On every anniversary, Emmett had showered her with thoughtful gifts, each one more unique than the last. He had even gone as far as designing a villa for their future, every detail tailored to her desires.
Two years ago, after a devastating car accident left her unconscious, Emmett stayed by Athena’s side through every agonizing second. Even when he risked severe blood loss himself, he insisted on donating blood to save her life.
Because he had said that his life belonged to her.
When Athena finally opened her eyes, the first thing she saw was Emmett’s swollen, tear-filled gaze, a mixture of relief and exhaustion etched into his face.
From that moment on, Athena had vowed never to let down the man who had given her his heart so completely.
But time had a cruel way of shifting promises, and the Emmett who had once declared his undying love now seemed like a shadow of that man, fading farther from where he once stood.
Watching his figure retreat down the hallway, Athena felt a hollow ache settle in her chest. Shaking off the lingering haze, she pulled out the IV needle with quiet determination and made her way to finalize her discharge papers.
The doctor handed her a prescription and reminded her to avoid intercourse in the near future. She needed to recover her body before thinking about having a child.
Athena nodded absentmindedly, her attention fixed on scrolling through flight options on her phone. Her finger hovered over the purchase button when a breaking news alert lit up her screen.
The headline redirected her to Aliana’s latest Instagram update, where a new post quickly caught her eye. It featured a photo of Aliana with a man, his face obscured, but his chiseled chest and the faint kiss marks on his neck were unmistakable.
[Here’s a little puppy who got so excited seeing my confession on TV that he came running over. Too bad someone’s camera-shy. Don’t worry, though, when our grand wedding arrives, you’ll all be amazed!]
Pinned beneath the post was a reply from an anonymous account. The image showed Aliana and the same man holding hands, her million-dollar engagement ring gleaming under the light.
The caption read, [Can’t wait to marry you.]
Athena felt a sharp ache pierce her chest, but she willed herself to stay composed. Suppressing the storm brewing within, she confirmed the flight details and clicked the purchase button without hesitation.