Chapter 96
The next morning, someone came to see me.
I thought it would be my lawyer, Mr. Stern, coming to work on my release.
But no–it was Irvin.
He looked like he hadn’t slept a single minute. His usually sharp, magnetic eyes were bloodshot, and he seemed more disheveled and drained than I felt after spending a long, sleepless night in a holding cell.
When his gaze landed on my pale face, there was a flicker of something in his expression–regret, perhaps?
Before I could say anything, he spoke.
“I hope you’ve had time to cool off,” he said, his tone measured. “It’s not too late to do the right thing. Apologize now, and we can end this.”
Hearing those words made me think back to the last time he’d cornered me like this , saying, “It’s been three months, and you still haven’t learned and reflected on yourself?”
It was almost funny.
In his mind, he wasn’t punishing me–he was indulging me. Giving me chance after chance to “correct my mistakes” to be” grateful” for his supposed patience.
It was all my fault, of course. My fault for being so stubborn, for not taking advantage of his so–called generosity.
The absurdity of it all made me chuckle bitterly.
“Irvin,” I said, meeting his eyes, “are you sure this isn’t just your way of wanting me dead? Maybe you’re hoping to cash in on the life insurance, live the single life with all the wealth to yourself?”
Irvin froze, clearly taken aback.
“Of course not!” he said, almost too quickly. “I would never want you dead. Last night… I only said those things because I needed
to distract Julianne so I could save her.”
He sounded desperate like he needed me to believe him.
His voice softened as he continued to convince me, telling me he never wanted anything bad to happen to you. He didn’t even want me to stay in that cell last night. He was just trying to resonate with me.
His words were convincing enough.
I sighed. Maybe I’d been wrong about one thing–he didn’t actually want me dead. He wasn’t plotting to be some heartless widower swimming in wealth.
But that didn’t mean he loved me. Not the way he claimed to.
“So,” I said, crossing my arms, “you’re telling me you love me? That you’re trying to protect me? That all of this is somehow for my own good?”
“Of course!” Irvin replied like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
I stared at him for a long moment before speaking again.
“That’s disgusting.”
His face froze.
“What?” He blinked as if he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard.
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“I said,” I repeated, eminciating every word, “your so–called love disgusting.”
His expression turned to shock, then confusion. He looked like I’d just slapped him across the face.
“Emilia, what the hell do you mean by that?”
+25 BONUS
I met his gaze, unflinching. “I mean, I’m begging you. Stop lovingne. Please. If this is what your love looks like, I don’t want it.”
I stood up, ready to leave, done with this entire conversation.
“Emilia! What are you saying?” Irvin snapped, grabbing ny arm. couldn’t quite place. His eyes were bloodshot, but I couldn’t tell if
“What do you mean by that?” he demanded.
s grip was tight, his face a mix of anger and something I was from exhaustion or something else.
I turned to face him fully, my voice cold and steady. “Irvin, how long have you known me?”
His brow furrowed, but he answered automatically. “Eight years.”
“Exactly,” I said, holding his gaze. “Eight years. Not eight days, not eight hours–eight years . ”
“Since I was 18, and now I’m 26. It’s been eight years.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but I didn’t give him the chance.
“In those eight years,” I said, my voice growing sharper, “ aside from this ridiculous accusation about Julianne, have I ever done anything cruel? Anything malicious?”
Irvin stared at me, thrown off by the question.
“No,” I continued for him. “I haven’t, have I? Not once. I’ve never broken the law, never even done anything unethical. Hell, once I had the means, I went out of my way to support the causes I cared about. Isn’t that right?”
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