Athena

 

“Stop staring at the envelope and sign the papers, Athena.” Alex, pushes, his voice devoid of any warmth.

 

Tears well in my eyes.

 

My hopes are shattered.

 

I love this man so much.

 

“I… thought you were happy,” I whisper. “But I guess I was wrong.”

 

Alex runs a hand through his hair, frustration evident in his chiseled features. Standing at six foot two, with incredibly perfect features, and short blonde hair, he is effortlessly captivating.

 

He has always been the love of my life. Something about his eyes—so green yet so intense—makes me wonder if he’s even human.

 

“Let’s not do this, Athena. You know we had a deal. Leah is back, and her health is weak. I can’t afford to stress her. I need to marry her.” His words are clinical as if I’m just another obstacle to be dealt with.

 

“What about me?” My vision blurs with tears as my heart shatters.

 

“Yes, we had a deal, but… did I mean so little to you that you can discard me like this?”

 

His face hardens.

 

He’s angry.

 

“You don’t want to know the answer to that question. Trust me,” he says coldly. “Sign the fucking papers, and I’ll compensate you. Is it that hard?”

 

Yes! I want to scream.

 

It’s fucking hard because you’ll be ripping my heart in two. But because I’m a coward I shut up. Swallow the words and try to reduce the shaking of my hand.

 

Swallowing hard, I grab the pen with trembling fingers, hovering over the divorce papers.

 

I hesitate.

 

And then—his phone rings.

 

Alex curses under his breath before answering. “Mum.”

 

His expression shifts as he listens. Silence fills the room, thick and heavy. His jaw tightens, his fingers gripping the phone a little too hard.

 

Whatever she’s saying, he doesn’t like it.

 

But he doesn’t have a choice either.

 

“Okay.” He finally says, cutting the call.

 

Slowly, he turns back to me, those once-soft green eyes now hard and unreadable.

 

Who knew people could pretend for so long?

 

“Mum wants us at the gala dinner,” he says, his voice tight. “You can sign those papers later. Go get ready. I’ll send Noah to pick you up.”

 

“I don’t want to go,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

 

But before I can react, he moves—fast, like lightning. In a blur, I find myself pinned against the bed, my wrists trapped in his iron grip above my head.

 

My breathing turns labored as I stare into his eyes—cold, ruthless, unrecognizable.

 

But even as he pins me like this. My stupid heart won’t slow down. It burns for him and as I look into his eyes. I realize I still love him.

 

Pretty pathetic if you ask me.

 

“You will go.” His voice is low, threatening.

 

“Your job is to play the part of a pretty wife, and that is exactly what you’ll do. If Grandma or my parents even catch a single tear slipping down your face, I will make your life hell. Besides,”  He laughs, mockingly.

 

“Shouldn’t this excite you since you get to be my wife for one more day?”

 

Tears spill over, trailing hot down my cheeks.

 

“Are you doing this to me because of Leah?” My voice shakes. “Even if this is just a contract marriage, can’t you at least treat me with respect? I’m still your wife, Alex,”

 

He laughs. A hard, cruel laugh that cuts through me like a blade.

 

“Wife?” His grip loosens as he pushes away from me, looking at me like I disgust him. “Don’t tell me you took our little game seriously.”

 

I blink, my mind reeling.

 

“I needed a stand-in to keep my family off my back,” he continues, his voice laced with scorn. “You needed cash. A wife is not a word that suits you.” He tilts his head, a smirk curling his lips. “Try gold digger maybe.”

 

The word hits like a slap.

 

I never wanted any of his money. Is what I want to scream. I accepted because I wanted this. Is what I long to say. But instead,  my lips are heavy and my ability to speak is rendered useless.

 

I stare at him, stunned, the pain slicing through my chest like a serrated knife.

 

This is the same man who used to be gentle with me, who never once raised his voice or looked at me with anything but warmth.

 

I thought we were creating something real.

 

Now, all I see is anger.

 

“All this time… you never meant a single thing?” My voice wavers.

 

His expression darkens, eyes narrowing.

 

“You think I don’t know your little tricks?” He spits the words like venom, stepping closer. “You actually thought you could trap me? That you could matter to me?”

 

I flinch.

 

This is worse than anything I ever imagined.

 

Alex wasn’t just ending things.

 

He was making sure I walked away with nothing—not dignity, not pride, not even a sliver of hope.

 

“Don’t be late.” His voice booms as he walks out leaving me to stare at the door he just walked out of.