It wasn’t even up for debate.
Nicolas needed her: every version, every mood, every shade. If she decided being red-lipped and revenge-bound was her thing again, he’d be right there, helping her burn the world down. Hell, if she choseseclusioninstead, he’d buy her a private island and guard that peace with his goddamn life.
Whatever she needed, he’d make it happen.
Because she wasitfor him. His partner. His wife. A new meaning given to his life. The one thing he’d beg the heavens to overlook. To just…for fucking once, allow him to have.
Lasciamela avere. Lasciami avere questo.
His gaze fluttered across her face before softly validating, “As you are mine.”
41
“You broke up with my cousin?Finally!”
“Stop.” Valentina giggled at the way Emily was dancing with her upper body, her hands flailing in the air. “Stop doing that. You look ridiculous.” She prompted her her hands down.
“Ridiculously happy, yes.”
“But yeah, I think it’s been a long-time coming. Our mindsets don’t align, not to mention he couldn’t stay loyal.”
Emily’s brain still buzzed at the fact that they had even been a thing.Ew.Again, what did her insufferable cousin do to have deserved someone like her?
Valentina was hot and knew how to make a mean sponge cake, which Emily was devouring right now in her apartment.
“Honestly, I’m think I’m still going to have nightmares from the images of you two being together for a while.”
She choked on a laugh, but Emily saw the way her eyes lingered with sadness.
“Is this why you’ve been so engrossedon set? You’ve been at it like a machine, hitting take after take. Don’t get me wrong, it’s impressive, but also a bit…concerning.”
Valentina sighed as if her love life was a trivial matter. “I doubt that’s more concerning than us still not figuring who this stalker of yours is. Has Adrianna said anything to you since the timed device happening?”
“Thanks to you, nope.”
Valentina had emitted an aura that had Adrianna avoiding them like the plague. Or maybe it was guilt for potentially being the perpetrator. Whatever the case may be, filming had gone pretty smoothy afterward. The sudden silence after all the past occurrences did nothing to quiet Emily’s nerves though.
It felt like the calm before the storm.
Getting up onto her feet, Valentina took both their plates to the sink. She pulled the curtain of her apartment. “Nicolas is really serious about your safety though,” she said, referring to the two vehicles with bodyguards downstairs.
Cameron, who Emily had offered to come inside, was stationed in the hallway, outside the front door.
“Is it normal for people like you guys to have a secret marriage?”
Emily frowned. “It’s not as much as secret now, but no. Or I don’t think so.”
Valentina’s eyes found hers gleaming. “Either way, I know Jake is going to have a fit when he finds out. It’s basically confirmed that he’s cheated on you with Stella after that video he claims is fake dropped.”
She sighed when the topic that had been gnawing at her finally came up. “Honestly, I wanted them to grovel, tohurt, to feel the same misery I felt back then. But now…now I’m starting to question everything.”
Emily thought her revenge would bring her happiness, would make her feel a sense of justice, but was it truly doing that? She didn’t know anymore.
There had been moments of what she thought was enjoyment, but they still lacked something. Somethingfulfilling.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is there may be far more important things in life.”
“Like the ridiculously attractive man you have at home? Nicolas is tens across the board, E. Minus one point for threatening me that if I were to make you cry, he’ll make me regret ever crossing your path.”
