Chapter 3

Axel POV:

The words hung in the air, heavy and sharp. "I want a divorce."

Alicia, nestled in my arms, stiffened. She pulled away, her eyes wide, then turned to me, her lower lip trembling. "Axel, what did you do?"

My jaw clenched. Did I do? This was Emerson. My wife. She was just being dramatic.

I looked at Emerson, standing there, her face pale, her eyes distant. She must be tired, I thought. Or maybe she was just testing me. She'd done this before, in her own way. Pushing boundaries, seeking attention.

She didn't mean it. Not really.

I remembered the early days of our marriage, the way she'd light up when I indulged her wildest stunts. The way she'd grin, her eyes bright, after a particularly dangerous jump. She loved me. I knew she did. That was the only reason she'd agreed to marry me in the first place, wasn't it? After that car crash, after I risked my life for her, she had promised.

She loves me. The thought was a comforting balm, soothing the sudden unease that had settled in my chest. She's just angry. She always comes back.

"Emerson," I said, a placating tone in my voice. "You're clearly upset. Go take a warm bath. We can talk about this in the morning."

She just stared at me, a strange, hollow look in her eyes. Then, without a word, she turned and walked away.

The next morning, I was in my study, going over some reports, when my phone rang. Emerson's assistant.

"Mr. Flynn," she sounded flustered. "I'm so sorry, but Mrs. Flynn's birthday event... it's been canceled."

My brows furrowed. "Canceled? Why?"

"The venue, the permits... everything was revoked last night. Without warning."

A cold dread seeped into my stomach. Emerson had been planning this base jumping event for months. It was her passion project, her biggest thrill of the year. I had promised her everything would be perfect.

I remembered her excitement, the way she'd meticulously planned every detail. My promise to her.

This couldn't be a coincidence.

I strode into the living room, where Alicia was casually flipping through a magazine. "Alicia," I said, my voice sharper than intended. "Do you know anything about Emerson's birthday event being canceled?"

She looked up, a faint smile playing on her lips. "Oh, that? Yes, it's such a shame. I heard it was quite a dangerous stunt she was planning." She paused, her eyes glinting. "You know, I told you it was too risky. I'm just glad you put a stop to it."

"I didn't 'put a stop to it'," I snapped. "I merely advised caution." My mind raced. "And why do you know about it being canceled?"

She shrugged, a picture of innocent indifference. "Oh, you know, these things get around. Besides, I just thought, with all her wild ideas, it's probably best she stays grounded. She did mention something about wanting to celebrate her birthday with a nice, elegant dinner this year, rather than... well, you know."

My eyes narrowed. "She said that?"

"Yes, of course," Alicia said smoothly. "She even suggested we combine it with my welcome home party. Since it's been so long since I've been back, and all."

A knot tightened in my gut. Combine her birthday with Alicia's welcome home party? That sounded exactly like something Emerson would do, in her overly generous, sometimes naive way. But the timing felt off.

"Emerson is not 'fragile', Alicia," I said, the words suddenly tasting bitter. "She's an extreme sports athlete. She thrives on risk."

Alicia's eyes widened, a look of hurt flashing across her face. "Axel, how can you say that? After everything... She almost got me killed yesterday."

"That was a joyride, Alicia, not a cliff dive!" I retorted, my patience wearing thin.

She sniffled. "It felt dangerous. And then she was so mean to me last night. I just wanted to feel safe."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. Alicia had been through a lot. Her family's ruin, her difficult marriage. I owed her. I had always promised to take care of her.

"Look, I'll talk to Emerson," I said, trying to soothe her. "She's just... she can be a bit much sometimes."

Alicia nodded, a faint smile returning to her lips. "I know. But I'm sure she'll understand. A nice, quiet dinner, a chance to meet all your important contacts... it's much more suitable for a wife."

My wife. The word echoed in my head.

Suddenly, a voice, cold and clear, cut through the tension. "So, you did cancel it."

Emerson stood in the doorway, her eyes, usually so vibrant, now dull and wounded. There were dark circles under them, and her face was even paler than last night. She looked... broken.

My heart lurched. "Emerson, I..." My mind scrambled for an explanation. "I just thought it was safer. And you looked so tired last night. I thought... you'd prefer a quiet dinner."

"A quiet dinner that also serves as Alicia's welcome home party and a networking event for your business contacts?" she asked, her voice devoid of emotion. "How convenient."

Alicia interjected, her voice sweet and innocent. "Emerson, I just thought it would be nice for us to celebrate together. And Axel's business is so important. You wouldn't want to jeopardize that, would you?"

I saw a flicker of something in Emerson's eyes. Not anger, not even hurt. Just... a profound sadness. And then, a spark of resolve.

"I will be holding my event," she said, her voice steady. "With or without your permission, Axel."

My eyes narrowed. "Emerson, don't be ridiculous. I can shut down any venue, pull any permit. You know that." My words were a threat, a clear display of power.

She just looked at me, a bitter, humorless laugh escaping her lips. "You really don't care, do you?" Her voice cracked. "You never did." Tears streamed down her face, but she didn't try to wipe them away. She just let them fall. "This is not about safety, Axel. This is about control. About making sure I conform. And you're using Alicia as an excuse."

A coldness settled over me. I hated seeing her cry. It made me feel... uncomfortable. But her words, her accusation, stung.

"Emerson, that's not fair," I began, reaching out for her. "I'm just trying to protect you."

She flinched away from my touch. "Protect me? You let me jump off mountains, Axel. You let me flirt with death. But you cancel my event because it might make Alicia 'fragile'? " She laughed again, a harsh, broken sound. "This is rich, Axel. Truly rich."

"Emerson, stop this!" I commanded, my patience at its limit.

"Stop what, Axel?" she asked, her voice suddenly calm, chillingly so. "Stop seeing the truth? No. I won't."

She turned to Alicia, her eyes sharp. "And you," she said, a new venom in her voice. "You're a leech. A parasite. Always playing the victim, always clinging to him."

Alicia's eyes widened, a theatrical gasp escaping her lips. "How can you say that? After everything Axel and I have been through for you?"

"For me?" Emerson scoffed. "You mean, because of you." She shook her head, a weary resignation settling over her face. "Fine. You want my event? Take it. You want my husband? You can have him too."

She turned to me, her eyes devoid of all warmth. "I'm done, Axel. Done with this farce. Done with you."

She walked out, leaving me standing there, a strange, hollow ache in my chest. Her words, her tears, her accusation... they echoed in the silence. But it was the coldness in her eyes that truly chilled me. Her tears were for her broken heart, not for me.