Chapter 1: His Letter

ATHENA’S POV

My 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 intensity there, like he’s holding something back.Something important.

I catch my breath, waiting for whatever is coming next.

Without a word, he reaches into the pocket of his suit jacket. I freeze, knowing exactly what this moment is. This is it. The moment I’ve dreamed of for so long.

He pulls out a small velvet box, and for a split second, my breath stalls. I feel lightheaded, my pulse racing as I stare at the box in his hands.

“Athena,” he says, his voice quiet but full of meaning.

“From the moment I met you, I knew I had found someone special. Someone who could be my wife forever. You’re everything I never knew I needed, and more.”

I blink back tears, my heart swelling in my chest. His words echo in my ears, filling the space between us with something so pure, so real. I can feel the weight of the moment settling around me, the promise of something beautiful.

Callum opens the box, revealing a simple yet stunning diamond ring. The stone catches the light, sparkling as if it holds the reflection of our future together.

“Athena,” he says again, the weight of the question hanging between us.

“Will you marry me?”

The world stops for a moment. There’s no sound. No movement. Just us. Just the two of us, staring at each other, suspended in time.

My mouth goes dry, my heart racing faster, and without even having to think, the word comes out of my mouth.

“Yes,” I whisper, my voice shaky with emotion.

“Yes, Callum. A million times yes.”

His face lights up in a smile that could melt the coldest of hearts. He slides the ring onto my finger, and it fits perfectly—just like everything about us. The moment feels surreal. Like something from a dream, only better because it’s real. We kiss, soft and sweet, and in that kiss, I feel our better future.

Later, in the quiet of our hotel suite, we continue the magic of the evening. We make love, slow and tender, as though our bodies are reaffirming the promises we made with our words.

Each touch, each kiss feels like it’s sealing something sacred, something unbreakable. We fall asleep in each other’s arms, our bodies entwined, the soft rhythm of our breathing the only sound filling the room.

I wake up to the light of morning filtering through the curtains, a gentle glow that bathes the room in warmth. My eyes flutter open, and I stretch, feeling the comfortable weight of sleep still lingering in my muscles.

For a moment, I feel the familiar peace of being beside Callum. But then, my eyes snap open and I reach out instinctively—only to find that the space beside me is empty.

My heart skips a beat, confusion clouding my thoughts as I sit up quickly. The bed feels too cold, too large. I glance around the room, expecting to find him there, but there’s no sign of Callum.

“Callum?” I call out softly, my voice hoarse from sleep, but there’s no answer.

A strange flutter of panic stirs in my chest. Maybe he just stepped out for something? I try to tell myself that, try to push the rising unease back down. He could be in the bathroom, or maybe he had an early meeting. It’s possible.

I pull the covers off and swing my legs to the floor, standing up on shaky feet. I make my way to the bathroom door, which is slightly ajar.

I peek inside, but the bathroom is empty. No sign of him. My chest tightens a little, but I remind myself that he’s probably just gone to grab some coffee or check out of the hotel. He wouldn’t leave without telling me, would he?

I walk back into the room, glancing over to the desk where his things were last night. His suitcase is still there, but something feels... off. My eyes scan the room—his shoes, his jacket, his phone—they’re all gone.

My mind races as I step toward the nightstand, hoping to find a message or a note from him. Anything. But there’s nothing. Just the quiet, empty space around me.

I start to panic, my pulse quickening as my gaze darts around the room again. But then I see it.

A small, folded piece of paper resting on the nightstand.

I reach for it with trembling fingers, trying to steady myself. Maybe he left a note, explaining where he went. I take a deep breath, unfold it slowly, and start to read.

“I’m sorry, Athena. Goodbye.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My heart stops in my chest. I read the note again, my mind trying to process what it’s saying, but it’s the same. The words don’t change.

Goodbye.

I drop the paper, my breath caught in my throat. I blink hard, trying to clear the fog in my mind. This can’t be right. This can’t be happening. Callum can’t just leave me like this.