Chapter 25
After Killian decided to hide me in Golden Reef like a dragon guarding his treasure it was time we returned to Spain
The moment we entered the country my security was tighter than usual but I knew the meeting between me and Xander was something inevitable and he would not hesitate to kill numerous servants to reach me.E
If it was just that I would have made more arrangements to prevent Xander from seeing me somehow yet the variable was Killian.X What happened yesterday was no joke, the men who trespassed Golden Reefs were bound and thrown in the tumultuous sea.
Whether they survived or not was unknown.”
Liv lax so that i
If Xander tried to take me away, no one would then be able to endure Killian’s wrath and thus I paved a way…made the security had a chance to avoid excessive bloodshed.
Somewhere in the garden, cicadas hummed lazily as Killian had left for a business meeting just for a few hours and I told him I would
I didn’t.
Instead, I stood barefoot on the cool grass of the garden, staring out at the citrus trees swaying in the breeze!
It was peaceful.
Too peaceful to be truw.
And then I felt it the sudden shift in the air making me tum &
There he was…standing at the edge of the garden path.
Xander Thome.
His eyes found mine but I didn’t move.
Not when he crossed the distance. Not when he dropped to his knees on the gravel. Not even when he whispered my name like a prayer that had long since been denied!
“Athena ”
I stayed still, my heart having no waves or emotions to spare to him anymore.
“i begged your staff acting like I was an old friend.” he said, voice cracking. “I begged your guards and t–they said your were waiting for me? Athena I was searching for you everywhere baby…I asked your pilot. I even bribed a priest
Athena…I didn’t come here to make excuses. I just needed to see you. Please…
My arms–remained at my sides.
“You shouldn’t be here.” My voice was quiet and cold.
“I know. I know I lost that right. But I didn’t know….God, I didn’t know.” He reached into his coat, pulling out a wrinkled folder. “I read everything. Your reports. The therapist’s notes. The hospital footage. What they did to you. What I let happen.”
I didn’t glance at the folder. I didn’t need to.
That pain wasn’t a secret anymore because it had turned into a scar and althought it was ugly and permanent it was still mine, something I wore with pride of how I survived.}
“You think reading about my pain gives you a claim to it?” I asked
He flinched.E
“No. No, Athen…please…I am not asking for forgiveness. I’m asking for a chance to suffer for what I did. I know you still have feelings for me baby…why else would you let your guards be so lax so that I can come in=”
“For you?” I smiled.
“You entered a lion’s den because I wanted you to…but not for you…for Killian. I know he doesn’t wants to show me his volatile side…doesn’t want me to fear him and he himself is afraid how would I look at him…so for him I met you Xander.”
Xander’s entire body trembled and he shivered like I had slapped him.
He bowed his head desperately.
A man once adored by the world now was at his lowest point.
“Y–You dont mean it! Right? You don’t mean those words Athena.
“I know I chose that wench hurting you.” he whispered, tears streming down his eyes.
“Every time. I chose her lies over your truth. I didn’t even look at you, I let you bleed alone and then accused you of thirsting for attention….but please don’t punish me like this…please Athena”
“You did accuse me.” I said, voice razor–sharp now. “You humiliated me when I was stripped naked. You dragged me out of your bed like I was filth. You stood silent when your so–called ‘angel‘ called me a whore, when she orchestrated my destruction, when I cried behind every locked door you never opened.”
He bowed his head like a condemned man.
“I would take it all back if I could…every cruel word, every time I looked away.“)
“But you can’t!” I snapped.
o that
you can see
He looked up, desperation pouring out of his eyes. “Then let me suffer as much as you did, a thousand times more so that I am repenting for my sins Athena K
10:05 AM c c
He looked up, desperation pouring out of his eyes. “Then let me suffer as much as you did, a thousand times more so that you can see that I am repenting for my sins Athena.
I will dedicate my life to you!”
I took a step forward making him look at me hopefully.
And I bent down not to touch him, but to look him in the eye.8
“You want to suffer for what you did?” I said calmly. “Then live knowing that the only woman who ever loved you now looks at you and feels nothing,”
10:05 AM
