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.