The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

The comments below debated the ethics, the power dynamics, whether I was a victim or a willing participant. Some defended me. Most didn’t.

Daniel was quiet for a moment, his jaw working. Then he reached for his own phone.

“What are you doing?” I asked, panic rising in my chest.

“Calling Jonathan. He’s the best defamation lawyer in Boston.” His voice was matter-of-fact, already shifting into problem-solving mode.

“Daniel-

“We set the narrative,” he paused, his thumb wiping away my tears with infinite genterness. “This situation? It’s not as insurmountable as you

think. Trust me.”

“But-

“But,” he continued, his eyes holding mine with an intensity that stole my breath, “I need to know something.

MM

He cupped my face in both hands, his forehead coming to rest against mine. “Are you afraid of making this public?”

I closed my eyes, feeling the warmth of his breath against my lips, the solid reality of him surrounding me.

I opened my eyes, meeting his gaze with as much steadiness as I could muster.

“No,” I whispered. “I’m not afraid.”

His expression shifted, something like relief and pride and love all mixed together crossing his features.

“But there’s something else,” I said quietly. “Something we need to consider.”

I pulled back slightly, needing to see his face for this. “Even when we tell the truth-that we’re married, that this is legal and legitimate- people will still have questions. They’ll still judge.”

His expression remained calm, waiting for me to continue.

“They’ll say I was your student, even though I never took your class. They’ll question the timeline, wonder when it started, whether there was a power imbalance.”

He tilted my chin up, making me look at him. “But here’s what we know: we didn’t break any rules. We got married legally, with proper documentation, following every protocol.”

He pulled me closer, his arms wrapping around me. “We’re going to handle this properly-with legal counsel, with formal statements, with evidence if needed. We’re going to control the narrative instead of letting rumors control us.”

“And if-” I had to force the words out. If this costs you your position at Harvard? If you have to step down from Mass General?”

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Chapter 194

His eyes held mine, steady and sure. Then I’ll find another hospital, another teaching position. There are other places that would be lucky to

have me.”

“Daniel-

‘Emma.’ He cupped my face in his hands. “I won’t regret it.”

The tears came again, but these were different. Cleaner somehow.

“So I’ll ask you one more time. His voice was soft but firm. “Are you ready for this? Because once we start, there’s no going back. We’re all in.

I placed my hands over his, feeling the cool metal of his wedding ring against my palm-the ring I’d chosen for him, the symbol of our

commitment.

“Yes,” I said, my voice clear and steady. “I’m ready.”

His smile was like sunrise breaking through storm clouds. “That’s my girl. Smart and brave.”

He kissed my forehead, then my nose, then finally my lips, soft and lingering.

J

When we pulled apart, he picked up my phone, navigating back to BU Confessions with practiced ease. “This isn’t the first time you’ve been targeted on this account.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when you were in Portland? There was a post then too.” His finger scrolled through the account’s history.

I leaned closer, my breath catching as I recognized the post. It had been vague, no photos, but it had mentioned “a BU student using family connections to get ahead” and implied I was “trading on old money relationships.”

“I thought that was just… random gossip,” I whispered.

He switched to the current post, the one with our photo. “Now look at this one. Same talking points. Same accusations. Even some of the same word choices.”

My heart was pounding. “You think… you think it’s the same person?”

“I think someone is deliberately targeting you.” His lips pressed into a thin line.

I stared at the screen, feeling cold spread through my chest. “But… who would do that? Who has that kind of- I stopped, my mind racing. “Who would have that much hostility toward me?”

The question hung in the air between us, heavy and unanswerable.

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Chapter 194

His eyes held mine, steady and sure. “Then I’ll find another hospital, another teaching position. There are other places that would be lucky to

have me.

“Daniel-

“Emma.” He cupped my face in his hands. “I won’t regret it.”

The tears came again, but these were different. Cleaner somehow.

“So I’ll ask you one more time. His voice was soft but firm. “Are you ready for this? Because once we start, there’s no going back. We’re all in

I placed my hands over his, feeling the cool metal of his wedding ring against my palm-the ring I’d chosen for him, the symbol of our

commitment.

“Yes,” I said, my voice clear and steady. “I’m ready.”

His smile was like sunrise breaking through storm clouds. “That’s my girl. Smart and brave.”

He kissed my forehead, then my nose, then finally my lips, soft and lingering.

When we pulled apart, he picked up my phone, navigating back to BU Confessions with practiced ease. “This isn’t the first time you ve been targeted on this account.”

“What do you mean?”

“Remember when you were in Portland? There was a post then too.” His finger scrolled through the account’s history.

I leaned closer, my breath catching as I recognized the post. It had been vague, no photos, but it had mentioned “a BU student using family connections to get ahead” and implied I was “trading on old money relationships.”

“I thought that was just… random gossip,” I whispered.

He switched to the current post, the one with our photo. “Now look at this one. Same talking points. Same accusations. Even some of the same word choices.”

My heart was pounding. “You think… you think it’s the same person?”

“I think someone is deliberately targeting you.” His lips pressed into a thin line.

I stared at the screen, feeling cold spread through my chest. “But… who would do that? Who has that kind of- I stopped, my mind racing. “Who would have that much hostility toward me?”

The question hung in the air between us, heavy and unanswerable.

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The Forbidden Throb