The Forbidden Throb (Emma and Daniel) novel Chapter 90

Daniel’s POV:

He shifted in his seat, his shoulders hunching slightly.

“I just… I saw her leaving her office building last week, So I pulled up, offered her a ride.” He was speaking faster now. “That’s not a crime, is it? Offering someone a ride?”

The barista arrived with our drinks. I waited until she’d left before responding.

“And

Nicholas wrapped his hands around his latte cup. “And we had an argument. She said some things, I said some things, and then she asked me to stop the car. So I did. She got out. End of story.”

“So you left her stranded on the side of the road.”

“I just― Nicholas stopped, something shifting in his expression. “Wait. You didn’t know about that?*

“Clearly not.” My voice remained level, though my grip on the espresso cup had tightened imperceptibly.

Nicholas must have seen something in my face because he started talking faster, the words tumbling out in a rush of justification.

“Look, I know how it sounds, but let me explain. I’m trying to–I’m like a reformed rake now, you know?”

He gave a self–deprecating laugh that fell flat.

“When Emma was around, everyone kept nagging me. ‘Nicholas, when are you going to settle down?” “Nicholas, don’t let this one get away.” It was suffocating. And Emma–she was so boring sometimes. So serious. Always studying or working on some project. Never wanted to go out, never wanted to have fun.”

He took a sip of his coffee, oblivious to the ice crystallizing in my veins.

“But now that she’s not talking to me, I can’t stop missing her. I keep thinking about her. About all the good things.”

His voice took on that wheedling, self–pitying tone I’d heard a thousand times before.

“You know what really started everything?” Nicholas leaned back. “It was her stepfather. Robert. He called me one

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Chapter 90

day, asking for money, Some business opportunity‘ he needed capital for. Had the nerve to use Emma’s name,

she’d sent him to me.”

like

My hand stilled on my cup.

“After that, I just…” He laughed bitterly. “I started seeing her differently. Wondering if she’d put him up to it. If the whole relationship was just about money. If she was like all the others, just better at hiding it. Once that doubt got in my head, I couldn’t shake it.”

“Now I realize what an idiot I was.” Nicholas looked down at his cup, his jaw tight. “After you froze my cards, when my savings ran out–Megan disappeared. Couldn’t afford the restaurants she wanted, couldn’t buy her the bags she hinted at. She was gone within a week.“

He took a shaky breath. “Emma was never like that. When Grandfather cut me off sophomore year, she’d slip me her meal card. When I had money, she never asked for anything. Never expected anything.”

His voice dropped. “I think we were perfect together, actually. We just… we fit. If Emma would just give me

another chance—”

My eyelids lowered slightly. A sound escaped my lips–barely audible.

A laugh. Brief. Utterly devoid of warmth.

“Is that so.” The words came out soft, almost pleasant.

“Tell me something, Nicholas.” I set down my cup with deliberate precision. “This newfound appreciation for

Emma–does it include the part where you had Michael set up a fake job interview to humiliate her?”

The color drained from his face.

“That wasn’t–I didn’t-” Nicholas stumbled over his words. “How did you even know about that?”

‘How I know is irrelevant.” I leaned back, my voice cold. “Why you did it–that’s what matters.

“It wasn’t supposed to be like that!” The words came out in a rush. “I just–I wanted a neutral perspective. Someone to talk to her, get a sense of how she really felt about… about everything. About me.”

“And what did you learn?” The question came out soft, dangerous.

Nicholas’s jaw tightened. “I learned that Michael apparently pissed off someone important, because now he’s dodging my calls and hiding out on some property deal in Maine. I can’t get in touch with him at all.” \!!

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Chapter 90

Confusion flickered across his face. “I don’t even know who’s protecting her.”

“It doesn’t matter who.” I cut him off, my voice dropping. “What matters is that you leave Emma Johnson alone.

Permanently.

“Daniel-”

“You broke up. It’s over. Done.” Each word landed with surgical precision. “Whatever she does with her life from this point forward–whoever she dates, whoever she marries, whatever children she has–is none of your concern.

Not now, Not ever

1 stood, reaching for my coat.

“Wait-” Nicholas looked down at his half–finished latte, then back up at me. “You’re just going to leave me here? I

haven’t even finished-

The look I gave him could have frozen blood in its vessels.

He stopped talking,

I walked out without another word, the cold November air hitting my face. My hands were steady as I unlocked the

car, slid into the driver’s seat, pulled out my phone.

Emma’s number was still at the top of my recent calls.

She picked up on the second ring.

=

“Daniel?” Her voice was slightly breathless, like she’d been moving quickly. “Is everything okay?”

“Where are you? The question came out more abrupt than I’d intended. “Do you need me to pick you up?”

A pause. Then, more carefully: “I’m at the campus. Olivia and I are staying in the dorms tonight–we haven’t had a proper catch–up in weeks.”

A small disappointment settled in my chest. Of course, she needed her own space. Her own friendships.

“That’s good,” I said, keeping my voice neutral.

Another pause. Then, hesitant: “Daniel… I saw you this morning. With Nicholas.”

My hand tightened on the steering wheel.

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Chapter 90

“Did you” She took a breath. “Did you tell him? About us?”

“No.” The word came out carefully measured. “Not yet. Do you not want him to know?”

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