He Thought He Could Let Her Go, Until She Left

“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.