PAINFUL, BUT REAL

PAINFUL, BUT REAL
Emily’s POV

“What?! Xender, have you lost your mind? You want me to actually accept the fact that we’re going to be working with Peach Porsche for this project?!” I questioned him. He seemed far too distracted with whatever he was doing on his laptop, which only added fuel to my anger.

“Xender!” I called out through gritted teeth with a warning edge.

“Emily, please. I chose her not because I wanted to make you uncomfortable or anything, but because of her status. She is the perfect public figure for this project. So could you please set aside whatever differences you had with her in the past—just until the situation with Elara is cleared?” he said, finally looking up at me for the first time since I walked into his office.

He looked stressed and exhausted. I couldn't help but feel worried that he was pushing himself too hard these days, so I decided to keep my cool.

“Just know I don't support this at all—especially Peach talking to or even touching Elara,” I said, crossing my arms stubbornly over my chest.

“I know, Emily. But Peach has practically been asking after you ever since I invited her for this role. Maybe it's time you let go of the past. I'm not asking you to be all friendly like you used to be, but just overlook her until the shoot is over.”

I let out a heavy sigh, finally deciding to drop it just for the success of this project—and maybe for Elara, who didn't deserve to be dragged into something that happened before she was even born.

“Fine. But if she so much as disrespects me, I will scratch her eyebrows out and feed them to her,” I snapped.

“Emily, please go help prepare Elara for the shoot alongside Charles and the other crew members, would you?”

I didn't know why he kept acting so annoyed. What was up with him?

“What about you? Aren't you coming? I thought you’d be doing the shoot with Miss Princess Peach Porsche?” I dragged out her name with utter disgust before rolling my eyes.

Xender, still deeply engrossed in his laptop, looked up again. This time he closed the device, set it aside, and dragged a hand through his hair.

“I thought I asked Charles to fill you in on the changes. I wonder why I’m still the one doing it now,” I heard him mutter under his breath before he stood up, grabbed his suit jacket, and made his way toward the door. I quickly followed.

“What changes are you talking about?” I asked as we walked down the hall toward the studio room.

There, I found Elara sitting at her little table, a stylist fixing her hair while she chatted with a figure I had hated since high school.

Peach Porsche.

The way she smiled at Elara while holding her tiny hands was so natural and sweet, and she was already dressed in her first outfit for the show. I couldn't help but lower my eyes at how stunning she looked.

I mean, I get it—she had a nice figure and was exactly what Xender needed for this project. But I would really appreciate it if she kept her distance from my daughter.

Without hesitation, I left Xender behind and headed straight for the table.

Before I reached her, Peach spotted me. She stood up and approached me with a radiant smile.

“Emily!”

She caught me completely off guard by pulling me into a warm hug. I couldn't bring myself to hug her back, and when she pulled away, she was still beaming from ear to ear.

“Emily, you look amazing! I can't believe we're meeting like this after so many years!” she exclaimed. But I couldn't help seeing her behavior as just another act pulled straight from a script to fool me.

I folded my arms across my chest, giving her a knowing look.

“You never fail to amaze me, Peach. So, you're really going to act like we're best friends who just lost touch? How funny. I would really appreciate it if you dropped the act, realized this isn't a movie scene, and went back to being the self-absorbed, proud Princess Peach I used to know,” I blurted out, not bothering to hide my disgust.

The smile on her face vanished instantly. She let out a soft scoff before a smirk curled the corner of her lips.

“You're still the exact same teenager I used to know. Even years of growing up didn't change a single thing about you. I can't believe you still blame me for what happened at our senior prom. Oh please, Emily—grow up.”

The way she rolled her eyes at the end only stoked my anger. If it weren't for all the eyes on us—including Elara, who was giggling with her stylist—I would have slapped her so hard she’d be dizzy for the rest of the shoot.

“Let's not cause a scene. I’d hate to ruin things for Xender,” I said through gritted teeth.

“Yeah, me too. So why don't you hold onto your act? I’d better go call my partner and see what's taking him so long,” she replied with a mischievous smile. She took a few steps backward, her gaze locked on mine, before turning and swaying her hips as she strutted away.

I bit hard on my lower lip, trying my best to suppress my rage as I watched her slip into the dressing room.

That bitch!

Oh, Xender... you are so paying me for this stress.

“Mom!” Elara called out, waving to catch my attention.

I immediately walked over to her, genuinely loving the way the stylist was doing her hair. After complimenting the beautiful work, I stayed and chatted until another stylist came from wardrobe to take Elara into the dressing room.

My little girl seemed completely relaxed and excited, happily waving goodbye to me as she went inside. Once the door closed behind her, I glanced around for Charles, realizing I hadn't seen him since he left to assist with shoot preparations.

Turning to find Xender, I saw him standing right behind me.

“Great, you're here,” I said, rolling my eyes at him. “I just hope you were standing there long enough to hear what that bitch had to say. Just know I’m only putting up with this because of Elara—otherwise, you know I would have torn her into a million pieces and put a stain on her perfect reputation.” I spoke with a calm tone that surprised even me.

“Thank you so much for choosing peace,” Xender said in that sarcastically annoying voice of his.

“Where is Charles? I can't find him anywhere.”

The moment I asked that, Xender’s demeanor shifted. He immediately slipped his hands into his pockets and began looking everywhere except at me.

“Xender!” I warned.

“Oh, here he is,” he said, pointing behind me.

Giving him one last look, I turned around. What I saw didn't just leave me stunned—it completely shattered the cool composure I’d been keeping ever since learning about Peach’s presence.

Standing behind me was Peach alongside Charles.

They were both wearing matching picnic outfits, styled like a couple, and Peach was already all smiles, laughing with him.

My hands clenched into tight fists as I whipped back to face Xender, who looked like a thief caught red-handed.

“What on earth is Charles doing standing next to that bitch?!” I demanded furiously.

“Those were the changes I was going to mention earlier, but you walked off before I could inform you,” Xender said, finally meeting my gaze as if this whole setup wasn't complete madness.

“So let me get this straight—you don't just want Elara in a shoot with that woman, you want Charles in on it too?!” I questioned, wanting nothing more than to smack Xender across the head.

“Yes, I had Charles fill in for my role. Why aren't you cool with it? Charles doesn't seem to have a problem with it,” Xender replied smoothly.

“What?! Why wouldn't he have a problem with it?!” I snapped, trying desperately to hide the fact that I was the only one getting worked up over her presence.

Xender brushed past me and made his way over to them.

Soon, Elara was brought out in a matching outfit, and Charles immediately picked her up from the stylist.

They looked perfect.

A picture-perfect family.

At that moment, a terrifying scenario flashed through my mind: Charles choosing someone else—someone who wasn't me.

Then he turned, and our eyes met. He quickly looked away without a single reaction, as if his gaze was never meant to cross mine in the first place. I felt so foolish. For the first time since coming back into his life, I forced myself to accept the painful thought that Charles might truly have no interest in me beyond being Elara's mother.