“What’s wrong with you? Why are you going this far?”
“What’s wrong with me?” Emily cocked her head, lips quirking. “It was just a slip of the tongue. No different than what happened at your function. Consider me drunk off this atmosphere.
“Or maybe I’m drunk off something else. The vibes surrounding you and her while kissing in that pool? You two really seemed like you were having a blast.”
His jaw tightened. “I already told you that’s fake andsince you don’t believe me, then I don’t want to do this anymore with you, Emily.”
Emily was feeling wronged all over again. But hell if she let it show.
“Let’s end this. Us.” Jake looked at her with the eyes she used to love. “Ican’tdo this. You’ve become someone I don’t recognize; selfish, vindictive. I just…can’t.” Then he stooped down and wrapped his arms around Stella as he held her bridal style.
Stella buried her face in his neck as she cried as if her life depended on it. It was funny; she’d never been the best actress. But today? She was nailing it.
“Jake, it hurts.”
Emily stood there, unmoving.
Four years.
The words blared in her head.
“Okay,” she agreed calmly, taking them both by surprise. They clearly expected a spiral. “Let’s break up.”
Stella looked up from his hold, stunned.
So the tears are gone now?
“But let me warn you, Jake Mallion,” she said, her voice like steel. “You’ll regret ever meeting me.”
“Emily?”
She swiftly wiped at her eyes, surprised.
“H-Hi. You’re back early.”
Nicolas’s eyes narrowed.
He immediately walked over and crouched in front of the sofa. He brushed her hair away, almost reverently, before his eyes absorbed every inch of her face.
“Who did this to you?”
His tone was murderous.
Her head shook with a silent plea.
“Emily, answer me.” His voice was clearly strained from wanting to know and not trying to scare her. “Who. Did. This. To. You?”
She gazed at him, pupils shaking. “Do you think I’m stupid for still being affected by him?” Her fingers dug into the fabric at the back hem of his jacket. “I thought I’d gotten past the point of him getting to me. That it was a given that nothing he could do could get under my skin, but t-today was…”
Nicolas knew who this “him” was without her having to spell it out. He looked like he wanted to end his existence. He sighed instead, thumb skimming her cheek. “If you want to cry, then cry. You’ll feel much better afterward.”
She had been holding it in all day, but after hearing his words, she burst into tears.
He was patient, holding her for what felt like forever, whispering that it was okay, that she wasn’t stupid nor weak, and that everything was going to be alright.
After calming down, there was a feeling of embarrassment. Why was she crying in front of her husband over an ex-fiancé who didn’t give a damn about her?
“S-Sorry, I shouldn’t cry over insignificant things like this.” Emily croaked after freeing herself from his strong arms.
