“We didn’t kick you out,” he corrected. “Youleft.”
She scoffed. “It’s the same thing, considering the ultimatum you gave me after I said I couldn’t stay with Mother and Father anymore. What was it again?” Her voice sharpened. “‘Stay, and inherit everything a Pinault succeeds, or leave and never dare to bear the name again’? You and Father are one of the same.”
He faltered, his mouth thinning. “I was upset. You’ve always done what you were told.”
“That’s because of how you all raised me!” Emily’s voice screeched. “I was raised to please you—to please everyone. I know none of you wanted me to be an actress, and when you finally agreed, it was only under the assumption that I’d change my mind later on. That I didn’t know what I wanted so young. But I didn’t. I made a name for myself outside this family, and even then, it was leveraged. Used strategically.” She couldn’t hide the disgust in her tone.
“Yes, I’m not going to inherit the family business like Chelsea is forced to, but at least I’m a pawn you can parade around for good publicity, right? That’s why Jake made you all so upset. Any deviation from the girl you knew, that goddamn people pleaser, you all hated it so much you couldn’t accept that I’d been falling apart for a while now,waybefore him. I didn’t know who I was, what I liked, what I disliked…nobody gave me the chance to figure that out. I was just told to fit inside a box, new boxes every single time. I was literally having anidentity crisisfor God’s sake! I was confused, alone and justhauntedby darkness. So when things piled up, should it have been a surprise thatIbroke down?”
Her chest rose and fell. “Do you know what it felt like when you told me my anxiety and PTSD were made up? That I was just being weak? When you and Father joined forces to push me forward instead of helping me heal?”
A hand met her lower back.
It was Nicolas.
She could recognize him by his touch at this point.
“I felt like I wanted to die.” The movement on her back ceased. “It was as if nobody in the world cared about me anymore. I know that wasn’t true, but that was hard to tell my brain at the time. My brain that thought if that stalker had done something to me, left physical proof, then maybe you would have cared. Maybe you would have taken me more seriously.”
Chelsea gasped. “Emmy…”
“I already knew I had to leave. Father’s actions were just the nail in the coffin.” Emily blinked away the tears. “I know you all think what you’ve done was for my benefit, so fine, I chose to forgive you. But don’t mistake my forgiveness as a permission to treat me the same way. I’m not a childanymore. I’m an adult who’s learning who I am and what I deserve. What sheshould’vedeserved.”
Her grandfather stood in grim silence.
“Let’s go.” Emily turned to take Nicolas’s arm.
The last thing she saw was Chelsea mouthing an“I’m so sorry”.
39
Suddenly, a pair of arms encircled Emily. Hands found their way to her hair. Nicolas’s face dug itself into her neck. He held onto her desperately. Like he was scared she’d disappear.
Emily tugged at his arms so she could look at him, but he buried himself deeper against her neck. “Nicolas…” He shook his head, his breaths coming out in uneven puffs. “Hey. Look at me, please, Nico. What’s wrong?”
He finally looked up at her. His eyes were red.
She became frantic, her hands cupping his face. “Wait. Why are you?—”
“I’m sorry,” he croaked.
She halted.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that on your own.” He shook with a heavy exhale. “If I’d just approached you back then. If I’d just ignored any sense of rationality, maybe you wouldn’t have felt so alone. Maybe you’d have had me, even as a friend.”
Her lips parted, breath hitching in her throat.
“Because I would’ve protected you, Emily.” His voicecracked, his resolve breaking. “I wouldn’t have let anyone hurt you. Not even your own family.”
Her heart ached. This beautiful man was crying for her. For the pain that she’d endured.
Emily wiped at the rim of his eyes, getting rid of the tears that threatened to spill. “It’s okay,” she assured him. “We’re together now. And I’m so much better. I’m alright.”
He didn’t look convinced, brows still furrowed, and the lines in his face contorted.
“What I just said was what needed to be said a long time ago. Don’t be sad about it, baby.”
“You really are the strongest person I know,” he aired with conviction. His hands cradled her cheeks. They were now holding each other in the same way.
