Chapter 23
EMMA
Perhaps because I held what happened Last night so close to my heart. It consumed my every thought, and I felt giddy just thinking about how I felt in that moment; so hearing him refer to my first experience–and considerably the best one–with such a vile ward and harshness in his tone makes me both hurt and furious..
My hands clench by my sides, and I spit “Disgusting“”
Will shakes his head. “It was a mistake, Emma. That’s what it must
st and should remain. You’re my-
“It wasn’t a mistake–not to me. I cut off his sentence, my heart pressing in my chest as 1 plead for him to take those words back, but he doesn’t Instead, he continues his cruelty, his voice sharp when he says, “h should be ”
I remain frozen for a few seconds before attempting to close the space between our bodies, “Will, L
He takes two steps backward before I even take one forward and my heart drops, the heaviness of holding back the tears that threaten to fall anytime from now lightening my thmal
“You should leave” He dismisses me and those words are like a dagger to my heart–one that Will continuously plunge in and out.
“No 1 whisper with a slight tremble in my voice, my vision becoming blurry. “No. 1-
“Leave.” He repeats with a sharper edge to his voice and my heart stutters, disbelief wrecking my nerves. I stare at him, uncaring of how much hus words hurt and when he turns away from me, putting his back to me, I nod gently before turning towards his door because my heart can handle no
More.
I stop as my hand curls around the knob and it’s stupid of me to expect a change in his words. Yet I wait a second, a minute, two minutes, and
then live.
Nothing
He says nothing and not wanting to make a bagger fool of myself, I twist the knob and walk out of his office; the door shutting soundlessly behind me. The tears I’ve been holding onto drop the minute I step outside his door and a sob breaks from my throat.
I hurts.
Goddess. It hurts.
The sound of approaching footsteps makes me quickly lift my head and I wipe my tears as my eyes meet with ones I don’t see around often–my. stepmother’s.
I’m startled by her presence and 1 bow my head in her direction before attempting to walk past her quietly, but her words stop me.
“Do you know Killian hasn’t been back here since you arrived! The mention of my father makes my throat shift and I wait a few seconds before I turn to her. She’s staring at me and when she lifts a brow, prodding me to answer her question, 1 jerk my head. “I know”
She turns her entire body in my direction “And it doesn’t bother you?”
I remain silent, and she chuckles. “How selfish could you possibly be. Emma? Your Exther–iny husband–is our there because of you. You know he
y couldn’t you just stay where doesn’t like being around you. You know how much your presence irritates him, yet you chose to be here. Why? Why you were! Why did you have to come back?”
Weariness fills my insides, and I bow my head to her again. “Tm sorry” Without waiting to hear another word from her, I dash down the hallway and make for my room
The door slams behind me when I enter and I push a hand through my hair before sliding down the wooden material, tears running down my face.
Their words and their rejection weigh heavily on my heart, pressing and dragging me down until it feels too suffocating and I place a hand over my chest, harshly caressing and knocking the spot to ease the constriction there.
The sadness that overwhelms my being turns into annoyance, then binerness and finally hatred. Hatred at me. Hatred at this goddess–forsaken world that’s never been fair to me. And finally hatred toward them–towards him.
Being rejected by the rest of the entire world is one thing but getting rejected by the one man who’s consumed your every thought and who you find yourself drawn to in ways that you can’t even begin to explain feels like death and I find myself unable to breathe when his words echo in my head repeatedly–the malice and nonchalance at which he uttered them gnawing at me.
I was so
was so stupid
So damn stupid.
11/3
16 PM c
Chapter 21
Eletoun a bitter laugh as I hide my face in my hair. Why? Why did I think something might finally take root just because we shared one kiss! One kiss that meant nothing to hun.
That word comes to mind again, and 1 hit my chest harder, faster, and louder. The ache there doesn’t go away. No it doesn’t. The more those images flash in my head–pressed to the wall, his hands on me, his mouth on mine, skin against skin, the excitement I couldn’t contain, getting thrilled for the best time–the nvote my heart aches and Ethrow my head against my door, letting myself drown in my tears until it doesn’t have to hurt anymore.
Is every first kiss usually this unpaciful or did I underestimate just how much I truly feel for him–even after hours of weeping last night and eventually going to bed with teary eyes, I still wake up in a sour mood and my chest feeling heavier than before.
I don’t want to get out of bed. All I want to do is hide under these covers and not absow the mess I’ve made of myself to the outside world.
Still, I push myself up and stay in a sitting position for several minutes before finally climbing out of bed. I almost trip over my feet, barely feeling any strength in my legs as I walk to my minor.
I look just as I feel–empty and a mess,
My eyes have never looked more ugly–wah bark circles and red with the remains of my tears. My hair is tangled in my head, practically making a best, and I have a mumming nose. 1 look a wreck, like I’ve just gone through the worst moment of my life and maybe I have because even in my sleep. 1 Ich tormented
1 drive a land through my hair before drawing closer in the mirror.
What about me is so bad? Why was he disgustrit Because I’m his stepsister? Was I mot his stepsister when he kissed me? When he devoured my mouth like he couldn’t get enough? When he pulled me out of bed and trailed those kisses down my neck Worshipping my skin in a way no one has ever done?
There goes those stupid tears again… –
I wipe them away, sniffing, before moving from the mirror. I force the thoughts down and make for the restroom.
With no strength to wash, I just splash water on my face at the sink before entering the room again and changing into my training fit.
I try my best to fix my hair before exiting the room. The hallway is busy as I walk down it and I’m rounding the corner when I freeze at the scene before the stairs.
“Dad” the whisper leaves me and I remain hidden by the wall as I watch the bene unfold in front of me.
My stepmother and stepsister are before him, hugging and touching him continually
“I’ve missed you. Why did you leave without a word? I’ve been so worried” Nina whines and Dad… he–he smiles. He actually smiles. It isn’t one of those forced ones I sometimes see him give his guests. No, it isn’t that. It’s a genuine smile–one that reaches his eyes and makes them twinkle.
My father is smiling at his stepdaughter.
Perhaps because I’ve always kept myself hidden from him, so I didn’t get to see much of their interactions. I knew he treated them with kindness, but I didn’t think…
He’s beaming. Smiling and rubbing her hair as he says, “I’m sorry, baby. I had to get out of here for a while. It felt too choking. What Will did… “Are you still mad at him! My stepmother asks now, stepping closer to him. “You know how much Will has always cared for others and he might not seem like it, but he’s always held a soft spot for that girl. He must have pitied her, my kindhearted boy.”
Pities. Is that what it’s been all along
“He should have informed in before making that decision, nonetheless, Dad grits, his face hardening, and Tyra, my stepmother, quickly places a hand on has chest in an attempt to calin him That was his fault, I agree, but do not hold it against him. He’s your son, after all, is he not?”
He meets her eyes and gives a soft smile. “He is. With an even bigger smile on her face, my stepmom lifts off her feet, pushing forward, and Dad takes her chin with his free hand before pressing his lips to hers.
I look away, my heart thumping loudly in my chest.
“Ew? Get a room, you two!” The wind of their laughter fills the air and echoes around, causing the to look back at them. My father now i stepslaughter and his second chance mate on each arm
“This means you’re back. Right Dail” Dud.
Chapter 23
No I’m still leaving. I just had to come here to check on you. How have you been?” His question is directed at Nina and hearing him being. concerned about his stepdaughter makes my heart break. Even after throwing me into the lion’s den for years, sending me far away and leaving me to suffer my father didn’t care for how I survived. The welcome I got was the familiar look of repugnance in his eyes, yet here he is concerned for his family after being gone for just a few weeks.
Family
A tear rolls down my cheek knowing I’ve never meant that to him and I’d probably never but watching him with them–watching how happy he looks and how he speaks to them with kindness and consideration in his every word makes me feel even more pathetic.
He looks and sounds whole with them. So why why’s he punishing me so much He doesn’t look like he’s hurting with them in his arms, hugging and kissing the wife who hangs off one arm while his stepdaughter cuddles the other.
1 put a hand over my mouth to keep back the sob that threatens to break, knowing I never have that.
Not his kindness, not his worry, and definitely not his love.
He sees me as nothing but a constant reminder of what he’s lost and I’d always be an object of hate for him. I’d never know what it feels like to be in my father’s arms and I’d never… I’ve always known and I thought I have come to accept it but seeing them like this–so joyful and so contented with each other’s presence makes me realize just how much I’d never have.
“Emma” I freeze at the sound of my name as a tear drops.
