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        I squeezed my fists as tightly as I could and dug my fingernails deep into my palms. A little black dress covered her body and a matching pair of heels adorned her feet. Her hair was shorter than the last time I had seen her and it was dyed blonde. Definitely not her color.

          I wasn't going to stand here and make conversation with her when I had a party to enjoy without her meddling. She didn't bother saying goodbye in person, so I wouldn't bother giving her a minute of my precious time when she decided to pop up at my damn wedding out of nowhere.

          "Worst surprise ever." I gritted my teeth and turned around to walk away, but Eros held me back and forced me to face her again.

          "C'mon, Athena," Eros said. "Don't be like that."

          "Stop being a drama queen, Athena," Addy huffed, rolling her eyes.

          "You don't get to talk!" I yelled as I felt my temperature rising. "You left, remember? You wrote a bunch of bullshit on a note instead of saying it to my face like a spineless bitch."

          "Athena, easy," Leo arched his brow at me. "She's not here to fight."

          "It's been a year, Leo. She decides to show up unannounced a year later."

          "Are you done?" Addy yawned to get under my skin like she used to do. "I'm not here to ruin your wedding or anything. I came to congratulate you."

          "Well, I don't need your congratulations. You can leave." I turned on my heel and attempted to walk away again, but the hand around my wrist stopped me from going any further.

          Addy spun me around and didn't let go of my wrist. "I'm trying to make an effort here. Just lend me an ear. I know you're dying to know where I've been."

          I jerked off her hold violently and crossed my arms below my breasts. "Do tell."

          "You both need to be alone right now. We'll be right outside," Leo suggested and motioned all the men in the room to leave with him, except one. That was when I finally noticed the man standing in the corner of the room with a little smile tugging on his lips. Maxen walked up and stood a foot behind Addy as she began talking while I was left puzzled about his appearance here.

          "Well," Addy took a breath, "I have been all over the place. Traveling Europe for now. I settled in Paris at first and went to therapy. I felt like everything inside me was breaking apart after what happened, Athena, which is why I left in the first place. The therapist helped me a lot. She got me to a better place. After that, we bailed as usual."

          "We?" I cocked a spiteful brow.

          "Me and Maxen." She sidestepped and pulled the man up beside her. "The day it all went down, I told Maxen to run and wait for me at a place. After I wrote that note to you, I met up with him and left for Europe. We had nothing left in America, anyway."

          I looked at Maxen and examined him warily as he uttered, "Hi."

          Instead of saying anything in return, I stared at the two in a threatening silence.

          "You sure do know how to make things awkward," Addy remarked with a slouch in her posture.

          "Then leave," I spat.

          "My intentions are not to stay. I owed you an actual goodbye in person which is why I'm here."

          "Oh, my!" I scoffed mockingly and placed a hand on my heart, forcing the next words out of my mouth in the sweetest tone. "You shouldn't have bothered to come here just for that. It's a waste of your precious time, dear sister."

          She huffed and stepped forward suddenly to embrace me tightly. I struggled, trying to push her off, but she squeezed her arms around my shoulders harder. "I know that we've had our ups and downs, and have fought like ruthless bitches in the past, but you're my sister, Athena, and I love you."

          She held on quietly and waited for me to calm down, and slowly, I stopped fighting her. I did miss her. And it hurt me so much to know that I couldn't reach out to her at all and tell her that even if my pride allowed me to. Mom's death hurt us both, but leaving was her way of dealing with it and I understood even though I didn't want us to part like that.

          Addy pulled back and tilted her head. "I honestly never imagined you getting married, but I'm so happy for you. I mean it." She swiped my loose strands back a bit and continued, "I know you're an incredible mother to your two teenagers already. And Eros is an amazing guy. He loves you so much. I saw it in his eyes at the ceremony. He couldn't stop looking at you for even a second."

          "You were there?"

          She took my hands into hers delightedly and put on a bright smile. "From the moment you walked down that aisle to the moment you and Eros kissed. Maxen and I were in the upper gallery where no one could see us and watched the entire ceremony. Vince made it worth watching." We both giggled. "And it all taking place in the Palace of Versailles? Absolutely brilliant. It screams you. The lavish, posh, luxurious, and grand setting and detail of everything. Allaire knows you well and she did a splendid job."

          "Well, she's getting paid the big bucks, so she had to bring this all alive," I shrugged with a leisure smirk.

          "Yeah, it's all beautiful." She sighed with a sad smile and stepped back. "Sadly, I have to get going now."

          "You're not going to stay for the booze?" I asked with hopeful eyes.

          She laughed, shaking her head. "I'm going to spare the booze today. I gotta expose Maxen to some great things. Turns out we have a nerdy, unsociable brother. And I also have plans with my boyfriend."

          "Boyfriend?"

          "Yeah, kind of a boyfriend. He's French. Really hot with an accent to die for. Dated a girl before him, but she was too obsessive, so I was like bye bitch!" She and Maxen laughed together before another sigh left her lips as she gazed at me. "I should go now."

          "Are you going to show up randomly again?"

          "Athena, I meant what I said in that note. The only reason I showed up this time is because I heard from my sources that Leo's men for looking for me and they weren't stopping, so I contacted Leo and asked him to stop. Turns out, he and Eros wanted me to attend the wedding and meet you one last time. After much persistence, they eventually convinced me and here I am."

          Hanging her head low, she squeezed her eyes shut and released a breath before peering back up. She cupped my cheeks and pursed her lips together painfully. "I don't hate you, Athena, but I really can't come back after all that has happened. I admire your strength so much and I wish I was as strong as you, but I'm not. New York just has too many bad memories. And I like this freelancer life, anyway. "

          My hand reached up and feathered over hers reassuringly. "I understand."

          She imprisoned my hands in hers and squeezed them tightly. "Just know that when you're close to kicking the bucket, I'll be right there to pull you up from the grave and save you. Mark my words."

          I nodded with a smile. "I'll hold you to it."

          She kissed my cheek and embraced me one last time, and I wrapped my arms around her a second later, not wanting to let go, but I knew I needed to. The anger in me was all gone at this point, and I felt a huge burden lift off my heart. I got the closure I needed.

          "It's like I'm invisible," Maxen suddenly commented with a snicker and forced us apart.

          "Be glad I'm ignoring you, or else I'd be digging holes in your body with my guns," I threatened him.

          "C'mon, Athena," Addy rolled her eyes. "He's really nice. The nicest one out of everyone here. He's an innocent soul. Sometimes I wonder if we have the same blood."

          "And sometimes I wonder what I did to have you as my sister." Maxen looked at me and mouthed, "She's a pain in the ass."

          "One thing we can agree on," I give him a little smile.

          "Glad you two are bonding," Addy chided. "Now I just gotta say bye to the others and I'll be on my way." We all walked out of the room into the hallway together. "Well, it's time for me to go now," she announced to the men standing before us.

          "Stay a little longer, Addy," Wren, Leo's younger brother tried to convince her, but she shrugged casually.

          "Can't." She went ahead and hugged everyone goodbye. "I'll see you all at Athena's funeral in thirty or forty years if she lives that long."

          With a wink my way, she strutted away with Maxen down the Hall of Mirrors until she bumped right into Rome who stumbled out of a room with a chick.

          "This should be good," Eros snickered as he watched his already drunk brother trying to stand straight.

          "Whoops! My bad," Rome chuckled, then finally looked up at my sister. "Addy?"

          "Hello, Roman," Addy greeted the boy.

          "Am I dreaming?" Rome shook his head. "This doesn't make sense. A blonde Addy?"

          Without a warning, Addy went ahead and slammed her lips against his for a few prolonged seconds before letting Rome breathe. "I've missed you."

          "And that's my sister," I muttered with a groan and nuzzled up in Eros' arms.

          "Pass that on to Cornelia for me," Addy bossed him.

          "Whoa!" Rome froze for a second and stuttered a bit. "Um, I-I haven't seen her after we saved her. Her dad picked her up from the hospital, then I heard she ran. No one has seen her since."

          "I know. Just pass it on when you do get to see her." Addy patted his cheek and went on her way with our half-brother, leaving Rome to stand there dumbfounded with the chick he was probably hooking up with.

          "Was that a dream?" Rome asked.

          "Yup! You were daydreaming," Gus, Leo's other younger brother, messed with him.

          Rome glanced outside, then looked back at us. "It's dark, though. Am I night-dreaming? Am I asleep?"

          "There's a reason why Roman and I get along," Gus laughed as Eros shook his head in disappointment.

"Moving on," Leo said mindlessly whilst typing away on his phone. "I have something for you."

"I don't want any more surprises," I exhaled as Eros rubbed my back.

"Gus, Wren, you both go enjoy the party. This doesn't concern you," Leo ordered his younger brothers before he glanced at me and Eros. "You both come with me."

We all did as told. Eros and I went into the same room behind Leo and waited for a couple minutes before Mike came in with a few men who dragged in a worn out person. My breath hitched for a brief second as I realized who it was.

"Jackson?" I gawked at him as he was forced down on his knees. His face had sustained blue and purple bruises, old and new, and his body looked gaunt, showing signs of starvation. The caramel pigment of his skin had substantially weakened and made him look a little ghostly.

His frail, green eyes peered up at me painfully as he managed to whisper my name and smile. "Athena."

"He turned himself in the day it all went down and told me of his betrayal which you surprisingly forgot to tell me about," Leo informed me, sliding his hands into his pockets nonchalantly. "I'm going to leave it up to you what you want to do with him. I trust you to make the right decision."

Leo and Mike left, but his men stood guard at the door as I stoically stared at Jackson. My mind was left puzzled along with my heart. "Why the hell did you turn yourself in when I gave you a chance to run, you bloody idiot?" I yelled at him.

Jackson frowned and looked at the ground in overwhelming guilt. "I hurt you."

"No!" I fumed. "You don't get to do that, Jackson."

"I deserved it, Athena. It was the only way I could repent for my involvement," he went on which only angered me more.

"Stop that!"

"I've heard enough." Eros pulled out a gun from behind him and cocked it as he walked over to Jackson and pinned the barrel to his head. He looked at me and asked, "Is this what you want?"

Along with taking a deep breath and also a minute, I contemplated Jackson's words and mentally cursed him for his stupidity. I glanced up and met Eros' scrutinizing gaze that said all as he stood firmly and clenched his jaw.

"Just do it," I huffed frustratedly. "He asked for it, anyway."

"Fuck, Athena," Eros shook his head and lowered the gun.

I arched a quizzical brow at him. "I beg your pardon?"

"Just go. I'll handle this myself," he muttered without meeting my gaze and tucking his gun back between his trousers.

"What do you mean?"

"For fuck's sake, Athena, just go and enjoy the fucking party!" He yelled at me in sudden rage that took me by surprise. "You don't want blood on your dress now, do you?"

My hands formed into fists in anger. "Where the bloody hell is this coming from?" I seethed.

He ignored me completely and ordered Leo's men at the door to grab Jackson and follow him out, leaving me stranded alone in utter puzzlement to his change in behavior. I didn't know what had gotten into him, but I decided to not let this little fiasco ruin my wedding day. If he wanted to be bitter, I could be the absolute worst.

***

Dancing and drinking, the night slowly trickled away. I laughed and enjoyed myself fully with my girls, whereas, I noticed Eros keeping a distant eye on me the entire time while he made the most of his night with his boys. We were both too stubborn to make amends at the moment.

When the time came, Eros and I gathered at the center of the stage to cut our enormous wedding cake. We put on a smile for the cameras and the guests as we fed each other some of the sweet dessert. Then we exchanged a quick peck. And while doing all that, we didn't speak a word to each other.

Later, I tossed my wedding bouquet over my shoulder and turned around to watch Valentina, Mike's date, catch it with a bright smile. Scanning the room for Mike himself, I noticed him sneaking away slowly which made me chuckle to myself. Then it was Eros' turn to retrieve the garter around my thigh. After I was seated, Eros kneeled before me as the crowd cheered him on loudly. His eyes didn't leave mine as his warm hands trickled up my leg painfully slow and went past the garter itself to brush the spot between my upper thighs.

I sucked in an immediate breath and narrowed my eyes at the cheeky man. "I hate you," I whispered.

He smirked cockily the way he usually did and finally began removing the bridal garter. "You love me," he countered my statement and slid the lacey garter down my leg and off me.

"Alright, boys!" Eros stood up and turned his back to the men clustered together. As soon he tossed the garter in the air, every single one of them ran as fast as they could except for Vincent who pulled out his gun and shot the garter in the air.

"Fuck that shit, man. Ain't nobody else trying to get tied down." Vincent casually put his gun away, causing everyone to burst out into laughter.

Eros held a hand out and helped me up from the chair as the DJ put on the classic school dance song, "Teach Me How To Dougie". Everyone swarmed the stage to dance to it as Eros pulled me to his chest. "Dance with me."

"I don't want to." I laid my palms flat on his chest to keep him at a distance.

"Yes, you do." He let go of me and starting dancing to the music and singing the lyrics which made me loosen up a bit and give in. Also, the amount of booze in me was to blame.

I danced like I was back at a middle school dance and began being silly with my husband who I was still a little mad at, but there was no malice in that very moment because his goofiness seemed to take it away like it usually did. Everyone on the dance floor bounced around like animals as we all let go of our everyday worries. That moment was beautiful and precious in itself.

As things slowed down, Federigo pulled me and Eros to the side. He had arrived at the reception when Eros and I were having our first dance as husband and wife. Better late than never. That was his excuse.

"Do I call you Mrs. Azallion now?" Federigo asked as Leo joined us.

I laughed, shaking my head. "Estle is a name I've given myself. It's not my father's nor my husband's. It's my own and everyone knows me as that. I'm not changing it."

Federigo smiled. "Have I told you how proud I am of you, Athena?"

I returned his smile. "Thank you, Federigo."

"I never expected her to take my last name. I'd honestly be really surprised if she actually did," Eros voiced himself.

"Same," Leo agreed with him.

"Anyway, as a wedding gift, I'm giving you my yacht. The one you always liked," Federigo flashed a little smile which was a rare sight.

"Are you certain?" I couldn't contain the excitement erupting inside me. I remembered when Belle and I used to hang around on that yacht all the time when we were a little younger. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. "Thank you so much."

"I hope that makes up for me being late."

"Absolutely!" I embraced the man who pecked my forehead like a father.

"I will take your leave now." He glanced at Eros and rewarded him with a warning. "I have my eyes on you, boy. Hurt her, and your family will receive you in pieces. Capisci?"

Eros gulped and nodded. "Yes, sir."

As soon Federigo left, Leo chuckled. "Don't take his threats lightly or mine. I will bury you alive if Athena hurts even a little. She's just like my sisters to me, and I will kill anyone that hurts my sisters."

"Leo, I think I got that part covered. He wouldn't dare do anything in such regards. Isn't that right, Mr. Azallion?" I smirked at the man who offered one back.

"This will be an interesting marriage, Ms. Estle. Can't wait to explore it," Eros retorted with a hint of sarcasm.

          "Spare me, please," Leo spoke firmly and then turned to me with a smile. "There's a mansion located twenty minutes outside of Paris that is yours now. A limo is waiting for you two at the gates that will take you there. Your luggage has already been transported there as well. Go and start your honeymoon. Don't worry about Yana and Oliver. I'm leaving for Italy in an hour and they can come with me." He looked at Eros and reassured him too. "Your mother and brothers will be fine. My men will see to their needs, and once ready and sober, they'll be flown back to the States."

          "Thank you," Eros and I thanked the man in unison.

          "Of course." Leo kissed my forehead. "Get going now."

          "Wait. Since you're gifting me this mansion, give me Hades and Satan instead," I batted my eyes at the man with a sly smile.

          "Nice try," he laughed and walked away.

          "Worth a try, right?" Eros mocked me, causing me to roll my eyes at him.

          He then escorted me away from all the chaos toward the gates without a grand exit. We got into the limo and sat apart on the edges next to the doors without any physical contact as my mind went back to Jackson. The vehicle started moving and I couldn't help but wonder why Eros had lost his temper at that moment either.

          I sighed defeatedly and turned my head to the side to look at him. "What did you do to Jackson?"

          His eyes were focused on the old buildings whooshing past us, but I knew he heard me from the subtle shift in his body. "I did what you wanted me to do."

          "So, you killed him?"

          He scoffed, slowly directing his focus to me. "That's not what you wanted."

          My brows scrunched immediately. "What do you mean?"

          "Stop acting so oblivious, Athena. I like it more when you're cruelly blunt. At least you don't lie that way."

          "Okay, you better tell me where the hell all this is coming from!" I bellowed.

          "You didn't want him dead, Athena. It was written all over your damn face," he shouted back as I saw a fiery rage bubbling behind his blue irises. "But it was your pride speaking."

          "That's the reason?"

          His hands curled as his nostrils flared. "You told me that he lied about loving you that day to just get you to spare him. No man turns himself in when he knows he can get killed or brutally tortured for a random woman. He did that because he was madly in love with you and felt so guilty for hurting you. And you know that every single word he said was true."

          My arms crossed below my breasts as my brows cocked up. "And what exactly are you getting at?"

          "Just admit that you wanted to show him mercy again."

          I laughed in his face at the false claims he made. "You're delusional to think that I care for him at all."

          "See! That is exactly what the fuck pisses me off." He let out a frustrated bark of laughter and shook his head. "You and I have been together for a year now. I know you inside out at this point. He was like your best friend. Even though he betrayed you, a part of you still cared for him which is the reason you spared him the first time. After knowing that he turned himself in to Leo, you wanted to spare him again, but your pride was right there."

          "You're blowing this out of proportions."

          "Athena, I understand that you can't let anyone see your emotions or how you really feel, but I need you to be transparent with me like I am with you. The only thing that will always piss me off is when you decide to be untruthful to me about how you actually feel and what you really want. You know that about me and yet you still do it time and again." His eyes dug increasingly deep into me as he scooted close and grabbed my hand. "I love you more than life itself, Athena. But I can't stand it when you act aloof about things you care even when we are alone. You don't have to put up a show for me as you do for the rest because I see right through you and can't even think of hurting you."

          His words struck me harder than anticipated and made me feel a bit guilty on the inside. He wasn't wrong, though. I didn't want Jackson to be killed. Yes, he betrayed me, but he was always there to save me too. Well, mostly. I wanted to beat him senseless and do the amount of harm that would haunt him forever, but death was easy and I knew Leo would've given him the hell of multiple lifetimes combined. It was all too clear on his face. My mind was conflicted back at the palace. One half wanted to let him go and give him a chance at life again, while the other half wanted to beat him up until he passed out. Although I hated to admit it, Eros knew me too damn well and also knew the things I didn't want to admit to myself.

Taking a silent breath, I retracted my hand from his hold and rested my head against the cold window without a word. I heard him chuckle, but I didn't bother looking.

"And since you're wondering, I didn't kill Jackson even though I wanted to. I only knocked him out for the fun of it and also because he kissed you," Eros breathed out the information casually. "I caught Maxen and Ena right at the gates as they were leaving and delivered Jackson over. If Ena could forgive Maxen, she can also forgive Jackson."

          I remained quiet. I didn't know what I wanted to say, or what to even begin with.

          Neither one of us exchanged another word for the next few minutes as we reached the large black gates that presumably led to the mansion I could see the outline of from a distance. The gates slid open and let the limo enter. We rode down the long driveway and came to a stop in front of the beautiful architecture that encased multiple big windows through which light protruded out.

          The door was opened for me by a butler which allowed me to step out of the vehicle and bask in the mansion that stood majestically in front of me. The water from the fountain made calming pattering noise mixed with the rustling sounds of the leaves of the trees on the large property and the chilling chiming of the cold wind.

          The roundabout was made with tiny tiles in intricate designs. The small hedges around the little portions of grass were perfectly manicured and maintained. The entire property screamed of elegance and classy beauty which was certainly my taste. I was left in a grinning awe of this place and couldn't believe Leo had gifted me this estate.

          "You like it?" Eros asked me as he sauntered over to me with his hands in his pockets.

          "It's breathtaking," I smiled, unable to keep my eyes off it. As I scanned the entire front of the mansion, I finally peered at the gold-plated Lamborghini Aventador that had a bow on top like a gift. "Leo went all out."

          "Actually," Eros smirked proudly, "I bought this."

          "The car?" I raised a skeptical brow.

          "And the mansion," he added with a broader smirk.

          My eyes widened a bit. "You're kidding?"

          "Nope. I had Aguillard build this place as per your lavish taste. But Leo actually bought a mansion right outside the city back home as a wedding gift for us, and also because we're going to have two more people living with us."

          "He asked you about the girls before me?" I narrowed my eyes as he nodded. "So, you and Leo are buddies now?"

          "Eh. More like acquaintances, I guess." He shrugged and peered at the gorgeous structure. "You visit Paris a lot because of the company's branch here and also because of the frequent shows, so I thought why not?" With a coy smile, he lifted me up bridal style and surprised me. "Ma told me to do this. Traditions, you see."

          "Dumb traditions," I groaned.

"I agree. Maybe I should drop you." He loosened his grip a bit and pretended to drop me which made me hold onto him tighter.

"I hate you," I muttered and glared at him.

"You love me too much to hate me." He walked through the doors like a cocky bastard and revealed the interior beauty of the mansion. Before I could begin admiring it, he placed me back on my feet in front of the staff who greeted us.

          "Thank you for everything. You can all leave now. I'll call you tomorrow and let you know if we need you," Eros smiled at the staff members who nodded and exited the mansion, leaving the two of us completely alone. "Come."

          Grabbing my hand, Eros strode across the place and lead us outside through the back doors. My eyes were left enlarged at the astonishing sight in front of me as I froze in my tracks and sucked in an immediate breath.

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TO BE CONTINUED

Did you guys like Part 2?

I'll begin writing the final/part 3 of the epilogue soon enough and finish this book.

Who was excited that Addy made an appearance? And who expected Maxen to be with his little sis?

Thoughts on Jackson? Who thought he'd turn himself in?

Where could Cornelia be? 😉

Much love ❤️
~Reet