Winning Her Heart Back (Emelie and William) novel Chapter 870

Emelie didn't flinch. "If you're serious, then let's go through with it."

The silence on Wesley's end was heavy, but Emelie could hear the shift in his breathing as it grew more uneven.

She stood up and walked to the coffee machine, switching the call to speaker mode while making herself an espresso.

Coffee had always been her thing. She was better at it than most baristas.

Back in her days as a secretary, making coffee for bosses and clients was second nature. And, being who she was, she made sure to do everything with precision and perfection.

She measured the coffee grounds, carefully tamping them down into the portafilter, her movements slow and deliberate.

Her voice was just as steady as her hands. "You know, when I look back, I've spent my whole life being passive.

"My mom left with my brother, leaving me behind at the Pierce Residence. I didn't choose the Hovens; they adopted me by chance. You left me when we were in love. My adoptive parents used me to pay off their debts.

"William saved me one night in the rain, then made me his secretary. He used me, manipulated me, and tossed me aside when it was convenient. You brought me to Mercianna, saved me, and proposed to me. Let's not forget how both you and Mrs. Filo kept me in the dark for all this while."

With a sharp click, Emelie locked the portafilter into place. She reached into the glass cabinet and pulled out a delicate coffee cup, its smooth surface was cool against her fingertips.

"I'm used to it by now," she said, her voice steady. "One more time won't change a thing. So, if you still want the wedding to go on, if you want me as your bride, then I'll be your bride. I'll walk down that aisle with you, hand in hand, and we'll stand there in front of everyone like nothing ever happened."

The machine hummed softly as she pressed the button, and the espresso began to drip slowly, filling the cup with dark, fragrant liquid.

Emelie picked it up, inhaled the bold aroma, and took a slow sip. It was strong and unsweetened, the bitter edge lingering on her tongue, just the way she liked it.

Wesley sat in silence, listening to the distant sounds of her making coffee. He glanced at his own cup sitting on his desk, long forgotten and cold.

He took a sip, and it tasted like ash. Bitter in a way that he hadn't expected.

Wesley sighed, his voice soft, almost as if he were speaking more to himself than to her, "Mom didn't leave you behind on purpose. It was a mistake."

Emelie didn't respond, but he knew that she was listening, even in her silence.

"At first, she didn't even know that you'd been taken in by the Hovens. Her plan was to take both you and your brother. When she found out where you were, she went to get you, but the Hovens were treating you so well, like you were one of their own.

"She thought it might be safer for you to stay with them. You know, they say 'don't put all your eggs in one basket.' Back then, things at the Graham residence weren't exactly... secure. The four families were at each other's throats."

He paused, giving her time to absorb his words before continuing, "Mom always had people keeping an eye on you, making sure that you were safe."

Emelie's response was a quiet, almost indifferent "mm", as if she'd heard it all before and none of it mattered anymore.

Emelie's voice dropped lower, steady but tired. "I'm not pointing fingers or trying to defend anyone. I'm just telling you what happened. I'll be in Mercianna the day before the wedding. If there's nothing else..."

"Alright." Wesley finally breathed, closing his eyes as if the conversation had drained the last of his energy.