Chapter 4
Emma’s face was pale, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.
She hadn’t expected the rumors to spiral out of control this far. In everyone’s eyes, she’d become a disgraceful villain in someone else’s
story.
Just as she turned to leave, a group of socialites blocked her path.
“Mrs. Lederer, where are you going? The party’s just getting started.
“Come hang out with us!”
Their words sounded friendly, but their actions were anything but. Someone deliberately spilled red wine on her dress. Another “accidentally” bumped into her. Then, without warning, someone shoved her straight into the pool.
Splash!
The icy water swallowed her whole. The stinging sensation as water flooded her nose made her struggle instinctively. She clawed at the edge of the pool, trying desperately to pull herself up.
Just as her fingers brushed the edge, a hand with bright red nails shoved down on her head.
“Help… Help me…”
“Help? Who’s going to help you? Do you even realize how many women in this circle would kill to have Braydon? He loved you so
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much–treated you like his whole world–and this is how you repay him? You’re nothing but a filthy slut. You should just die here!”
The water surged into her nose again, choking her breath. Everything started to go dark.
But what truly suffocated her wasn’t the drowning–it was their words.
They called her shameful. Loose. Said Braydon loved her like his life. What a joke.
“What the hell are you doing?”
A furious voice suddenly boomed out. The pressure on her head
vanished.
Through the blur of her vision, Emma saw Braydon charging toward
her like a madman.
She almost laughed. “What was he so panicked about? Wasn’t this the mess he created?” she thought to herself.
Braydon pulled her out of the water, face dark with rage as he turned on the crowd.
“Are you out of your damn minds? You laid a hand on my wife?”
“Mr. Lederer, we just couldn’t stand seeing her betray you like that…”
“Enough!” Braydon snapped, not even bothering to explain what had happened. His voice was cold. “Even if the child Emma was carrying was the kidnapper’s, I still love her. I always have–and that will never change!”
Gasps of admiration followed. “Mr. Lederer is so devoted…” Amid the
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whispers of awe, Braydon scooped up Emma, soaked and trembling, and stormed out of the party.
In the lounge, he brought her a dry towel and gently began drying her hair.
“Emma, I know you’ve been wronged. This is all my fault.” His voice was soft. “I promise–something like today will never happen again.
“Just hang in there a little longer, okay? Once Caitlin has the baby, I’ll send her overseas. Then everything will go back to the way it was between us.”
But Emma didn’t believe that. There was no going back–and no future
either.
“I’m going home,” she said, completely drained.
Braydon paused. “The party’s still going on. It wouldn’t look good if we left together right now. I’ll have the driver take you back first. I’ll come back later to be with you, alright?”
Emma couldn’t tell if he meant it wouldn’t look good or if he just didn’t want to leave Caitlin alone.
She let out a soft, bitter laugh but didn’t bother confronting him. She was too tired. She turned and left.
As soon as Emma returned to the villa, she began packing her things.
One item at a time, she erased every trace of herself from this house.
She didn’t know how long she’d been at it, but just as she closed the last suitcase, the door burst open.
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Braydon stood in the doorway, eyes widening in alarm at the sight of the luggage strewn across the floor.
“Emma, what are you doing? Why are you packing your things?
“Where are you going?”
