Athena gave him a faint, unreadable smile. Without any change in her expression, she signed her name on the immigration application form. She hoped, for Emmett’s sake, that this surprise would be enough to shatter whatever illusions he had about their future.
Afterward, she returned to Ravenloch.
She had already submitted the necessary materials to the agency and paid for expedited processing.
The agency’s response came swiftly, confirming that she could cancel her household registration in the U.S. They would arrange a new identity for her abroad, complete with permanent residency rights.
If she wished, the entire process could be completed within three days.
Three days; that would have been the date of their wedding.
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.