MAKING IT WORK

MAKING IT WORK
Xender’s POV

I didn't want to feel bad about the whole situation with Peach Porsche, but I needed everything ready by the end of the week.

I needed to set a trap for Seth so he would make a move against me.

Just as I suspected, the security guard from Mr. and Mrs. Barnard's residence was working for Seth. I already had my people tailing him.

Seth could easily deny knowing that the body discovered wasn't actually Alda’s, pinning the whole blame on the search party who claimed to have found her deep in the woods—even though Seth was the one who planted it there after Alda’s real body went missing.

He could easily have the doctor who supplied the corpse and forged the matching DNA tests take the fall in court. He could dodge the fake DNA bullet entirely by letting others take the heat for him.

The shoot started shortly after, and I stood off to the side, observing to ensure everything went according to plan.

Emily had gone completely quiet.

At first, she sat off to the side, away from the rest of the crew running around. An hour or two into the shoot, she stepped in during a break to feed Elara a few snacks before shooting resumed. After getting distracted by work for a bit, I glanced back toward the table where she’d been sitting, but she was gone.

That didn't help my mood, because I knew she had to be furious.

The shoot went on for another four hours. Throughout that entire time, I only saw Emily walk in occasionally to check on Elara before vanishing again until we wrapped up.

When it was over, she reappeared to pick up a now-sleeping Elara, holding three bags in her hands.

I walked over to her, feeling a sudden urge to apologize. I hadn't even considered her feelings. I had assumed that after so many years, things wouldn't be quite so tense between her and Peach.

“Hey, Emily,” I called out as I approached, reaching out to take the sleeping child from her arms. “I'll help you carry her to the car.”

She simply nodded and led the way. Her silence made the whole atmosphere ten times worse.

I would have preferred her screaming or cursing at me over this deafening silence.

Once I buckled Elara securely into her car seat, I waited for Emily to load her bags into the trunk before approaching her again.

“You're angry, aren't you?” I asked, my gaze lingering on her face before I looked away.

“About what? I'm not angry at all,” she said, though her tone betrayed her completely.

“I'm really sorry, Emily, if the shoot hurt you in any way. I just needed Peach for—”

“I am not angry, Xender, so please just drop it!” Her voice spiked sharply before she threw herself into the car and slammed the door shut.

Yep. She was far from okay.

I decided to leave her be and made my way back inside, only to find Charles standing near the entrance holding my phone.

“You need to take this. It seems Mr. Sebastian is catching up to us.”

I grabbed the phone from him after seeing Mike’s name on the caller ID.

“I'll drive Emily and Elara home and come back for you,” Charles offered.

I put Mike on hold for a second. “There's no need for that, Charles. You need some rest too, and it's getting late. You can head home after dropping Emily off. I'll see you tomorrow.”

He nodded once and walked off. I headed deeper into the building, pressing the phone to my ear where Mike was still waiting.

“What happened? Fill me in on every detail.”

“Mr. Sebastian already had the body cremated. He claims he scattered her ashes over the sea Alda used to love,” Mike reported. I could hear the deep distress in his voice.

I wasn't even slightly surprised by this move.

“Have someone follow the doctor involved in this. If possible, find me someone working closely with him who's willing to do anything for quick cash. I'm going to show Seth what real vulnerability feels like. I have a feeling he's going to start eliminating anyone who knows the truth. Have you set up the meeting with his security buddy first? Can you get me alone with him?”

“Yes, that won't be hard at all. I'll let you know as soon as it's arranged.”

Once the line went dead, I went inside to grab my car keys.

I needed to pay a visit to Alda’s driver. I had a few questions I desperately needed him to answer.

Charles’s POV

She was quiet. Way too quiet.

She had insisted on sitting in the back seat with Elara, but I knew the real reason—she was suffocating under the heavy, bitter cloud of Peach’s unexpected presence. I intended to apologize to her, to say something—anything—to break through the icy barrier, but deep down, I knew she wouldn't let me. Not right now.

My gaze kept flicking to the rearview mirror, tracking her silent profile as I struggled to focus on the road ahead.

This was all Xender’s fault. First, he drags Peach into this project without a warning, and then suddenly he excuses himself from the shoot altogether, leaving me behind to endure this agonizing silent torture. It was unbearable, especially knowing that Emily and I were both walking on eggshells, desperately trying to assemble the shattered pieces of what was already broken between us.

I felt like a hollow shell of myself. I didn't even know what I wanted anymore.

I wanted to stop walking in the shadows of our history. I didn't want our past mistakes to dictate our future, but a bitter truth gnawed at my chest: I was too much of a coward to face it. Maybe it was because I was terrified of having to pick up my broken heart all over again—just like I had to do three years ago when Emily dumped my ass to chase her dreams across the world.

Maybe I was just too terrified of letting go of the pain because the pain was the only thing that felt safe.

I finally pulled up in front of the Armstrong residence and put the car in park. Before I could even undo my seatbelt, Emily stepped out of the vehicle and walked over to my side.

“Give me a minute. I will get Elara to her nanny and come back for the bags,” she said softly, her voice devoid of any warmth.

Before I could even question her about a nanny—since she had never once mentioned hiring anyone—the front door opened, and a middle-aged woman walked out toward us. After greeting us briefly, she carefully took the sleeping Elara into her arms and carried her inside.

Emily turned to retrieve the bags from the trunk while I just stood there, watching her every move. The tension between us had been undeniable ever since her return, but tonight, the weight of the unspoken words hanging in the air was so heavy it felt suffocating.

“You didn't tell me about the nanny,” I said, my voice quiet, unsure if I even had the right to bring it up.

“I was going to inform you today,” she replied, keeping her eyes fixed on the bags. “Mom sent her over to help with Elara so I could focus more on work. I was going to bring it to your attention, but I guess we were both too busy.”

I simply nodded, unable to push the subject further.

“I will be heading inside now. Thank you for driving us home,” she added.

The emotional distance in her eyes and the cold, formal edge in her voice were utterly killing me.

“You can drive the car home. I will have someone pick it up tomorrow.” With that, she turned her back on me and began walking toward the house.

I wanted to let her go. I wanted to force myself to believe that keeping my distance was for the best. But before my brain could rationalize the fear holding me back, my body acted on pure, desperate instinct.

I reached out and grabbed her wrist, pulling her back toward me until there was little to no space left between us.

Her eyes snapped to mine in complete confusion. She looked down at my hand wrapped tightly around her wrist before raising her gaze back to meet mine.

I leaned in closer, eliminating every inch of air between us. My gaze dropped to her lips—slightly parted, looking as though they were desperately waiting to be kissed—before my eyes locked back onto hers.

Reaching out with my free hand, I gently brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear, drinking in her breathtaking beauty under the dim streetlights.

“Beautiful,” I breathed softly.

My hand moved down to cradle her cheek. A soft, shuddering breath escaped her, and she instinctively leaned into my touch. I gently brushed my thumb across her lower lip, feeling the tremor in her breath.

“Charles... what... what are you doing?” she asked, her voice raspy, soft, and sounding like a sweet melody to my aching heart. The raw desire flashing deep within her eyes told me everything I needed to know—I wasn't the only one yearning for this closeness.

“I miss you, Emily. I miss you so much,” I confessed, finally voicing the heavy truth I had been suppressing.

Emily reached up, taking my hand that was resting against her cheek, and entwined her fingers with mine. She brought my hand to her mouth, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against my skin. The simple gesture sent a wave of overwhelming pressure straight through my chest, making it nearly impossible to resist pulling her bodyflush against mine.

But then, the fear crept back in, tightening around my throat.

“But I'm scared history might repeat itself,” I admitted, my voice cracking slightly. “I'm scared you'll find the next big thing that interests you, and you'll end up leaving me behind again. Because you've always loved chasing your dreams, no matter where or how, Emily... and that scares me the most.”

Emily immediately shook her head in desperate disagreement. She released my hand and reached up to cup both sides of my face, her searching eyes desperately trying to anchor mine.

“But I'm here now,” she pleaded, her voice trembling as tears welled up in her eyes and spilled over, falling onto the back of my hands. “I'm so sorry I didn't consider your feelings back then, but I can't change the past, Charles! I know I hurt you, but I really, really want us to work.”

She searched my face, her tear-filled eyes begging me to believe her.

“But I can't do that if you're always on edge around me,” she whispered softly, the vulnerability in her tone breaking through my final defenses.

Seeing her tears was enough to completely melt whatever lingering resentment or anger I had been holding onto. Without a second thought, I wrapped my arms securely around her waist, pulling her flush against my chest, and captured her lips with mine.