Chapter 4
Emily woke a day later, her back bandaged, the pain dulled by medication.
Alex sat beside her, casually smoking, a cloud of smoke curling above them as his voice cut through the
haze like a blade.
“Sophia’s sulking,” he said coolly. “Time to make things right.”
She turned her head slowly, her eyes empty. “What exactly does Mr. Harrington want from me?”
His expression darkened at her formal tone. He ground out the cigarette and leaned closer, tracing her lips
with fingers still stained with ash.
“Don’t test my patience, sweetheart,” he warned, his voice soft but laced with threat.
Emily’s chest tightened. A memory surfaced–something Alex’s father once told her with chilling clarity. “Alex
doesn’t want a partner. He wants a pet. If you stay with him, get used to living on a leash.”
Back then, she’d brushed it off as a manipulative attempt to tear them apart. But now, the truth was crystal
clear.
Alex didn’t love–he possessed. He demanded loyalty, submission. And if you disobeyed, he’d break you until
you begged to be owned again.
Emily lowered her eyes to hide her fear and whispered, “I understand.”
“Good,” Alex said, satisfied. “Sophia wants a solo violin piece. Make sure it’s ready.”
He patted her head like she was some obedient dog, then began applying ointment to her wounds–his touch
cold and clinical.
That evening, Emily slipped into a long–sleeved champagne–colored gown glittering with diamonds. Her
jewelry sparkled under the lights, but her expression remained vacant as the driver took her to the venue.
The banquet was held at the Harrington Group’s most luxurious hotel, drawing Cresthaven’s entire social
elite.
Most women arrived in minimalist designer dresses and understated makeup, all clearly mimicking Sophia’s effortlessly chic style.
Emily, draped in opulence, stood out like a sore thumb–too much sparkle, too much effort. And people noticed.
The moment she stepped in, the whispers began:
“She’s trying way too hard. Just look at her–drenched in diamonds like a Christmas tree.”
“She’s old news. Clinging to whatever scraps of attention she can get.”
Chapter 4
39.07
Alex’s brows furrowed as the mournful music filled the room. Something about the raw grief in her playing
unsettled him.
It scraped at something he didn’t recognize–something that felt too much like regret.
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