Debating on a sequel. I'm not a sequel lover but the attachment I have to these characters...ALSO If you haven't already, check out my book THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US. Thank you. Happy reading!

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"Listen to this. Athena Solana and Tobias Landon's wedding is hauling at us. Want to watch the wedding that cost three million? View it on CBS, ABC, and Fox to see the couple tie the knot." I read the article.

"She's gone bridezilla." Lotus hid behind the desk.

"No, I have not." I huffed. "Three days, Lo. Three days until I get married. It feels like someone has injected crack into my veins. Like I feel jittery. Side note, your office is well decorated."

"Thank you and don't babe. I'll be by your side okay!" Lotus frowned.

"I'm just freaking out. Everyone will be watching us get married. I wish we could just sneak off to a courthouse and get married. It would be so amazing, just us. This whole wedding was a gimmick. I don't want to feel gimmicky when I'm marrying the loml."

"Loml?"

"Love of my life."

I plopped down on his couch.

"I'm still upset that you didn't want to be a bridesmaid." I crossed my arms.

"I want to, but who else will make sure your every need is met? I want you to have the most stress-free wedding."

"Thank you. Okay so. The rehearsal dinner is tonight and I just want to give you a heads up."

"About?" Lotus questioned.

"Kaleb will be there."

"Well great." He sighed. "But for you. I'll be on my best behavior."

"Thank you, Lo."

"Who's singing at the wedding?"

"Bailey Elease."

"I could've guessed that. It would be cool if we did like a deal with her. Like she wears the clothes and promotes it."

"That's a great idea." I smiled.

"Thank you." He flipped his invisible hair.

"Athena." Bia folded her arms.

"Hi my love, what's up?" I questioned.

"Your dad is here."

"What?"

"Yeah."

"Did you see him?" I stood up.

"Yeah, but he didn't see me."

I sighed. "I can't even kick him out because it's his building. I'll be back."

I walked towards the lobby. He stood staring at pictures of the fashion show. He stumbled across the large portrait of me. I saw him smile.

"Daddy?"

"Hi, ladybug."

"What are you doing here?" I questioned.

"I just want to check up on you. I know you said we were taking it a day at a time but I just wanted to see you." He gave me a soft smile.

"Wanna go to my office?" I questioned.

"Sure ladybug."

We walked to my office. I pushed the door open.

"Beautiful." He sat on the couch. I sat next to him.

"If you're here about the article. About mom getting raided, don't be mad okay."

"I'm not mad at all." He shook his head. "I was always against the marriage."

"Were you?"

He nodded. "But I take accountability for forcing it about a year ago. I wasn't sober. To be honest, I haven't been for the last ten years."

"Last time we talked you were clean. Still going strong?"

"Five months clean. It doesn't excuse my actions but I don't want to ever leave the earth knowing I didn't try. I love Kaelyn, dearly, but you. I love you a billion times more. A part of me started using it because I knew that the fate of your future was out of my hands."

"So be honest. Did she ever love me?"

"She did. Your mother was a person who made poor and irrational decisions. Me too. She didn't sign you over intentionally. That's not excusing her behavior. She loves you."

"But she said some awful things."

"The old Kaelyn. I don't know about this new one."

"Your brother is next. When they finish going through the tapes, he'll be arrested too. Since Kaelyn is in prison, I can terminate the marriage contract. I'm meeting with her lawyers in an hour."

"You'll still be able to get married?"

"Yeah. Everything's right with the law and the Landon's won't lose their fortune. I won't lose mine."

"Speaking of. I want to give everything I have to you, Athena. I'm offering it to you again."

"I don't want it. It won't sway me over."

"That's not my purpose."

I sighed.

"The companies, the fast life, it's the reason why I'm in this position. I'll give them to you. You can sell them, keep them, run them. Do whatever, but it isn't for me anymore."

"You love the space company. You love engineering. You can't give it up."

"Oh wait, I'm keeping my space company."

We both laughed.

"But for now, I'm going to travel the world and enjoy the places as a human." He smiled. "And, what do you young folks say? Find myself. I'm going to find myself and become a better man."

"I like that plan."

"And if you're open, I'd like to rebuild with you."

"I'm open. But find yourself while I find me too." I laid my head on his shoulder.

"Deal."
~

"Thank you for coming with me." I hugged Eros and Anteros. "I know this isn't easy to sit and decided mom's future, but I'm so very grateful for your support."

"Always here!" Anteros squeezed my shoulder. "Also I got bored laying in bed all day."

"How are you feeling?" I questioned.

"Like I've never been shot."

Eros stiffed a laughed.

"Don't make that a running joke." Eros shook my head. "That was traumatic."

"Where's Bia?" Anteros questioned. "I thought she was at the office with you."

"She drove me here."

"Athena, you have to learn how to drive. It's a must. Our younger sister should not be a better driver than you." Eros shook his head.

"I choose not to drive. I have Anders, Tobi, and now Bia. I have plenty of transportation."

"Okay but what if you're at home alone and someone breaks in and you can't leave so you get hurt."

"That happened already." I shrugged.

"Damn. My bad." Eros looked at the ground.

Anteros busted out laughing.

"I'm not laughing at what happened, I'm laughing at Eros. Lord, I'm sorry, that was so funny." He chuckled.

Anteros let out a cough before holding his stomach.

"Not so funny now?" I questioned.

Eros laughed.

"Y'all we are fucked up. Laughing about real shit." Eros shook his head. "I love y'all."

"Well look at my backstabbing children getting along."

"I thought you were locked up." I crossed.

"I'm rich. I posted bail. Not convicted yet."

"So why are you here? If you can't get this contract annulled then we have no business." I said.

"It's getting annulled. I just wanted to look into your face as you sign your mother's rights away."

"You did it to yourself," Eros spoke up.

"Excuse me, boy?"

"You did it to yourself. Your scheming! You never cared about Beverly or Athena or Bia or us. Everything you did was for you. You never thought about the consequences of your actions or jow it could fuck up your kids' lives. Athena was beaten. She was beaten in the comfort of her own home, she had such severe injuries that she could barely breathe. Ant was shot. We didn't know if he was going to live or die but yet this is still all about you."

"Eros-"

"Listen to me when I say this. You're a cold-hearted narcissist. I'm done with you. I've let you manipulate me but it ends today. Goodbye, Kaelyn."

He stood up before walking out.

"Got any words, Ant?" She questioned while leaning against the chair.

He shook his head. "I've been done with you."

He stood up and walked out.

I pushed the papers towards her before tossing over the pen.

"Sign it."

She picked up the pen before quickly signing her signature.

"Didn't read through the contract?"

She remained quiet.

"Why? Just tell me why?" I questioned. "Before I leave. I'm sure this is the last time we'll ever talk, why?"

She shrugged before standing up. "I love you, Athena. Despite everything I do-did. I made a decision that I wasn't proud of. I put you at risk and I couldn't live with myself so I distanced myself."

"You lit the fire and ran away."

She sighed.

"I never meant to cause trouble in your life. I wanted to fix everything. That's why I signed the contract. I don't want to see my child die. You don't deserve that."

"I know I don't, but you deserve to go to prison. I don't regret one decision I have made." I stood up. "Maybe you'll have enough time to think over the lives you've ruined. Now if you would excuse me, I have a dinner to get ready for."
~

"Can you guys believe you're getting married in three days? I remember when you first announced you were and we were at dinner at the penthouse. Eros was an ass to you." Valeria laughed.

"Let's leave that in the past." Eros embarrassingly looked away.

The chefs pushed out the trays before placing the plates in front of us. I smiled while looking at the food. Tobias' hand rested on my thigh.

"You look amazing." He whispered in my ear.

My stomach filled with butterflies.

The table broke off into their conversations.

"If the guest weren't here..." He trailed off.

"You're such a tease. I didn't forget about the club." I reached up to touch his hair. "I'll get my revenge, loverboy."

He smirked.

We heard a tap on the glass and Beverly stood up.

"I like to make a toast to my son and my soon-to-be daughter-in-law."

The table cheered.

"I'm excited for this new journey between you two. I never thought that someone would turn my ice-cold boy into a warm loving person."

Tobias playfully rolled his eyes. I smiled while grabbing his hand.

"Seeing the love between these two has warmed my heart and I'm sure it's warmed you guys too. Their story isn't traditional but they made lemons into lemonade."

"What?" Piper furrowed her eyebrows.

"Tobias. I was blessed to be given you. You're a blessing and the sweetness you carry drives me. You're loving, despite what people say, you care a lot. I remember when it was raining and you took your shirt off so me and your sister could walk over it. When you broke your arm, you still carried our purses. To be giving my baby boy away scares me, but I'm confident in the woman who will be marrying him."

She sighed.

"Athena. Thank you for coming into my life and showing me and my boy nothing but love. You're truly an amazing person and never fail to do for others. I enjoy our weekly lunch dates where we sit and talk for hours. Having Piper away, you became my second daughter-" She teared up. "Ugh! I said I wasn't going to get emotional."

"Oh no," I mumbled. "I'm going to cry too."

"You became my second daughter in such a short time. You're strong. So strong and you inspire me to have strength. Thank you for teaching my boy not to take everything so seriously. You taught him how to relax and breathe and live. You two compliment each other so well and it warms my heart that you found each other. Despite the circumstances."

I wiped away my tears. Tobias pulled me in a hug.

"So to end this speech before I start crying, I'm proud of you two. I can't wait to see you two married and happy as you deserve. And grandchildren! I want a grandchild."

"Mom." Tobias playfully rolled his eyes.

The dinner had wrapped and Tobias and I stumbled back into our home. I slipped off my shoes before tossing my purse.

"Ready to be Mrs. Landon?" He grabbed my hand before twirling me around.

"I am."

"We doing Solana-Landon or all the way?"

"All the way." I mumbled. "I'll change my business cards too."

"I think it's hot that you're taking my name."

"You think so? Now I don't have to correct concierge when they say my name." I held him by his waist. He kissed my forehead. "Mrs. Landon."

He kissed me. "Don't wear it out."

I softly kissed his jaw before trialing to his neck. A small grunt escaped. I softly pulled his head down before kissing him. His arms wrapped around my waist before slightly squeezing me.

I moaned.

"Taking a shower with you sounds fun."

"Yeah?"

"Mhm." I nodded while slowly training his abs through his shirt. "But not tonight."

I walked away.

"You are so wrong." He shook his head.

I laughed.