The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 199

Chapter 199

Emma’s POV:

end

enter

The smell of pad Thai filled Daniel’s apartment-lemongrass and lime cutting through the tension that had been coiled in my chest since I d blocked Lily’s number.

“Hey.” Daniel’s voice was soft as he set the takeout bags on the kitchen island. “Did you get the email from Student Affairs?”

I looked up at him, my laptop still open on my knees. “Yeah. They found her.”

He went very still. “Who?”

“Lily Madison.” My voice came out flat, almost detached. “Communications major. The girl who borrowed my notes, who I bought coffee for,

who came to me for career advice.”

I laughed, but it sounded hollow even to my own ears. “Turns out she was the one posting everything. All of it. Every single anonymous

account traced back to her.”

Daniel came around the couch, settling beside me. Close enough that our shoulders touched. “Emma-”

“I blocked her,” I said quickly, before he could finish. “She started texting me right after I got the report. Begging to talk. Saying it wasn’t supposed to go this far. Like this was all just some accident that got out of hand.”

I closed the laptop with more force than necessary. “So I told her exactly what I thought of her, and then I blocked her. Completely.”

“Good.” His hand found mine, fingers threading through. “You don’t owe her anything, Emma. Not your time, not your forgiveness, and definitely not your help avoiding consequences.”

I leaned into him, letting my head rest against his shoulder.

Through the windows, the Boston skyline was turning gold with afternoon light. It was beautiful. Peaceful. And I was here, safe, with someone who actually gave a damn about me.

“I keep thinking about all the times she smiled at me,” I said quietly.” Was any of it real?

Daniel’s arm came around me, pulling me closer. “Does it matter?”

“I don’t know.” I turned my face into his shoulder, breathing in his familiar scent. “I just… was confused.”

His lips brushed my temple. “You’re kind. You assume the best in people. That’s not a weakness.”

“But I have to say–I’m glad to see your kindness finally has some edges to it. Some teeth. There was something almost satisfied in his voice.

I pulled back enough to look at him. “You like that I was harsh with her?”

“I like that you protected yourself.” His thumb traced along my jaw. “Kindness without boundaries just makes you a target, sweetheart. But kindness with a backbone? That’s strength.”

1/2

PPPP

shift

1 decided to take a walk. The air was crisp but rest quite better, the kind of cold that felt refreshing rather than punishing, I bundled up in my prachuet soud Swaded downstairs, thinking 14 grab coffee from the shop two blocks over.

The

helped clear my head. By the time I circled back to the apartment building, I felt almost normal again-centered, calm.

Lily was standing at the base of the entrance steps, hands showed deep in the pockets of a thin jacket that looked wholly inadequate for the weather. When she spotted me, her face lit up with something desperate and hopeful.

“Emma,” she called out.

I didn’t even think, I turned on my heel, heading back the way I’d come.

“Wait!” Her footsteps hurried after me. ‘Please, Emma, wait?”

1 kept walking

“You blocked me!” Her voice was breathless now, pitched with panic. ‘I couldn’t reach you any other way. I had to-I didn’t know what else to

do!

That stopped me. Not because I felt sorry for her, but because the implication of her words hit me like cold water.

I turned slowly. “How did you know where I live?”

She froze, clearly realizing her mistake. “1-”

“I never gave you this address.” I took a step toward her, and she actually backed up. “So how did you find it?”

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