The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 12

Chapter 12

Emma’s POV:

补气43%真

You’re breaking up with me? Are you sure you’ve thought this through?

Nicholas’s words echoed in my mind as Olivia pulled me away from the dining hall.

Let’s be realistic here. We both know who needed this relationship more, and wasn’t me. The Prescott name opened doors for you that would have

remained firmly closed otherwise.

His expression had transformed from disbelief to that familiar condescending smile I once found charming.

The dining hall had grown uncomfortably quiet, dozens of eyes following our exit.

“That was epic, Em!”

Olivia squeezed my arm as we pushed through the heavy oak doors into the crisp autumn air.

“You should have seen his face when you just walked away. Absolutely priceless.”

I managed a smile, though it felt forced. The adrenaline that had carried me through the confrontation was fading, leaving behind a hollow

sensation in my chest.

“I’ve been waiting for you to dump him for ages,” Olivia continued, practically bouncing with excitement. “The way he carries himself so and mighty, like being with you was some kind of favor he was granting.”

“Yeah, I murmured, my mind replaying the scene on loop.

high

The truth was, I hadn’t planned to end things so publicly. I’d intended to have a private conversation, to explain calmly that things weren’t working out, but at least preserve our cooperative relationship.

Maybe even preserve some semblance of civility for the sake of our families’ expectations.

But when I saw his face-that smug certainty that I would just accept his betrayal and carry on-something inside me had snapped.

“Hey, Olivia’s voice softened as she studied my face. “You okay? You don’t regret it, do you?”

“No,” I said quickly, “Not at all. It’s just… I didn’t expect to make such a scene. I hadn’t planned for it to get so ugly in public.”

“Are you kidding?” Olivia raised an eyebrow. “The fact that you didn’t slap him across his smug face was already giving him more dignity than

he deserved.”

She shook her head. “You don’t owe him anything, especially not your restaint.”

I nodded, but couldn’t fully articulate the complicated tangle of emotions.

How was I supposed to explain this to my family? Victoria spoke about the Prescotts at every opportunity, dropping their name into conversations like precious gems.

။။

1/3

10:54 Mon, Mar 9 MM

Chapter 12

This potential connection to Boston aristocracy was everything to her. She never accept this breakup.

Maybe I should wait.

For now, silence seemed the safest option.

Come on, Olivia linked her arm through mine. “I’m buying you lunch. We e celebrating your liberation from Prescott captivity.”

味43%:

After a celebratory lunch, we returned to our dorm room.

I attempted to focus on organizing my desk-a task I’d been postponing for weeks. Olivia had left for her internship at the local news station,

leaving me alone with my thoughts.

As I sorted through stacks of journalism reference materials, my gaze caught on the dark jacket beside my modest collection of sweaters.

Daniel’s coat.

A dark men’s jacket stood out conspicuously among my clothes, looking entirely out of place in my wardrobe.

I ran my fingers over the sleeve, feeling the quality of the fabric.

Daniel had draped this over my shoulders that night after Megan’s party, when I’d been too intoxicated to properly thank him.

Between my academic deadlines and emotional turmoil with Nicholas, I hadn’t found the right moment to return it.

I should give it back to him.

I pondered my options for a moment. I didn’t have his number, and showing up at the hospital unannounced felt too forward.

After weighing several possibilities, I decided the most sensible approach would be to contact Sophia and ask for his information.

I picked up my phone and messaged Sophia:

Hi Sophia, hope you’re doing well. I need to talk to Daniel about something. Could you share his contact info with me?

Her reply came almost instantly:

“Hey Emma! Sure thing. BTW, we should totally go shopping together sometime soon! I know this amazing boutique that just opened in Back

Bay!

#

I smiled at her enthusiasm and typed a quick agreement about the shopping trip.

When I opened the contact information Sophia had sent, I was surprised discover that Daniel was already in my contact list. I frowned, trying to recall when he might have added his number to my phone.

After a moment’s puzzlement, I shrugged it off. What mattered was returning his jacket,

I stared at the screen, my thumb hovering over the message icon.

2/3

III

O

<

10:54 Mon, Mar 9 M M

Chapter 12

After typing and deleting several drafts, I finally composed:

43%1

Hi Daniel, it’s Emma Johnson. I still have your jacket from the other night and would like to return it. Would you be free this afternoon? I could drop it off wherever is convenient for you.

I hit send before I could overthink it further. His response came minutes iter:

Hello Emma. There’s a good coffee shop across from the hospital entrance – Tinking Cup. Does 4:30 work for you?

I typed back a quick confirmation, then glanced at the small container of mon blueberry mini-muffins I’d baked yesterday for my study group.

I’d made extra, as I always did. Perhaps they’d make a suitable thank-you gift.

The Thinking Cup was busier than I’d expected for a weekday afternoon.

The rich aroma of freshly ground coffee enveloped me as I pushed through the glass door, Daniel’s jacket folded carefully in my tote bag.

I spotted him immediately, seated at a corner table by the window.

He wore a tailored navy sweater over a light blue button-down shirt, with dark jeans that somehow looked both casual and expensive.

His eyes met mine almost instantly, and he raised a hand in acknowledgment.

Comments

2

|||