Chapter 25After the tests were done, Calliope was told to wait in the lobby. She sat down and tried to stay calm, but her anxiety was building. Her fingers fumbled nervously, and her eyes darted around the room, unable to settle on anything. Every small sound or movement made her more uncomfortable, and she found it hard to keep still. The waiting felt endless, each minute stretching longer as she grew more unsettled.Until finally, the nurse called out, “Calliope Kostas?”Calliope’s heart leaped in her chest as she looked up, her eyes meeting the nurse’s with nervousness. She rose from her seat with her fingers fidgeting at the edge of her sleeve. The nurse gestured for her to follow and led her down a long, brightly lit corridor. The walls were lined with medical posters and the faint hum of air conditioning filled the space. Calliope’s footsteps echoed softly as she walked.The nurse who was a middle-aged woman with a kind smile, occasionally glanced back to ensure Calliope was k
Chapter 26“Calliope!” The sound of her name spoken with urgency, snapped Calliope out of her reverie. Her eyes flew open, and she realized it was already dark. Panic surged through her as she turned to see the source of the voice. There, in the dim light of the park, stood Mikhail, his face etched with worry and his tuxedo almost drenched in sweat.The sight of him made Calliope’s heart race, and she instinctively dropped from the bench, trying to conceal herself behind the shadows. She didn’t want to be seen by him, fearing that his discovery of her here would lead to misunderstandings. She imagined the judgment and questions that might follow—how would he perceive a married woman out alone, especially in the evening and not with her family?The thought of Mikhail thinking poorly of her, of the rumors and suspicions that might arise, was overwhelming. She felt an intense desire to remain hidden, to avoid the inevitable awkwardness and confrontation. Her mind raced with the potentia
Chapter 27After that night, the next three days became increasingly worrisome for Mikhail. Calliope retreated deep into herself, refusing to leave her room. The door remained locked that became a barrier between her and the rest of the world, including Mikhail. She refused to eat, despite his attempts to coax her with her 'favorite' meals, or so he thought. Trays of untouched food were left outside her door, only to be taken away hours later, still full. Every night, as the house fell silent, Mikhail could hear the faint, heartbreaking sound of her sobs. They were soft, muffled by the bed, but they carried a weight that pressed heavily on his heart. He felt helpless, unsure of how to reach her or what to say to pull her out of the darkness she had fallen into. And in every day that passed, his concern grew. His own sleepless nights were spent pacing while his mind raced with thoughts of how to help her. He replayed their conversations, their arguments, and even the smallest intera
Chapter 28"What do you want to talk about?" he asked, his tone carrying an edge of impatience.Olivia set her coffee cup down gently, the steam still rising from it as she met Mikhail’s intense gaze. Her eyes, usually so confident, were now filled with a humbled earnestness.“Mikhail,” she began softly, her voice steady despite the vulnerability in her eyes, “I know that my previous behavior must have seemed arrogant and out of place. I’ve come to realize that I need to make amends.”Mikhail leaned back in his chair, crossing one leg over the other and folding his arms with a skeptical expression. “Oh, you’ve come to realize that now? After everything that’s happened? You really think you can just walk back into our lives and act like nothing ever went wrong?”But her gaze remained steady, though her eyes glistened with unshed tears. “I understand how difficult this must be for you. I’m not asking for immediate forgiveness. I’m asking for a chance to prove that I can be there for you
Chapter 29Mikhail was taken aback by her response but quickly masked his surprise with a warm smile. “Great. Let’s make it a day to remember,” he said, though beneath his smile, a plan brewed. He hoped the change of scenery might give Calliope the chance to pull herself together before he confessed the truth and ended things with her. Their little boy catching the positive shift in the conversation, clapped his hands excitedly. “I want to go to the beach too!” he said, his face lighting up with enthusiasm.Mikhail ruffled the boy’s hair and gave a soft chuckle. “Of course, Hunter. We’ll all go together.”But as he stood there watching them, the pit of guilt inside him deepened. He wondered if this outing, this brief moment of happiness, would make his eventual confession even harder to bear. How would Calliope react? Would Hunter understand? And more importantly, could he really go through with it?For now, he shelved those thoughts, telling himself that a day away from this place m
Chapter 30The very next day, Mikhail knocked on Calliope's door, his voice muffled but clear enough. "We're leaving for the outing today," he called out.Calliope nodded to herself, knowing this would be the last time she’d answer that knock. She gathered her things quietly, packing them into a small weekender bag. She made sure not to take anything that wasn’t hers—the clothes, jewelry, and other luxuries Mikhail had given her. Those belonged to a life she never truly fit into. Where she was headed next, there’d be no need for such things. She stared at her nearly empty bag, surprised at how little she actually owned. It didn’t even fill the whole space, just a few simple belongings. As she stared longer, her thoughts drifted, becoming heavier. Is this really happening? Am I truly leaving?Her chest tightened at the thought. The realization that she might never see Hunter again hit her harder than she expected. And then there was Mikhail... Would he even miss me?Her mind raced w
Chapter 31Calliope’s face remained flushed, her heart still racing from the kiss. She couldn’t quite shake the warmth that lingered on her lips, her thoughts spinning as she tried to comprehend what had just happened. Mikhail had kissed her—not just a fleeting peck, but something deeper, more intimate. And now, despite the physical space between them, it felt like a barrier had been broken, leaving her vulnerable and unsure.“Mommy, I’m hungry! Let’s go eat!” Hunter’s cheerful voice broke the tense silence, and he tugged at her hand, completely oblivious to the emotional storm swirling inside her.She blinked, trying to refocus on the present moment. “O-Of course, sweetie,” she stammered, her voice shakier than usual as she smiled down at him. She glanced quickly at Mikhail, half-expecting him to return to his usual stoic demeanor. But instead, he smiled warmly, his gaze soft and lingering, as if the kiss had shifted something inside him too.“I’ll help you, Calliope,” Mikhail offere
Chapter 32Calliope sat on the bench, focusing on steadying her breath as her eyes traced the path of passing cars. The streetlights glowed warmly, blending with the soft shimmer of stars above. She allowed herself to get lost in the beauty of the night, trying to forget the pain in her chest and the weight on her mind.But just as she was beginning to find some peace, a shadow interrupted her view. An older man, with almost entirely gray hair and a worn-out coat, suddenly stood in front of her, blocking her sight. Calliope blinked, her brows furrowing in confusion. "Excuse me... sir?" she asked, her voice tentative as she tried to peer around him.The man didn’t move.Instead, he stepped to where she tried to look, his lips curving into a smug smile. "Cassiopeia," he drawled out, the name falling from his lips like poison. At the sound of her old ‘work’ name, Calliope’s heart froze while her breath catching in her throat. Her eyes snapped up to meet his, wide with shock and disbelief