The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182

But watching Daniel now, I realized how much I’d missed.

I sat there long after they left, staring at the empty chair across from me.

The winter sunlight streaming through the floor-to-ceiling windows felt too bright, too cheerful for the hollowness expanding in my chest.

The sound of footsteps made me look up.

“Nicholas?”

Sophia.

My baby sister stood there in her riding clothes, her bright green eyes wide with something that looked uncomfortably like pity.

“How long have you been standing there?” My voice came out harsher than I intended.

“Long enough.” She walked toward me, her expression unreadable.

When she reached the table, she slid into the chair Emma had vacated, looking up at me with those too-perceptive eyes.

I sank back into my seat, suddenly too exhausted to stand.

“Quite the show,” I said bitterly, trying for sarcasm and landing somewhere closer to pathetic. “Enjoying yourself?

Sophia didn’t rise to the bait. She just sat there, studying me with that quiet intensity.

The silence stretched between us. I waited for her to say something to break the awful tension.

Finally, she spoke. “Daniel’s pretty pathetic, isn’t he?”

I stared at her, completely blindsided.

Of all the things I’d expected-concern, sympathy on my behalf-that wasn’t even remotely on the list.

“And what about me-” I started, but she cut me off.

“And you?” Her green eyes hardened. “You’re pathetic too. But in a completely different way.”

“Excuse me?”

Sophia leaned back in her chair, and for the first time, I noticed the tension in her shoulders. The tightness around her mouth. “Mom had such high expectations for you. She sent you to the best private schools, gave you every resource, every opportunity. And what did you learn?

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hapter 182

Topened my mouth to respond, but she barreled on.

You learned how to drive your Porsche too fast. How to get so drunk you end up in the emergency room. How to cheat on Emma. Her voice was cold now, clinical. “What else did you accomplish, Nicholas? *

tidn’t answer. Couldn’t.

be shook her head, disappoint clear on her face. “You know what the saddest part is?”

cou never even questioned it,” Sophia said softly. “You just assumed it was all yours. That you deserved it.”

Moms love. The family fortune. Grandfather’s trust. Emma’s devotion. And even Daniel’s help. You took it all for granted. You never once thought you needed to earn it, to cherish it.”

Each word was a knife, slicing through the carefully constructed image I had of myself.

You’re like a child,” Sophia continued, her voice almost gentle now. “Always waiting for someone else to take care of you, to forgive you, to clean up your messes.”

wanted to argue. Wanted to defend myself. But the words wouldn’t come.

Because she was right.

You know what I realized today?” Sophia’s eyes were bright with unshed tears. “We’re so lucky to have Daniel in this family. ”

I stared at her, uncomprehending.

Because if you were the heir?” She laughed, but there was no humor in it. “If you were the one Grandfather was grooming to take over? The Prescott family would be finished. So does Anderson.”

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Heat flooded my face. Being lectured by my baby sister was humiliating enough.

That’s enough-

I started, my voice rising.

What?” Sophia’s eyebrows shot up, her tone turning sharp. “That’s all it takes? A few honest words and you can’t handle it?

I grabbed my jacket from the chair, my movements jerky and uncoordinated. My hands were shaking slightly, and I shoved them into my pockets before anyone could notice.

I walked away without a word. Past the other diners with their elegant lunches and quiet conversations.

i didn’t look back.

! just kept walking, one foot in front of the other, until I reached the exit and stepped out into the cold air.

9:06 am PPPP

The Forbidden Throb