The file was brimming with chat logs, each one a ruthless provocation from Aliana toward Athena.
From biting words to explicit photos, the images and messages danced together, revealing the ugly truth behind Emmett’s supposed devotion, shattering Athena’s image of him.
What chilled Emmett to his core was the timeline, the messages stretched over a long period, each one a blatant flaunting of Aliana’s intentions, with Athena never responding.
If it had been him, subjected to such blatant taunting from another woman, jealousy, rage, and confrontation would have consumed him. But Athena, unfazed, had remained as still as a calm pond, her serenity unbroken by the storm brewing around her
Emmett thought he had masterfully hidden his deceit, walking a fine line between two women. But it turned out Athena had seen right through it all, quietly watching him play the fool!
Athena had, unbeknownst to him, quietly set her plans in motion, moving her parents” graves and taking all her belongings, vanishing from his sight completely.
The woman who had always been as gentle as a rabbit, who had once been open and transparent with him like an unmarked page, had slipped from his grasp entirely, turning his careful calculations into nothing more than a cruel joke.
It was all wrong.
Emmett clutched the stack of files, the pain in his chest sharp and relentless.
The empty graves stared back at him, two soulless eyes that seemed to pierce right through him.Ɛ
His mind raced back to the times when he’d visited those graves with Athena. He would always hold her close, wrapping her in his arms as the sorrowful girl clung to him, on the brink of breaking.
“Athena, you still have me. I’ll care for your father and mother, always, he had promised her.
Athena would smile faintly, that soft, forced smile, leaning into him as if she depended on him entirely.
But now, the people were gone. The graves were e
empty. There was nothing left but the hollow ache in his arms.
Emmett was suddenly gripped by a cold, tight panic. A deep premonition clawed at him, and he knew, this time, he might truly lose Athena
“No, Athena, you can’t run from me. You will always be mine!”
His voice was a low growl as he turned, storming out of the graveyard with a dark fury clouding his expression. He snapped an order to a subordinate who had arrived with the files, his voice like ice that made even the bravest shudder
“Where is Aliana? Find her, now!‘
The subordinate, pale and shaking like a leaf in the wind, quickly assured Emmett before hurrying to follow him out.
The grave keeper, hunched and too afraid to speak, was startled by a sudden chill. His spine went rigid as the cold gust swept through the air, and he instinctively pulled his coat tighter.
Only then did he dare to glance up. The once–clear winter sky had rapidly darkened, thick clouds swallowing the horizon.
Heavy rain was on its way to Maplewood City.
At that moment, Aliana had no inkling of the danger swiftly closing in on her.
Aliana had planned to meet her sisters, eager to celebrate her triumph in driving Athena away. But now, the sudden downpour trapped her at home, her plans slipping through her fingers as she continued her live broadcast.
Though Emmett’s behavior toward Athena had recently become erratic, Aliana had long been adept at manipulating situations. She had used her acting skills and the leverage of her pregnancy to trap Azrael, rendering him powerless against her
Now, with a sense of victory swelling within her, she knew the position of the young mistress of the Davidson family was all but assured. In a good mood, she sat before the camera, casually touching up her makeup, basking in the thrill of her perceived success.
Since her debut, Aliana had carefully crafted a persona of innocence and punty. The scandal surrounding her pregnancy checkup had bren nothing more than a freeting blip in the gossip columns, easily overshadowed by her charm.
With time, she had effortlessly won the public’s affection, securing her position as the darling of her fans. She had perfected the image of a beautiful first love, painting herself as the epitome of grace and tenderness.X
“Thank you, everyone, for your kind blessings and concern. I’m doing wonderfully now. Walking down the aisle with my first love is truly a dream come true. I wish all of you find the love you’ve been waiting for!”
