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The situation now seemed even more ludicrous.

Emmett had been prepared to sacrifice their entire bond for a deception, a preposterous and heartless falsehood. Athena found it impossible to excuse his actions, no matter how hard she tried.

She gazed at him, her expression icy, and found herself at a loss for words.

Without a backward glance, she embraced Eira, forcefully breaking free from Emmett's grasp and moving ahead. Emmett's eyes grew large, a frantic desire to pursue her welling up inside him, but then he was struck by a wave of queasiness. His abdomen cramped, sending sharp jolts of discomfort through his body.

"Athena... my belly is aching..."

His tone was feeble, barely audible, almost beseeching, anticipating that Athena would turn back, to tend to him as she once did. But she didn't.

With Eira firmly in her embrace, Athena pressed on without hesitation. She never looked behind her.