Chapter 18
Emily stepped out from behind Joshua and met Alex’s gaze head–on.
His stomach twisted.
There was fear in her eyes–a flicker of disgust too–but not a shred of love.
And for the first time, a horrifying thought struck him: She doesn’t love me anymore.
No. That couldn’t be tron
She was just angry. Hurt. She had to be
Alex swallowed hard, forcing himself to speak gently. “Can we tall? I just… I need to explain.”
Emily looked toward Joshua. He understood immediately and offered her a reassuring nod.
“I’ll be right outside,” he said softly, taking Lily’s hand. “Call if you need anything
Emily gave a grateful and.
As they stepped out, Alex’s expression hardened at the easy way she leaned on another man. That closeness gnawed at him.
Alone now, Emily didn’t move. Her tone was polite but cold. “What is it you’d like to discuss, Mr. Harrington?”
Her formal address stung more than any insult.
“Don’t call me that,” he said, his voice catching. “I know I screwed up. I know what Sophia did to you. And I’ve made her pay for every bit of it.”
He launched into the detalls–how Sophia’s family had lost everything, how every single person who had ridiculed or belittled Emily, publicly or behind closed doors, had been dealt with. Ruined. Silenced.
His eyes softened. “Sweetheart, I know you’ve always wanted kids. Come back with me–we’ll have them. As many as you want ”
u and me from
There was a glimmer of hope in his voice now, a desperate lilt. “We can start fresh. You can do whatever you want. I swear, it’ll just be you.
“I never loved Sophia. She was a mistake. Just a meaningless fling. I didn’t think it would hurt you so badly…”
He kept talking, spilling promises and regrets, but Emily stood there, unmoved, her expression unreadable. It felt like she was listening to someone else’s story–alife she’d already left behind.
Only when he mentioned children did something in her eyes flicker, briefly,
But it was gone as fast as it came.
“Mr. Harrington,” she said, cutting him off, her voice calm and sure, “one of that matters anymore.”
“I’ve let go. And I hope, someday, you’ll find a way to let me go too.”
Her words were clear, Steady. Final.
“I don’t love you anymore. You can drag me back, lock me away, or even kill me if you want–but it won’t change how I feel. My heart’s not with you.” She looked him dead in the eyes, not flinching once,
She held his gaze, watching hope fade from his eyes, replaced by rage, then a deeper helplessness. Whatever he felt, it no longer mattered to her. Bur Emily no longer cared.
He had come here ready to force her back if needed–ready to tear the world apart to keep her.
But now, hearing her speak like this, with such unwavering resolve, something inside him cracked.
He hesitated, a flicker of doubt holding him back from forcing her. For the first time, he felt utterly lost.
Emily stood still for a beat, waiting. When he didn’t answer, she turned and headed for the door.
As the passed him, he suddenly reached out and caught her wrist
His touch was ice–cold.
Emily’s brow creased. “Your hand’s freezing. It’s uncomfortable.”
Chapter 18
Copy Share
20 221
He let go instantly, like her words had scorched him.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice raw, “you’re really not coming back with me?”
She rubbed her wrist gently, shaking her head. “No. I’m not.”
And she kept walking–without hesitation, without looking back.
She was done with that chapter of her life. Done living in Alex Harrington’s shadow.
Through the glass, Alex watched as Emily stepped outside, where Joshua and Lily were waiting. He saw her laugh faintly when Lily tugged her hand.
And just like that, she was gone.
He stood there, frozen, clutching his chest as if to hold together the pieces of something that had already shattered. The emptiness inside him deepened, sharp and unforgiving.
He let go instantly, like her words had scorched him.
“Sweetheart,” he whispered, his voice raw, “you’re really not coming back with me?”
She rubbed her wrist gently, shaking her head. “No. I’m
And she kept walking–without hesitation, without looking back
She was done with that chapter of her life. Done living in Alex Harrington’s shadow.
Through the glass, Alex watched as Emily stepped outside, where Joshua and Lily were waiting. He saw her laugh faintly when Lily tugged her hand.
And just like that, she was gone.
He stood there, frozen, clutching his chest as if to hold together the pieces of something that had already shattered. The emptiness inside him deepened, sharp and unforgiving
