Chapter 147

Emily

I couldn’t stop laughing.

It wasn’t because what Mateo had suggested was funny. It was because I’d spent the last few days expecting him to surprise me, and somehow he’d managed to disappoint me instead.

He watched me over the table, his expression growing darker with every second my laughter continued.

“You’re enjoying yourself,” he said flatly.

“I really am.”

“I don’t see what’s amusing.”

I leaned back in my chair and looked at him, still smiling.

“Mateo, of everything you could have said, of every deal you could have offered me, that’s what you came up with? You honestly expect me to stay married to you for nine months? You somehow believe that’s a reasonable compromise?”

His jaw tightened.

“You’d rather go back to Ryan.”

“I’d rather spend the rest of my life alone than become part of whatever arrangement you just described.”

“You make it sound worse than it is.”

“I don’t think that’s possible.”

For a brief moment, neither of us spoke. The waiter walked past our table carrying a tray of drinks, completely unaware that the conversation happening beside him was falling apart by the second.

Mateo leaned forward again, his elbows resting lightly on the table.

“You’ve rejected every offer I’ve made, Emily.”

“Because every offer you’ve made has benefited you.”

“It benefits you too.”

I smiled.

“No. It benefits the version of you that’s terrified of disappointing your father.”

Something flickered across his face.

There it was.

The nerve I’d been looking for.

“You don’t know anything about my relationship with my father.”

“I know enough.”

He sat back slowly, studying me with narrowed eyes before reaching for the leather folder beside him.

“I was hoping we wouldn’t have to do this.”

I watched him slide another large envelope across the table.

“I’ve seen enough envelopes from you.”

“So have I.”

His smile returned, calmer this time.

“But unlike yesterday, this one belongs to you.”

I rested my fingertips on the envelope without opening it.

“What is it?”

“Proof.”

“Of what?”

He gestured toward it.

“Open it.”

I held his gaze for another second before pulling the photographs out one after another.

Ryan.

My fingers paused.

The first picture showed him lying in a hotel bed.

The second showed Miranda sitting beside him.

The third was taken from another angle, close enough to make it seem as though she had climbed onto the bed.

By the fourth picture, anyone looking from the outside would have reached exactly the conclusion Mateo wanted.

I finished looking through them before placing every photograph neatly back on the table.

Mateo watched me carefully.

“Well?”

I looked up.

“Well what?”

“You’re remarkably calm.”

“I should be screaming?”

“I expected something.”

I gave a small shrug.

“You’re going to have to try harder.”

His brows pulled together.

“Those pictures don’t bother you?”

“They tell me absolutely nothing.”

He let out a short laugh.

“Emily, your husband is in bed with another woman.”

“And?”

“And that’s your response?”

I slid the photographs back across the table until they stopped in front of him.

“There’s something you still don’t understand, Mr. Montego.”

He folded his arms.

“I’m listening.”

“Ryan is a man of integrity.”

His expression remained unchanged.

“Even if something happened exactly the way these pictures are trying to suggest, it wouldn’t end up in the hands of people like you.”

“What makes you so sure?”

“Because Ryan doesn’t live his life that way.”

I leaned forward slightly, keeping my voice calm.

“Photographs can be staged. Angles can lie. Moments can be stolen out of context. If you wanted to convince me, you should’ve brought me something better than this.”

His jaw flexed.

“You have a lot of faith in him.”

“I have enough.”

For the first time since I’d sat down, Mateo looked genuinely frustrated.

I could almost see him searching for another move, another threat, another way to regain control of the conversation.

He didn’t find one.

I pushed my chair back and stood.

“I think we’re done here.”

“You haven’t answered me.”

“Oh, I have.”

I picked up my handbag and slipped it onto my shoulder before looking down at him.

“You’ll cancel this wedding.”

He laughed quietly.

“And if I don’t?”

I smiled.

“Half.”

His forehead creased.

“Half of your assets.”

The smile disappeared from his face.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“Not at all.”

I rested both hands lightly on the table.

“You’ll transfer half of everything you own to me, or I’ll walk straight into your father’s office with the photographs I have. If he decides to protect you, that’s his choice. If he doesn’t…” I shrugged casually. “The press always loves a scandal, especially when it involves the acting CEO of one of the country’s biggest companies.”

His eyes hardened.

“You wouldn’t.”

“Wouldn’t I?”

“You’d destroy the company.”

“I wouldn’t be the one destroying it.”

Silence stretched between us.

I watched his jaw tighten until I genuinely thought he might crack a tooth.

The anger rolling off him was almost visible.

Good.

For once, he knew exactly what it felt like to lose control.

I smiled politely.

“If that’s all, Mr. Montego, I’ll take my leave.”

He didn’t stop me.

He couldn’t.

I walked out of the restaurant without looking back, keeping my pace steady until I reached the waiting car. The moment the door closed behind me, every ounce of confidence I’d been wearing slipped away, and I let out a long breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding.

“Oh, God…”

I leaned back against the seat and covered my face for a second before letting out a nervous laugh.

“I actually did that.”

The driver pulled away from the restaurant while I reached into my handbag for my phone.

There was one answer I needed before I made another move.

Morgan picked up almost immediately.

“Emily?”

I swallowed.

“Tell me the truth.”

A brief silence met my words.

“Is it true?”

Morgan didn’t ask what I meant.

“…Yes.”

My fingers tightened around the phone.

“Cecelia switched you at birth.”

The words settled heavily between us.

I closed my eyes.

“I almost gave her another chance, Morgan.”

“I know.”

“I almost believed there was still something human left in her.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I drew in a slow breath, opened my eyes, and stared out the window as the city drifted past.

When I spoke again, my voice was calm enough to make even me pause.

“I’ll take care of Cecelia.”

Morgan didn’t interrupt.

“It’s time…” I said quietly, tightening my grip on the phone, “…to make them all pay.”