The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 105

Chapter 105

Emma’s POV:

I stood at the window, my fingers curled around the edge of the curtain, watching the figure below.

Even from four stories up, I recognized her immediately.

“Emma?” Olivia’s voice came from behind me. “Are you okay?”

I didn’t turn around. My gaze remained fixed on the parking lot below, where my mother paced along the edge, her eyes scanning every face

that passed.

The streetlights had just flickered on, casting long shadows that made everything look colder than it already was.

“Here.” Olivia appeared at my side, draping a thick wool blanket over my shoulders. “You look like you need this.”

I pulled the blanket tighter, grateful for the warmth.

“At this time,” I said quietly, my voice flat and analytical, “for her to put aside what she considers her dignity as a mother, to personally come to my school…”

I paused, watching as my mother approached a girl in a BU sweatshirt. Even without sound, I could read the interaction-the quick question, the shake of the head, the disappointed retreat.

“It can only be one thing,” I continued, my tone growing colder. “Robert’s company is in trouble.”

“Should we…” Olivia hesitated. “Should we go down?”

Before I could answer, movement at the edge of the parking lot caught my attention.

A black Audi pulled up abruptly, tires squealing slightly on the damp pavement. The driver’s door flew open, and a man emerged.

Robert Williams.

Even from this height, I could see he’d deteriorated since I’d last seen him at Leo’s birthday party. His posture sagged, his usually immaculate suit hung wrinkled on his frame, and the way he moved-quick, jerky, desperate-spoke volumes.

Robert’s eyes locked onto Victoria immediately. He crossed the distance between them in angry strides, and even though I couldn’t hear the words initially, I could read the fury in every line of his body.

He grabbed her arm, pulling her toward the grove of trees at the side of the building.

Then the shouting started.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Robert’s voice erupted, loud enough to carry up four stories. “Haven’t we been humiliated enough,

8:48 am P

Chapter 105

Several heads turned in the parking lot below. A group of students near the entrance paused, glancing toward the commotion.

“How dare you!” Victoria’s voice cracked with anger. “I came here because of you!”

“If it weren’t for you constantly pushing me, I wouldn’t be in this position!” His voice cracked with desperation. “You kept saying make it bigger, take more risks, your son-in-law has connections to protect us! And now?”

“-everything I did was for this family-for our future-for Leo’s prospects-”

“For yourself!” Robert’s shout carried clearly. “To become the society wife everyone envies! You used everyone-Emma, me, even Leo-all just tools for your ambition!”

The words hung in the air between them.

Then-

CRACK.

The sound of Victoria’s hand connecting with Robert’s face echoed across the parking lot, sharp and violent in the quiet evening.

Beside me, Olivia gasped.

I didn’t move.

Just watched as Robert stood there, one hand pressed to his cheek, his expression shifting through shock, pain, and finally… something that looked almost like relief.

“Hit me again if it makes you feel better,” his voice drifted up, calmer now. Frighteningly calm. “When you’re done, we can go to the lawyer’s office. This marriage-I’m done with it.”

I stepped back from the window, letting the curtain fall closed.

“Emma…” Olivia turned to me, her eyes searching my face. “Are you okay? What are you going to do?”

I shrugged, trying for a lightness. “Nothing. Let them self-destruct on their own.”

The words came out easier than I’d expected. Clean. Final.

Olivia stared at me for a long moment, her mouth slightly open. Then a slow grin spread across her face, and she raised both thumbs in an exaggerated gesture of approval.

“Holy shit, Emma Johnson. Who are you and what have you done with my people pleasing roommate?”

A surprised laugh escaped me-brief, but genuine. “She’s taking a permanent vacation.”

“Good.” Olivia’s grin widened. “About damn time.”

But even as I spoke, another thought crystallized with uncomfortable clarity.

8:48 am p

alt

Chapter 105

Victoria hadn’t come here just to see me. She never did anything without layers of calculation, backup plans nested inside backup plans.

She’d be looking for leverage. And she knew exactly where to find it.

I pushed the thought away forcefully, moved to my desk, plugged in my headphones, and let the white noise drown out everything else.

As I reached for my phone to set my alarm, the screen lit up with an incoming message.

niel: How was your day at sch

iel: Getting ready for b

Something warm b

My heart did

n and bright, like a match struck in darkness.

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