when Miss Forbes’s wedding arrives, I’ll gladly attend. And don’t worry, I’ll make sure to bring a very generous red envelope.”

As Athena spoke, she noticed the uncomfortable shift in Emmett’s expression; his face flushed with awkwardness, but she pretended not to notice. With a steady smile, she met both their gazes as if the tension was merely a breeze.

Aliana, of course, recognized the sarcasm immediately, but her smile only widened as though she didn’t mind a bit. “You’re more than welcome to attend,” she said with an almost gloating air. “My fiancé has gone all out. The wedding dress is being custom-designed, we’ve hired makeup artists from world-renowned brands, and because I love lily-of-the-valley, he’s even rented an entire farm to provide fresh blooms for the ceremony.”

Athena listened to Aliana’s sweet words, but all she felt was an emptiness deep inside her.

She had been the one who meticulously planned every detail of her own wedding. Emmett was always “busy,” a convenient excuse. And whenever Athena expressed frustration, he would soothe her with words that seemed perfect at the time.

“You’re the bride, Athena; everything should be about what you love. If you love it, I’ll love it too.”

But now, as the reality of the situation settled in, it became painfully clear. He wasn’t busy; he simply didn’t care.

“The exact date of the wedding hasn’t been set yet. He still has to deal with the woman his family insists on, but he promised that once that’s out of the way, he’ll marry me and make me the happiest bride.”

Athena couldn’t even muster the strength for a fake smile. She stood there, frozen, until Emmett finally noticed the change in her demeanor. His attention shifted, and he hurriedly cut off Aliana’s words.

“Don’t you have work soon? Shouldn’t you be leaving?”

Aliana’s expression shifted, a cold snort escaping her lips before she walked into the bathroom. As she passed by Athena, she didn’t miss the chance to mock.

“Don’t worry, Ms. Athena. Not everyone expresses love the same way. My fiancé, for instance, loves me so deeply that he’s willing to pour all his time and money into me.”

With that, Aliana stormed out, leaving the two of them in an uncomfortable silence.

Emmett, clearly flustered, reached for Athena’s hand and kissed it gently, his voice filled with urgency.

“Athena, let me explain…”

“There’s no need,” Athena interrupted, her voice calm yet distant.

“Everyone expresses love differently, I understand,” she continued, her eyes never leaving his. “I know you’re busy, so you don’t have time for me. But I also know…”

Athena’s words faltered as the weight of her emotions hit her. She paused, swallowing the pain, before finishing quietly, “I know you love me.”

‘Unfortunately, you just love her more.’

She didn’t voice the thought, though it gnawed at her insides. As her gaze lingered on Emmett’s face, tears slipped silently down her cheeks.

Seeing the tears, Emmett pulled her into his arms, the familiar gesture of comfort as he whispered soothingly.

“Once we’re married…”

A fleeting shadow crossed Emmett’s eyes. “Once we’re married, everything will get better.”

Will it really, Emmett?

The question echoed in Athena’s heart, though she kept it to herself. She’d given him so many chances, lived in the illusion he’d crafted for years.

But this time, she would no longer believe in his love.

The night before the wedding, the agent had sent all the documents electronically to Athena.

At that moment, Emmett held her from behind, his voice persistent as he teased about having a child together. He was insistent it had to be a boy.

When Athena saw the notification of foreign text flashing on the screen, Emmett furrowed his brow. “What’s this?”

Athena, with practiced calm, turned off the screen and casually replied, “A few foreign poems. I’m preparing my wedding vows for tomorrow.”

Emmett, hearing her words, relaxed at once, his grip tightening as he pulled her into his arms with a soft smile. “Wife, you really love me, don’t you?”

He lifted her gently, laying her on the bed, his eyes gleaming as he leaned over her. “From now on, you have to keep loving me like this, okay?”

Athena’s gaze lingered on him, and with a teasing smile, she asked, “What if I fall out of love?”

“You won’t,” he murmured, kissing her eyelids tenderly.

“Neither will I,” he added, his voice lowering. “Remember what we said before: whoever falls out of love first will be struck by lightning.”

Athena let out a soft laugh, the sound like music in the quiet room.

For the first time, she reached up and gently ruffled his hair, her touch tender. “Yes, struck by lightning.”

For some reason, Emmett felt a stirring unease, an instinctive sense that Athena had uncovered something, something he had hoped she wouldn’t.

But it didn’t matter, not anymore. He only had to endure a little longer.

Once they were married, Aliana’s baby arrived, and he could bring the child home and pass it off as his and Athena’s. After securing the Davidson family’s legacy, everything would fall into place. He could do whatever he wanted, no longer tethered to this charade.

Yet, in that moment, a strange pang of heartache tugged at him.

The silence stretched between them as they lay side by side, closer than ever yet worlds apart in their thoughts. Neither spoke, both wrapped in their own worlds, the weight of unspoken words pressing down on them.

Just as sleep threatened to take over, Emmett’s phone rang, the sound sharp in the stillness of the night. He hurriedly left, his footsteps echoing in the quiet.

In the dark, Athena’s eyes flickered open, her gaze following his retreating figure.

“Emmett, where are you going?” she asked.

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’ll 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.

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 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.

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 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?”

“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 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 tight.

“Don’t mess around,” he warned, pushing her back gently. “I’ll come to you after I’m done.”

But Aliana wasn’t ready to give up. She cried, pleading with him, her voice cracking with desperation. Then, without warning, she shed her outer garments, revealing the enticing lingerie beneath.

Caught in the storm of temptation, Emmett faltered, his resolve crumbling in the face of her allure.

What was meant to be a few hours turned into a night that nearly made him miss his 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 sense of it. Without thinking, he hung up and dialed Athena’s number.

But when the call went straight to voicemail, dread gripped him. The number that had always been within reach was now disconnected.