The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Deper The Protondations annual fundraiser at the hotel. I could see it all with painful clarity the glittering chandeliers, the string

gerter playing V the champagne flutes catching light like liquid gold.

Makinda he had been ringong from behind that hotel room door. A woman in a bathrobe had answered, her hair mussed. And I’d stond there warhang my entire future crumble into dust.

Then he had appeared in the hallway, Silent. Steady. Like hed materialized out of my desperate need for someone to make sense of the

“Emme just my name, but the way hed said it-gentle, careful, like I might shatter if he spoke too loud. ‘Do you want to leave with me?

16 thught it was kindness. Simple, uncomplicated kindness.

The way you offer an umbrella to a stranger caught in the rain. Daniel being Daniel-perpetually gracious, constitutionally incapable of leaving someone in distress.

1d never once stopped to ask why Daniel Prescott just happened to be in that hallway at exactly the right moment.

Miss Johnson? Professor Hermann’s voice seemed to come from very far away. “You really should come inside. The wind-

I’m fine The words scraped out of my throat.

I wasn’t fine. I was the furthest thing from fine.

I blinked rapidly, trying to clear my vision, but more tears came. Hot against my frozen cheeks. Unstoppable.

Professor Hermann leaned closer, his expression shifting from polite concern to something more serious. Your eyes are quite red. That looks rather severe ned just wind tears. The cold can cause serious irritation, even damage to the cornea if exposed too long.

He straightened, reaching for my elbow Come. There’s a medical clinic on campus. We should have someone look at that

I’m really fine, I said, my voice somewhat choked up. I just miss him a bit.

I lifted my gaze to meet his knowing my eyes must be swollen and red, knowing I looked like a mess

Profveen, I said, my voice cracking Do you know where he is? Right now?

Hermann blinked, momentarily confused by the abrupt subject change. His brow furrowed slightly as he processed my question

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Chapter 140

PPP.

Then, after a moment, understanding seemed to dawn on him. His eyes widened-genuine surprise crossing his features.

Daniel never told you any of this? He sounded almost incredulous.

I shook my head, unable to speak. Fresh tears welled up, spilling over despite my efforts to hold them back.

12

Hermann sighed, a sound of resignation mixed with something gentler. Sympathy, perhaps. Or compassion for two people who’d spent so long missing each other.

“It’s too cold out here,’ he said finally, his voice softer now. “I’m getting old-these bones can’t handle this kind of weather anymore.

He gestured toward the far edge of the courtyard. “There’s a café not far from here. A small place where Daniel used to spend a great deal of time when he studied here. Good coffee. Warm atmosphere.”

I let him guide me away from the bench, my legs moving mechanically through the deepening snow. My mind was elsewhere.

The café was small and warm, condensation fogging the windows.

An elderly Italian woman behind the counter smiled at us as we entered, her silver hair reminding me painfully of Grace. Professor Hermann ordered two coffees while I sank into a chair by the window, my coat dripping melted snow onto the wooden floor.

“Drink this.” He placed a steaming cup in front of me. “You’re shaking.”

I wrapped my hands around the ceramic, but the warmth couldn’t reach the cold that had settled in my chest.

My gazę drifted to the café around us. Medical students occupied nearly every table-some working alone with headphones in, others clustered

in study groups.

They all looked so stressed. So consumed by deadlines and exams and the crushing weight of medical school expectations.

Had Daniel sat here like this too? Had he been one of these anxious students, racing against the clock, drowning in coursework?

I tried to picture it-Daniel hunched over books at this very table, his brow furrowed in concentration, maybe running his hand through his hair the way he did when he was tired.

A younger version of the man I knew, still building himself into the legend he’d become.

‘He was never like them, you know.”

I looked up sharply. Professor Hermann was watching me, a knowing expression on his face.

“Daniel, I mean.” He gestured toward the stressed students around us. “He never looked like that. For him, school wasn’t a challenge to survive It was a stage to perform on.”

I blinked. “I don’t understand.”

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Chapter 140

Themal Preordt errived at this institution with every dont already open Hermann leaned back in his chair, cradling his coffee cup The

unarmenn recommendation from Harvard & entire medical faculty wasn’t just impressive it was unprecedented Department heads were

expeting fra ham before he even set foot on campus

He paused taking a sip of confl

I was the Dean, he continued Which meant I had certain privileges. Authority to approve accelerated graduation petitions for exceptional

My stomach tightened. That’s why he chose you.

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