The seconds felt like hours as I stood frozen in the middle of the office, feeling as though every eye in the room was focused on me, watching the aftermath of my failure. The weight of the humiliation Callum had thrust upon me felt like a physical burden. My chest ached with a mixture of frustration, confusion, and disbelief. I could still hear his voice echoing in my ears, sharp and unforgiving, his words a bitter reminder of how far I’d fallen from grace in his eyes.I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear into him, confront him, demand an explanation for this sudden, brutal shift in his behavior. But I couldn’t. I stood there, paralyzed by the sting of his words and the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I wasn’t sure if I was angry at him for the way he treated me or at myself for letting it get to this point. The powerlessness I felt in that moment was suffocating.The office buzzed around me—people pretending not to notice, the hushed whispers lingering in the air. The l
The silence that hung in the office after Claire's departure felt suffocating, as if the weight of all my unanswered questions had filled the room, pressing down on my chest. I stared at the screen before me, my eyes unfocused. The numbers, the emails, the work—everything had lost meaning. Nothing seemed important in that moment except Callum, and the rift that had grown between us.I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when my phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. It was a message from Callum—an invitation to meet him in his office. My heart skipped a beat. He had never reached out like this since the incident in the elevator, since the words he had thrown at me that had cut so deeply. He had been so cold, so distant, almost as if he wanted me to disappear. But now, he wanted to meet? It didn’t make sense.The buzz of my phone was almost surreal, like a lifeline I wasn’t sure I wanted to grasp. But I had no choice. I couldn’t ignore this. I had to go.Standing up, I gathered my things
CALLUM'S POVThe glass shattered against the far wall, the sharp sound echoing through the vast emptiness of my bedroom. The amber liquid of my whiskey bled into the expensive carpet, but I barely registered it. My fists clenched at my sides, my chest heaving as I reached for another bottle, barely feeling the weight of it in my grasp.This was my prison.A grand, luxurious cage made of marble and lies, suffocating me with its emptiness. I could have anything—except the one thing that mattered. Athena.I squeezed my eyes shut, but the image of her haunted me. Her pained expression. The way she looked at me with betrayal, anger, and worst of all—disappointment. She didn’t understand. How could she? I had pushed her away, broken her heart with my silence, my cruel words, my distance. But it was the only way to keep her safe.My father-in-law, Emilia’s father, was a powerful man. Ruthless. Controlling. He had me in his grasp the moment I married his daughter. I had been young and foolish
ATHENA'S POVThe dimly lit bar was nearly empty, save for a few scattered patrons drowning their sorrows in liquor. I sat at the counter, a half-empty glass of whiskey in front of me, my fingers tracing the rim absentmindedly. My vision blurred as I fought back tears, but they refused to be contained. My life felt like it was spiraling out of control, and no amount of alcohol could numb the growing pain in my chest.I let out a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the bar counter. The doubts, the loneliness, the weight of it all bore down on me like an unbearable storm. I had thought marriage would bring me happiness, but instead, it had only shackled me to uncertainty. Franco's cold demeanor, his distant presence, the way he barely looked at me—it all stung deeper than I cared to admit.Just as I was about to take another sip of my drink, my phone vibrated on the counter. I glanced at the screen, my heart lurching at the sight of my mother's name."Mom?" I answered, my voice slightly s
The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitor beside Ryan’s bed. The little boy was finally sleeping peacefully, his tiny fingers still loosely curled around Callum’s hand. The tension in my body slowly eased as I watched his chest rise and fall steadily. He was okay. The worst had passed.I exhaled softly and turned to Callum. He sat beside Ryan’s bed, unmoving, his gaze fixed on my little brother as if ensuring he wouldn’t disappear the moment he looked away.“You don’t have to stay,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.Callum finally looked at me, his blue eyes filled with something unreadable. “I’m not leaving him.”Something about the quiet conviction in his voice made my heart clench. He wasn’t saying it just to comfort Ryan. He meant it.I swallowed, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. “You should at least get some rest.”Callum shook his head. “I’m fine.”I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders,
Days passed by, and life slowly returned to normal. I went back to my job, trying to focus on my tasks and push aside the lingering thoughts of Callum and that morning at the diner.As expected, Callum’s behavior changed the moment we stepped inside the company building. Gone was the gentle, almost tender man who stayed by Ryan’s side through the night. In his place was the cold, arrogant CEO everyone knew. He passed by my desk without so much as a glance, his jaw clenched, and his eyes focused straight ahead.I hated it. Hated how he could switch from being that caring man who watched over Ryan to this indifferent boss who treated me as if I were just another employee. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself that this was how it had to be. Callum had his reasons—reasons I couldn’t fully understand but knew were tied to the company, his reputation, and his father-in-law, the chairman, who would take everything from him at the slightest hint of weakness.But just because I knew why didn’t
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
“Maybe he's just messing with me,” I murmur under my breath, the words barely leaving my cracked voice.Even as I say it, I can tell how ridiculous it sounds. But the idea lingers in my mind—what if this is all just some kind of prank? What if he’s hiding somewhere, laughing at how worked up he’s got me?I try calling him, my hands unsteady as I press the phone to my ear. No response. I dial again. Silence. My stomach churns. I leave a message, my voice trembling with emotion. “Callum, please, where are you? Please just pick up. This isn’t funny anymore.”I end the call, struggling to catch my breath. My hands are clammy, and my mind is racing, filled with questions. If this is some twisted joke, why hasn’t he just texted me? Why hasn’t he called to let me know it’s all a prank, to calm me down? But there’s nothing. Just silence from the person who once meant everything to me.I can't just sit around and wait. I can't. I need answers.Without thinking, I grab my purse and storm out th
Days passed by, and life slowly returned to normal. I went back to my job, trying to focus on my tasks and push aside the lingering thoughts of Callum and that morning at the diner.As expected, Callum’s behavior changed the moment we stepped inside the company building. Gone was the gentle, almost tender man who stayed by Ryan’s side through the night. In his place was the cold, arrogant CEO everyone knew. He passed by my desk without so much as a glance, his jaw clenched, and his eyes focused straight ahead.I hated it. Hated how he could switch from being that caring man who watched over Ryan to this indifferent boss who treated me as if I were just another employee. I gritted my teeth, reminding myself that this was how it had to be. Callum had his reasons—reasons I couldn’t fully understand but knew were tied to the company, his reputation, and his father-in-law, the chairman, who would take everything from him at the slightest hint of weakness.But just because I knew why didn’t
The hospital room was quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the monitor beside Ryan’s bed. The little boy was finally sleeping peacefully, his tiny fingers still loosely curled around Callum’s hand. The tension in my body slowly eased as I watched his chest rise and fall steadily. He was okay. The worst had passed.I exhaled softly and turned to Callum. He sat beside Ryan’s bed, unmoving, his gaze fixed on my little brother as if ensuring he wouldn’t disappear the moment he looked away.“You don’t have to stay,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.Callum finally looked at me, his blue eyes filled with something unreadable. “I’m not leaving him.”Something about the quiet conviction in his voice made my heart clench. He wasn’t saying it just to comfort Ryan. He meant it.I swallowed, shifting uncomfortably in my seat. “You should at least get some rest.”Callum shook his head. “I’m fine.”I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Exhaustion weighed heavily on my shoulders,
ATHENA'S POVThe dimly lit bar was nearly empty, save for a few scattered patrons drowning their sorrows in liquor. I sat at the counter, a half-empty glass of whiskey in front of me, my fingers tracing the rim absentmindedly. My vision blurred as I fought back tears, but they refused to be contained. My life felt like it was spiraling out of control, and no amount of alcohol could numb the growing pain in my chest.I let out a shaky breath, gripping the edge of the bar counter. The doubts, the loneliness, the weight of it all bore down on me like an unbearable storm. I had thought marriage would bring me happiness, but instead, it had only shackled me to uncertainty. Franco's cold demeanor, his distant presence, the way he barely looked at me—it all stung deeper than I cared to admit.Just as I was about to take another sip of my drink, my phone vibrated on the counter. I glanced at the screen, my heart lurching at the sight of my mother's name."Mom?" I answered, my voice slightly s
CALLUM'S POVThe glass shattered against the far wall, the sharp sound echoing through the vast emptiness of my bedroom. The amber liquid of my whiskey bled into the expensive carpet, but I barely registered it. My fists clenched at my sides, my chest heaving as I reached for another bottle, barely feeling the weight of it in my grasp.This was my prison.A grand, luxurious cage made of marble and lies, suffocating me with its emptiness. I could have anything—except the one thing that mattered. Athena.I squeezed my eyes shut, but the image of her haunted me. Her pained expression. The way she looked at me with betrayal, anger, and worst of all—disappointment. She didn’t understand. How could she? I had pushed her away, broken her heart with my silence, my cruel words, my distance. But it was the only way to keep her safe.My father-in-law, Emilia’s father, was a powerful man. Ruthless. Controlling. He had me in his grasp the moment I married his daughter. I had been young and foolish
The silence that hung in the office after Claire's departure felt suffocating, as if the weight of all my unanswered questions had filled the room, pressing down on my chest. I stared at the screen before me, my eyes unfocused. The numbers, the emails, the work—everything had lost meaning. Nothing seemed important in that moment except Callum, and the rift that had grown between us.I wasn’t sure how much time had passed when my phone buzzed, breaking my thoughts. It was a message from Callum—an invitation to meet him in his office. My heart skipped a beat. He had never reached out like this since the incident in the elevator, since the words he had thrown at me that had cut so deeply. He had been so cold, so distant, almost as if he wanted me to disappear. But now, he wanted to meet? It didn’t make sense.The buzz of my phone was almost surreal, like a lifeline I wasn’t sure I wanted to grasp. But I had no choice. I couldn’t ignore this. I had to go.Standing up, I gathered my things
The seconds felt like hours as I stood frozen in the middle of the office, feeling as though every eye in the room was focused on me, watching the aftermath of my failure. The weight of the humiliation Callum had thrust upon me felt like a physical burden. My chest ached with a mixture of frustration, confusion, and disbelief. I could still hear his voice echoing in my ears, sharp and unforgiving, his words a bitter reminder of how far I’d fallen from grace in his eyes.I wanted to scream. I wanted to tear into him, confront him, demand an explanation for this sudden, brutal shift in his behavior. But I couldn’t. I stood there, paralyzed by the sting of his words and the tears that threatened to spill from my eyes. I wasn’t sure if I was angry at him for the way he treated me or at myself for letting it get to this point. The powerlessness I felt in that moment was suffocating.The office buzzed around me—people pretending not to notice, the hushed whispers lingering in the air. The l
The seconds stretched on, each one pulling me deeper into a spiral of confusion and uncertainty. Callum’s words echoed in my mind—I still love you—but they only seemed to make everything worse. The distance between us wasn’t just physical anymore; it was something heavier, something that weighed on my chest every time I tried to make sense of it all. I had no idea what to do with the emotions swirling inside me.Callum took another step closer, his presence overwhelming. I could feel his warmth, and my heart raced. But even that didn’t make things clearer. The closer he got, the more questions flooded my mind. I wanted to ask him everything—the reasons, the motivations, the why behind the cold distance he’d been keeping lately. If he didn’t want to lose me, why was he acting like this?Before I could gather the courage to voice the question that had been burning in me, I suddenly stepped back, breaking the silence."Callum," I said, my voice unsteady."Why have you been so distant? So
"What did you say?" Callum asked, his brow furrowing."I know you're just using Ryan to get close to Athena," Daniel accused.Callum's fists clenched, his body going rigid beside me. "You don’t get to question my intentions, Daniel. Where were you when Athena was falling apart, trying to hold her family together alone? When she needed someone to step up for Ryan? I was there. Not you."Daniel flinched but quickly recovered. "And what? You think that makes you the hero? That just because you showed up now, she owes you something?""I don’t want anything from her," Callum snapped. "But I won’t let you waltz in here pretending you’re the one she should trust—not when you've barely been around.""I was giving her time!" Daniel shot back, his voice rising. "Unlike you, I know when not to push."Callum's expression darkened. "And yet, here you are," he said coldly. "Showing up when she’s at her weakest, expecting what? Gratitude?" His gaze flickered to me. "Athena doesn’t need a man who wai
The sight of Ryan struggling to breathe sent a fresh wave of terror crashing over me. My heart pounded as I knelt beside him, my fingers trembling as I reached for his clammy hand."Ryan, stay with me, okay? Just hold on." My voice cracked, but I forced myself to stay steady for him.I heard my mother on the phone, her voice urgent, but all I could focus on was Ryan. His lips had turned a terrifying shade of blue, and each breath was labored, as if his lungs were failing him."Mom! He's getting worse!" My panic clawed at my throat. My mother turned to me, her face etched with worry as she tried to keep calm."The doctors are on their way," she assured me, but it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough until I saw Ryan safe, until I heard his voice again.Then, his body went still. Too still."Ryan? Ryan!" I shook him, my breath coming in gasps. "Please wake up! You can't do this to me, please!"I barely noticed Callum bursting into the room, his voice a blur in the background. He was