The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178

The words were like a slap across the face.

My vision blurred at the edges. I was vaguely aware that my hands had clenched into fists at my sides, that my heathing had gone staline and rapid.

My gaze dropped to Daniel’s left hand.

The platinum ring caught the light from the window, its subtle dark diamonds glinting with understated eleganes, it was simple, masculine. clearly expensive.

“I thought…” The words tumbled out before I could stop them. “I always thought you looked down on her. That you wanted her away from our family because she wasn’t good enough.”

Daniel’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly.

But it was all a cover, wasn’t it?” I continued, my voice gaining volume as the pieces clicked into place. ‘All those years of cold politeness, keeping your distance-it was just so no one would suspect. So you could wait for the perfect moment to take her from me.”

Emma made a small sound but I couldn’t look at her. Couldn’t bear to see whatever expression was on her face.

You had every advantage, Nicholas,” Daniel said, his tone turning cold in a way that made my spine stiffen. “Every opportunity that was never offered to me.”

He stepped closer, and I instinctively backed up until my shoulders hit the wall.

I reached out and grabbed his arm, my fingers digging into the expensive fabric of his coat.

What about the Andersons? The words burst out of me, sharp and accusatory. “Mother was going to leave everything to me. But you took that too, didn’t you? Just a few weeks ago.”

My voice rose, the bitterness I’d been swallowing for months finally spilling over.

You just accepted all of that without a second thought, didn’t you?”

Daniel’s expression didn’t change, but I saw something flicker in his eyes.

He let out a slow breath, something that might have been a sigh.

Mother held out the entire Anderson alliance with both hands, Nicholas. She wanted to give you everything-their connections, their

influence, their place.”

was quiet, measured.

handle it?”

hung in the air between us. My grip on his arm loosened slightly.

zz am P p pp

Chapter 178

My hands clenched into fists at my sides half fury, half something darker and more complicated that I couldnt even name

For the first time in my life, I was directly challenging my brother. Really challenging him, not just salking or making passive aggressive comments at family dinners.

And Emma was watching. I could feel her gaze on us, could sense her presence even though I refused to look at her

I couldn’t back down. Not now. Not in front of her.

tood there, jaw clenched, chest heaving, searching desperately for something-anything-that would land as hard as his words had.

Nearly half a minute passed before I found it.

“But you never cared about Mother anyway, did you?” My voice came out rough, almost cruel. “All those expensive gifts you send but you can’t even be bothered to actually see her.”

I took a step forward, emboldened by the flash of something in Daniel’s eyes.

“When’s the last time you visited her in London? Three years? Four? And even when she comes here for the holidays, you sit as far away from her as possible at dinner. You won’t even have a conversation with her.”

Daniel stood perfectly still, his expression unreadable. But his hand-the one I’d grabbed-slowly, deliberately, turned to grip mine in return.

His fingers were steady, firm, as he looked directly into my eyes

“Do you really think,” he said quietly, each word carefully chosen, “that’s why she hate me?”

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The Forbidden Throb