Chapter 21 Emma's Confession
Harper's Pov,
We drove to Evergreen Physical Therapy in tense silence.
When we pulled into the parking lot, I could see through the front windows that the waiting room was full. Afternoon appointments in full swing.
Perfect.
I pushed through the front door and the receptionist's eyes went wide when she saw me.
"Ms. Sinclair, you're not supposed to be—"
"I'm here to collect my belongings." I kept walking toward the staff area. "It won't take long."
"But Dr. Chen said—"
"Dr. Chen can talk to me herself if she has a problem."
I made it three steps before Dr. Chen appeared in the hallway, her expression tight. "Harper,” she said. “This isn't appropriate. I asked you to come at 6 PM."
"And I decided that didn't work for me." I met her eyes. "I've worked here for two years. I've helped build your client list, covered shifts when you needed me, stayed late when patients needed extra care. The least you can do is let me get my things on my own schedule."
"You're causing a scene."
"No, YOU caused a scene when you fired me for being assaulted." My voice carried, and I knew the waiting room could hear every word. Well, I didn't care.
"I'm just collecting my belongings."
Dr. Chen's face flushed red. "My office. Now."
"No!" The word came out clear and firm.
"I'm getting my things from my locker and leaving. You want to call security? Go ahead. But I'm not sneaking in after hours like I did something wrong."
We stood there in a standoff, Dr. Chen clearly trying to decide if making this a bigger scene was worth it.
Finally, she stepped aside. "Five minutes."
"I'll take as long as I need."
I walked past her to the staff area, Maya right behind me. My locker was exactly as I'd left it; work shoes, an extra set of scrubs, my therapy tools, photos I'd pinned to the inside of the door.
I pulled out the cardboard box Maya had grabbed from her car and started packing methodically.
"You okay?" Maya asked quietly.
"No." I said as I took down a photo of me and the staff at last year's holiday party, everyone smiling. "But I will be."
I was halfway through packing when I heard footsteps. Dr. Chen appeared in the doorway, arms crossed.
"For what it's worth," she said, "I didn't want to do this."
"But you did it anyway." I didn't look at her. "Because your business mattered more than the truth."
"That's not fair."
"Isn't it?" I turned to face her. "You know what happened, Dr. Chen. You saw the video. I was defending myself. But the second it became inconvenient for you, you threw me away. So don't stand there and tell me you didn't want to do it. You made a choice. Own it."
She opened her mouth in shock, then turned and walked away.
I finished packing in silence, taking my time with each item. When the box was full, I carried it out through the waiting room. Every patient looked up as I passed. Some looked away quickly. Others stared openly.
I didn't care anymore.
Maya held the door for me and we walked out into the parking lot. I loaded the box into her trunk and stood there for a moment, looking back at the clinic.
"You did good in there," Maya said. "Seriously. That took guts."
"I'm tired of letting people make me feel small." I got in the car. "Marcus wants me to break up with Crew to save his career. Joel's agent hired my old roommate to spy on me. Brianna's suing me. Everyone wants me to just disappear and make their lives easier. But I'm done with that."
"So what are you going to do?"
I pulled out my phone and opened my email. Emma's message was still there.
And it read:
Harper,
I know you probably hate me right now. I know what I did was unforgivable. But you need to know that when I reached out to you, I genuinely thought I was doing the right thing.
Richard told me you were dangerous. That you were using Crew, that you were going to hurt him. He showed me articles about the fight with Brianna, about Crew's overdose. He made it sound like I'd be helping everyone by getting information about your relationship.
I didn't know he was going to leak it publicly. I thought he just wanted to know what Crew was dealing with so he could protect Joel. By the time I realized what was really happening, it was too late.
I'm not asking for forgiveness. I don't deserve it. But I wanted you to know I'm sorry. And I wanted you to know something else.
Richard is planning something bigger. He mentioned a "final move" that would "end this whole mess before the wedding." I don't know what he means, but Harper, please be careful.
I know I have no right to warn you about anything. I know I'm part of the reason your life is falling apart. But I'm still your friend, even if you can never be mine again.
I'm so, so sorry.
\-Emma
_____
“You’ve got to be kidding me, Emma. After ruining my life, now you’re apologizing?” I said, half to myself.
Anyways, I hit reply and typed fast.
____
Emma,
"If you actually want to help, then tell me what Richard’s planning. Everything. I need to know what’s coming so I can prepare.
If you really feel guilty about what you did, prove it. Give me something I can use. Otherwise, I’ll assume this is just another one of your manipulation tricks.
And trust me… it’s not gonna work."
\- Harper
____
I hit send before I could second-guess myself.
"You think she'll actually tell you?" Maya asked.
"I don't know. But sitting around waiting for the next disaster isn't working." I opened a new email and started typing again. "And if she won't help, I'll find another way."
"Who are you emailing now?"
"Marcus." I typed quickly. "Telling him his offer is declined. That I'm not breaking up with Crew, I'm not disappearing, and if he tries to manipulate either of us again, I'll make sure every client he represents knows exactly what kind of agent he is."
Maya's eyebrows shot up. "That's bold."
"Exactly. And it’s necessary." I hit send on that email too. "I'm done playing defense. If they want a fight, I'll give them one."
Marcus responded almost immediately.
Your choice, Ms. Sinclair. But don't say I didn't warn you when this all falls apart.
I deleted it without responding.
Maya started the car. "So what now?"
"Now we go back to your apartment and I figure out how to survive the next 26 days without losing my mind." I looked out the window at Seattle passing by. "And then Crew comes home, and we figure out the rest together."
"What if Marcus is right? What if being with you does destroy his career?"
"Then he'll have a career as something else. With someone who actually loves him instead of seeing him as a brand to manage." I turned to Maya.
"I'm not letting them win. Not Joel, not Brianna, not Richard, not Marcus. I'm going to that wedding. I'm going to stand next to Crew and show everyone that what we have is real. And if his career can't survive that, then maybe it wasn't worth having."
Maya was quiet for a moment. Then she started; "You know what? I think you might actually pull this off."
"Either that or I'll crash and burn spectacularly."
"But either way, it'll be one hell of a story."
I got a notification for the second time. This time, it was Emma.
I'll tell you everything. Meet me tomorrow. I'll text you a location. Come alone.
I owe you that much.
I showed Maya the message.
"It's probably a trap," she said.
"Probably." I typed back a single word: When?
Emma's response came immediately: Tomorrow. 10 AM. I'll send the address in the morning.
"You're really going to meet her?" Maya asked.
"Yes." I put my phone away. "Because if Richard is planning something that could hurt Crew, I need to know what it is. And right now, Emma's the only lead I have."
"I'm coming with you."
"She said to come alone."
"I don't care what she said. You're not meeting your backstabbing ex-friend alone in some mysterious location. I'll wait in the car if you want, but I'm coming."
I didn't argue. Truth was, I didn't want to go alone anyway.
The countdown was still on.
Twenty-six days until Crew came home.
Twenty-five days until Joel's wedding.
And tomorrow, I was meeting with the woman who'd betrayed me to find out what fresh hell was coming next.