Chapter 89
Chapter 89
The mansion was quiet, to quiet. Emily lay curled up in Alex’s bed, staring at the ceiling as the storm outside rattled the windows. Rain tapped against the glass like impatient fingers, and thunder rolled in the distance. But it wasn’t the storm outside that had her heart pounding, it was the storm inside her.
Alex had left an hour ago to speak with her father. She hadn’t begged him not to go. She hadn’t stopped him. But now that he was gone, all she could think about was how everything could come crashing down in a single conversation.
She gripped the sheets tightly, her knuckles white. Her phone sat beside her on the bed, but it hadn’t lit up since he left. No updates. No calls. No messages. Just silence.
Her heart squeezed painfully.
The door creaked open, and Emily sat up immediately, hope flaring in her chest.
It wasn’t Alex.
It was Sarah.
She stood by the door, arms folded, eyebrows raised as she scanned the room. “Wow,” she said dryly. “Didn’t think you’d still be here.”
Emily sighed. “What do you want, Sarah?”
“To see the mess for myself.” She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “You know, it’s not even about the age difference anymore. It’s about the scandal. Your dad’s best friend? Public? You didn’t even try to hide it.”
Emily’s jaw clenched. “I’m not ashamed.”
“You should be.”
“No, Sarah. You should be for thinking love comes with terms and conditions. For thinking I need your permission to feel anything.”
Sarah scoffed. “You’re so naïve. You think love is going to fix everything? You think Alex is going to save you from the backlash?”
Emily stood from the bed, eyes blazing. “He’s not saving me. We’re saving each other. And I don’t care what you or anyone else thinks.”
Before Sarah could respond, the door opened again.
Alex.
He looked exhausted. His hair was damp from the rain, and his shirt clung to his body. His eyes found Emily instantly, and she ran to him.
“Are you okay?” she asked, her hands gripping his.
He gave a slow nod. “I spoke to him.”
Emily swallowed. “And?”
Alex turned to Sarah, silently asking for privacy. Sarah rolled her eyes but left without another word.
Once they were alone, Alex let out a breath and sat on the edge of the bed, pulling Emily into his arms.
“He’s angry,” he began. “But he’s not disowning you.”
Tears pooled in her eyes. “He spoke to you?”
“He yelled at first. Said he trusted me more than anyone. Said I betrayed him.”
Emily’s heart ached. “Did you tell him how long it’s been?”
“I told him everything. That I love you. That it wasn’t a game. That I didn’t mean for it to happen, but now that it has, I’m not walking away.”
Emily leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his torso. “What did he say?”
“He said… he needs time. But he won’t try to break us up. He just needs time to understand.”
Emily sobbed into his chest, relief and fear mixing together. “Do you think he’ll ever accept it?”
“I don’t know,” Alex whispered. “But I’ll wait. I’ll wait forever if I have to.”
They stayed like that for a long time, holding each other, letting the storm outside echo the whirlwind of emotions inside them.
Later that night, they moved into the living room. The fireplace crackled softly, throwing golden light across the walls.
Alex poured them both a glass of wine, and Emily curled up beside him on the couch.
“You’re quiet,” he said, brushing her hair back.
“I’m scared.”
He kissed her forehead. “So am I. But I’d rather be scared with you than safe without you.”
Emily nodded, eyes wide and soft. “When you were gone, I thought maybe you’d change your mind. That maybe all this would be too much.”
Alex turned to her fully. “Emily, listen to me. I don’t care what they say. I don’t care how messy it gets. You’re the only thing that feels right in this whole world.”
She reached up and cupped his face. “I love you, Alex.”
He leaned in and kissed her slowly like it was a vow. “I love you too. And I’m not going anywhere.”
Their lips met again, this time with more urgency. Emily climbed onto his lap, straddling him as their kisses deepened.
Clothes were discarded between gasps and moans. The fire crackled louder. His hands roamed her body, memorizing every inch like he was afraid he’d forget it all tomorrow.
“I want to feel everything,” she whispered.
“You will,” he promised, his voice low and husky.
He lifted her, carried her back to the bedroom. The storm outside had eased, but inside those walls, a different storm raged, a storm of passion, love, desperation.
When they finally lay tangled together beneath the sheets, both breathless and spent, Emily rested her head against his chest.
“Promise me something,” she murmured.
“Anything.”
“No matter what happens… you won’t let me go.”
Alex pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Never. You’re mine, Emily. And I’ll fight the whole damn world if I have to.”
Outside, the rain slowed to a drizzle. And for the first time in a long while, Emily felt like maybe, just maybe, they could weather any storm together.