"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.