I never saw it coming. One day, the man I loved was just... gone. All I had left was a letter after he proposed to me. The next day, I found out he had married the billionaire's daughter. The pain of his betrayal was unbearable, but the unanswered questions were even worse. Why did he leave? What had I done wrong? A month later, he returns—not just as a widowed billionaire, but as my boss. I’m now his secretary, and he’s full of regret, begging for a second chance. He claims he made a mistake, that he wants me back. But soon, I learn the truth behind his sudden departure—the real reason he left me. And that truth? It cuts deeper than any betrayal could. Now, I have to decide: Will I forgive him, or will I make him regret leaving me forever?
View MoreThe days that followed my decision were anything but easy. Even though I had chosen to stay with Callum, to lean on the bond we had built over the years, the weight of my choice pressed down on me like an iron vice. I had rejected Daniel’s offer, but in some quiet, hidden corner of my heart, I still questioned whether I had made the right decision. I hadn’t fully embraced the idea of the future without his help, his promise of an escape from the suffocating reality I had been living in.But as I spent more time with Callum, as I saw the way he fought for us, fought for Ryan, I began to feel that flicker of hope grow a little brighter. Maybe we didn’t need Daniel. Maybe we just needed each other.Ryan’s condition was still precarious. Some days, he seemed like he was doing better, his color returning to his cheeks, his voice stronger when he spoke. But those moments were fleeting, like sunshine breaking through a storm, only to be swallowed by clouds once more.We had a good day here a
The days that followed my meeting with Daniel were some of the hardest I had ever faced. I couldn’t shake the weight of the decision that loomed over me, pressing down with increasing force. The tension between Callum and me was palpable, thicker than ever. He hadn’t asked about the meeting, not directly, but I knew he could tell something had changed. My silence was heavy, my distraction obvious. And still, I couldn't bring myself to tell him the truth.Ryan’s condition was worsening. Every day, there were moments when I thought the fight would be over, when I would watch him sleep and wonder if I was seeing him for the last time. And yet, in the same breath, I clung to the hope that we could make it through, that things could get better. But the uncertainty was suffocating. Every medication administered, every round of treatment, felt like a reminder that we were running out of time.I wasn’t sure what I was searching for. Maybe I was looking for a sign, something that would make th
The days that followed my conversation with Callum were a blur, but they weren’t a peaceful blur. Every moment felt like it was suspended in the tension of what could be, what might come, and the relentless weight of the choice that was looming over me. I could feel Daniel’s presence pressing in from the outside, waiting for me to make a decision, but I was trapped in this space between past and future, between trust and doubt.Ryan’s treatment continued, a rhythm I had grown all too familiar with. The sterile smell of the hospital, the beeping of monitors, the soft hum of nurses moving through the halls—it had become a part of my life, an unchanging backdrop to the turbulence of my emotions. I tried my best to be strong, to hold it all together for Callum, for Ryan, for myself, but there was a crack in my resolve, and it seemed like it was getting wider with each passing day.Callum’s worry was evident in his eyes every time he looked at me. His attempts to shield me from the weight
The days that followed Daniel’s unexpected call were a blur of conflicting emotions. Ryan’s treatment continued, and the routine of hospital visits, medication schedules, and sleepless nights persisted. But now, between the sterile walls of the hospital and the sterile walls of my mind, I couldn’t shake the unease that Daniel’s presence had stirred. His offer had been made in a seemingly harmless tone, yet something about it unsettled me.Callum and I fell into a strained silence, our once easy conversations now punctuated with awkward pauses and unspoken tension. He noticed my withdrawn demeanor, my distracted gaze, the way I’d stare off into space when he wasn’t looking. He could tell I was carrying something, a secret or a weight, but he didn’t press. It was as if he was giving me space to figure it out on my own, but I knew he was growing more and more concerned. The strain was evident in the way he would look at me, the edge in his voice when he spoke, but I didn’t know how to ex
As the days stretched into weeks, the rhythm of hospital visits, treatments, and restless nights became our new normal. There were moments of relief when Ryan showed signs of recovery, but just as quickly, there were those dark moments when we feared the worst. We spent our days waiting—waiting for tests, waiting for updates, waiting for the next treatment round. Each day was a fragile thread, and we clung to it, not knowing what the next one would bring.It was during one of these long, quiet evenings that Callum and I found ourselves standing outside the hospital, our faces bathed in the faint light of the setting sun. The world felt so distant, so out of reach, and yet, in that moment, we were still tethered to each other, even if we didn’t have words to say.“Do you ever think about what comes after?” Callum asked, breaking the silence. He didn’t look at me, but I could hear the question in his voice—the same uncertainty I’d been carrying with me since the moment Ryan had been dia
But in that moment, with Callum by my side and Ryan lying peacefully in front of us, I allowed myself to believe that we could face whatever came next. Together.The next morning, the whirlwind of medical appointments, phone calls, and endless forms began. It was almost like I was on autopilot—nodding along, signing papers, answering questions I didn’t fully understand. The pediatric oncologist arrived, a woman named Dr. Thompson, with a warm smile and a calm presence that somehow made the chaos feel less overwhelming. She explained in greater detail the specifics of Ryan’s chemotherapy regimen, the medications, the rounds of tests, and the side effects we’d need to prepare for. She outlined the schedule for the first round of treatment, which would begin the following week.I couldn’t quite bring myself to listen to all of it. I kept looking at Ryan, small and fragile in his hospital bed, his tiny fingers curled into a fist. His innocence seemed so out of place in the sterile, harsh
Dr. Patel’s eyes softened, her voice gentle but firm. “We start treatment immediately. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or ALL, is aggressive, but it's also one of the most treatable forms of childhood leukemia, especially with early intervention. We have options. The sooner we begin, the better his chances.”My mind struggled to process the words, each one a weight that sank deeper into my chest. Ryan. Leukemia. It was too much to take in all at once. I felt like I was drowning in the wave of panic that threatened to engulf me.Callum squeezed my hand, his voice steady. “What does treatment look like?”Dr. Patel nodded, glancing down at the chart in her hands before answering. “The first step is chemotherapy. We’ll start with an intensive induction phase, which will last about a month. During that time, Ryan will need to be monitored very closely. After that, there will be consolidation and maintenance phases, which will continue for the next two years.”Two years. The word echoed in my
Callum’s grip on my hand was firm yet hesitant, like he was afraid I’d pull away. But for the first time in a long time, I didn’t. We sat in silence, watching the steady rise and fall of Ryan’s chest as he drifted off to sleep. The beeping of the monitors was a steady, rhythmic reminder of just how fragile he was.I exhaled slowly, exhaustion pressing down on me like a heavy weight. My body ached, but my heart ached more.Callum’s thumb brushed against my palm absentmindedly. It sent a ripple of warmth up my arm, an old familiarity that both comforted and unsettled me.“Athena,” he murmured after a long pause.“I meant what I said earlier. I don’t know how to be what you need.”I turned to face him, searching his expression for deception, for walls, for the Callum who always pulled away before I could hold on. But all I saw was a man who looked just as lost as I felt.“Then learn,” I said softly. “Because I can’t keep doing this alone. And Ryan—” My voice broke. “Ryan needs you, wheth
Callum’s eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought he might actually say something real—something honest. Instead, he just clenched his jaw and looked away, hands shoved deep into his pockets. “That’s your choice,” he finally said, his tone clipped, almost robotic. I couldn’t help but scoff, shaking my head. “Right. My choice. Just like it was your choice to walk away when I needed you the most. Your choice to send that heartless message when Ryan was in the hospital. Your choice to keep pushing me away while I’m still standing here, trying to pick up the pieces.”His eyes flashed with something—regret, maybe? Anger? I couldn’t tell. But whatever it was, it faded as quickly as it appeared, replaced by the same cold mask he always wore these days.“You don’t understand, Athena,” he said, voice strained. “No, Callum, I think I understand perfectly,” I shot back. “You’re mad because I’m trying to move on. Because for once, I’m not just waiting around for you to decide whether you wan
ATHENA’S POVMy heart races, a mixture of excitement and nerves. The champagne I sipped earlier still tingles on my tongue, and the soft clink of silverware and the distant hum of conversations fade into the background. But none of that matters right now. All my attention is on Callum.He sits across from me, his expression tender but serious, as though he’s about to say something monumental. The soft candlelight flickers, creating shadows that seem to move in his eyes, and I feel a deep sense of peace wash over me.Everything feels so right in this moment."Are you nervous?" he asks, his voice soft, teasing even, as his fingers brush lightly over mine.A subtle touch, but it sends a wave of warmth through my chest.I smile, a little out of breath from how quickly my heart is beating so fast."No," I whisper, even though I can feel the excitement building inside me."I’m just... happy."He grins, his familiar smile spreading across his face. His eyes light up, though there’s an inten...
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