Ashes Of The Throne | Part I

Chapter 159 | August 23rd | The House On The Hilltops

Timeline | Present Time - August 23rd - 6 weeks later

Eko stood barefoot on the serene beachfront, clutching her sandals loosely in one hand as the warm sand grounded her with its comforting weight. She gazed at the horizon where the earth kissed the sea in a seamless expanse, the sun's last golden rays lingering like a gentle farewell. The sky blazed with a symphony of colors—deep pinks, fiery oranges, and soft purples—dancing across the calm, glassy waters like an ethereal painting. The distant outline of verdant hills cradled the view, a perfect frame for this secluded paradise, untouched by time and unmarred by chaos.

The hem of her white beach dress fluttered lightly against her legs as the breeze whispered secrets, carrying the scent of salt and wildflowers. Her fingers traced the soft fabric absently, her mind drifting to the first time she had stood here with Matthew. The memory was a vivid ache, etched into her very bones.

She had come here with him under the guise of a promise—a gift, he'd called it. A simple adventure, stripped of formality and expectation, just the two of them. The biggest lie he'd ever told her.

What she hadn't anticipated was how that day would unravel. How it would fracture everything she thought she knew about him, about them. It wasn't just a memory; it was the memory, the moment that had transformed them. A turning point. The catalyst that bound their lives together in a way that could never be undone.

Eko closed her eyes, letting the sound of the waves pull her back to that day, the weight of the past colliding with the present like the tide meeting the shore.

***** June 26th | Five Days After The Wedding*****

The sun was setting in a blaze of gold and crimson, casting long shadows across the sand as Matthew led Eko along the shoreline, his excitement radiating off him like heat from the fading sun. The tang of salt air mingled with the rhythmic crash of waves, creating a perfect backdrop for whatever scheme he'd cooked up.

Their fingers were intertwined, their sun-kissed skin glowing from days spent basking under golden rays. The sand beneath their bare feet was warm and pliant, shifting gently with each step. Eko stole a sidelong glance at her husband, noting the barely-contained excitement in his expression. A flicker of suspicion danced in her mind, but curiosity quickly followed.

"Okay, give me two minutes," he said, practically bouncing as he pulled her along. "Promise it'll all make sense."

Eko quirked an eyebrow, her tone tinged with playful skepticism. "You said we were killing two birds with one stone. Something about a gift and stretching our legs off the boat?"

"Yes and yes," he replied with a grin, gesturing toward the small, weather-beaten house perched precariously on the cliff edge overlooking the beach. The house looked like it had faced down countless storms, its weathered walls and sagging roof giving it an air of defiant mystery.

"O...kay," she replied, eyeing the house with curiosity and amusement as he tugged her closer. "But five minutes? What are we doing? Raiding it? Summoning demons? This whole thing is shady."

He laughed, the sound warm and disarming, his eyes alight with that familiar spark she adored and distrusted in equal measure. "I know it sounds odd, but just... humor me, alright?"

"Humor you?" she shot back, her skepticism rising. "Babe, we literally got married a week ago, have been confined to a boat ever since, and now you're telling me we're sneaking off here—for five minutes—before the captain notices we're gone? Forrrr what?"