"Althea! I'm coming!" Robin shouted, his voice echoing down the hallway as he sprinted to the elevator. Sweat beaded on his brow, his heart pounding harder with each step.
He jabbed the button for their floor and paced impatiently as the elevator doors slid shut.
This time, he wasn't alone. He had enlisted the help of three hotel staff members and secured the master key to their royal suite. Panic clawed at his chest.
Ross Oakley wasn't just any man—he was a notorious womanizer, known for his audacity and charm. Robin's thoughts spiraled into worst-case scenarios, each more infuriating than the last.
What if Ross was forcing himself on Althea? What if she was trapped, unable to call for help? The mental images made his blood boil.
"Come on, come on! Can't this thing go faster?" he muttered, hitting the "close door" button repeatedly as though it might shave seconds off his journey.
The hotel staff exchanged glances but remained silent, aware of the tension in the air.
Finally, the elevator chimed, and the doors opened. Robin shot out like a bullet, rushing down the corridor.
His footsteps thundered against the carpeted floor as he reached their suite, fumbling with the key. He threw the door open, braced for a fight—and froze.
There was Althea, sitting on the plush sofa in the living area, her legs crossed gracefully. She held a steaming cup of coffee, the ceramic mug delicately cradled in her hands.
She looked up, her expression calm, her lips curling into a faint smile.
"You're back, Robin. And you brought the cavalry with you," she said, a hint of amusement in her voice.
Robin blinked, his adrenaline-fueled rage sputtering out like a candle in the wind.
"The door was locked, and I thought that guy might've done something horrible to you. Are you okay, babe? Where's Ross?" His eyes darted around the suite, searching for any sign of the man who had made him panic so deeply.
The three hotel staff members hesitated at the doorway, shifting awkwardly. They were trained to be discreet, but the tension in the room was palpable.
Being in the presence of two global superstars made it all the more nerve-wracking.
"He left," Althea replied with a shrug, her tone light as though she hadn't noticed the whirlwind of panic Robin had endured. She gestured toward the doorway.
"Now, would you kindly show your new friends to the door? We don't need their services right now. Sorry for the false alarm, gentlemen."
She turned her radiant smile to the staff, who visibly relaxed at her kind demeanor. It wasn't every day that someone as famous as Althea Quinn addressed them so graciously.
Each of the men blushed, their professionalism briefly faltering in the face of her charm.
"There's no problem at all, ma'am," one of them replied, bowing slightly. "We're here to serve our guests. Please don't hesitate to call us if you need anything."
With that, they made their exit, leaving Robin and Althea alone. The door clicked shut, and silence settled over the room.
Robin ran a hand through his disheveled hair, his shoulders sagging with relief.
"I was so worried, Althea. You don't know how crazy I felt thinking he might've..." He trailed off, unable to finish the sentence, his fists clenching at the memory of his panic.
Althea set her coffee cup down on the table with a quiet clink and stood up. She walked toward him, her expression softening. Reaching out, she touched his arm, her fingers light against his skin.
"Robin," she said gently, "There's something we need to talk about." Her voice, though calm, carried a weight that made Robin's stomach tighten. He looked down at her, his concern shifting to apprehension.
"I don't like the sound of this. Why do I feel like you're breaking up with me, Althea?" Robin frowned, leaning forward on the couch.
The air felt heavier than usual, the weight of unspoken words settling over the room.
Althea hesitated, avoiding his eyes. "It's… complicated," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's a long story."
Robin's jaw clenched, his patience thinning. "Then start talking. I deserve an explanation."
She took a deep breath, her hands trembling slightly as she began to recount her tale.
Her words were halting at first, fragmented, but as she spoke, the pieces fell together, painting a picture that sounded too fantastical to be real.
An hour later, Robin sat in stunned silence, his expression a mixture of disbelief, confusion, and anger. He blinked several times, trying to process everything she'd just said.
"So, let me get this straight," he said, his voice rising with each word. "You're telling me that you've suddenly remembered a past life, that in that life, Ross was your husband, and now you're leaving me to go back to him? Althea, that's not just unbelievable—it's insane! We live in a modern world with science and technology. There's no place for this outdated, hocus-pocus crap! Magic? Soul arts? They're not real. They only exist in books and movies!"
"I know how it sounds, Robin," Althea said, her voice calm despite the storm brewing in his. "But it's true. I didn't ask for this, and I didn't want to hurt you. But I can't ignore what I've remembered. I can't ignore what I feel."
Robin shot to his feet, pacing the room as frustration poured out of him. "Do you hear yourself? Do you realize how insane this all sounds? This is the kind of thing people get locked up for saying out loud!"
She didn't respond immediately, letting his words echo in the room. When she finally spoke, her voice was steady. "I know it's hard to believe. I wish it wasn't true, Robin. But it is—for me, for Ross. I didn't choose this. It's just… the way things are."
Robin stopped pacing, turning to face her with a pained expression. "So you're going back to him," he said, his voice barely audible.
***
Huge shoutout and thanks to Danny_Back and ddecoen for the gifts!
Enjoy new adventures from empire
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