Chapter 53
Emma sat at a table near the window, her hands wrapped around a cup of herbal tea, but the soothing scent did little to calm her racing thoughts. The café was tucked into a quiet corner of the bustling city, its warm lighting and soft chatter offering her a momentary reprieve from the emotional storm that had been consuming her.
The scene between Alex and Sophia played on a loop in her mind—Sophia’s poised figure leaning toward Alex, her touch far too intimate, her voice dripping with insinuation. Emma had turned away before seeing it all, but what she had witnessed was enough.
“Emma?”
Her heart jolted at the sound of Thomas’s voice. She looked up to find him standing in the doorway, his presence steady and grounding. His tie was loosened, his coat slung over one arm, and his expression softened as their eyes met. He carried a casual confidence, his coat folded over one arm and his tie loosened slightly. His concern was evident as he approached.
“I’m sorry I’m late,” he said, sliding into the chair across from her. “The traffic was awful.”
“You’re not late,” she said, managing a small smile as he took the seat across from her. “I was just… early.”
Thomas studied her for a moment, his sharp eyes taking in the tension in her posture, the way her fingers nervously traced the rim of her cup.
“Long day?” he asked gently.
She exhaled, her shoulders sagging. “Long week.”
“You’ve been pushing yourself too hard.” Thomas nodded, leaning back in his chair but never breaking eye contact. “I can see it. You need to slow down, Emma. Especially now, in the thirtieth week of pregnancy with your risks, you cannot be so nervous and overwork yourself .”
“I know, I know,” Emma said, her tone defensive. “But I can’t just sit around and wait for everything to fall apart. There’s so much to do—with the company, the twins, everything. I need to keep moving, or I’ll drown in my own thoughts.”
Thomas’s lips pressed together, his expression a careful mask as he fought to keep his emotions in check. He reached out, his fingers brushing lightly against Emma’s hand, a touch that was both comforting and deliberate. “I’m here now,” he said softly. “Tell me what’s on your mind.”
Emma hesitated, her gaze drifting toward the window. The late afternoon light caught the edge of her profile, highlighting the tension in her jaw and the storm brewing in her eyes. Finally, she exhaled, turning back to meet his steady gaze. “Alex.”
Thomas’s jaw tightened, but his tone remained calm, measured. “What about him?”
Her eyes searched his face, a mix of frustration and hurt swirling within them. “I don’t understand him, Thomas. One moment, he’s doing everything he can to restore my reputation, making it seem like he’s putting me first for the first time in forever. And the next…” She swallowed hard, her voice faltering. “And the next, he’s alone with Sophia in his office, letting her—” She stopped, shaking her head as if trying to rid herself of the memory. “It’s maddening.”
Thomas’s expression darkened, a flicker of protectiveness flashing in his eyes. “You saw them together?”
Emma nodded, her voice breaking slightly. “I didn’t stay long enough to hear everything, but what I saw… it felt like a betrayal all over again.”
Thomas leaned closer, his hand still resting over hers, his warmth a steady reminder that she wasn’t alone. “Emma,” he began, his voice low and filled with emotion, “you deserve so much more than this. You shouldn’t have to carry the weight of doubt, wondering where you stand with someone. You shouldn’t have to question anyone’s loyalty—not after everything you’ve been through.”
Emma swallowed hard, her throat tightening as tears pricked the corners of her eyes. “I thought I was stronger than this,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “I thought I’d moved on, but seeing them together… It was like everything I’ve been trying to forget came rushing back. It hurt, Thomas. More than I thought it would.”
She looked up at him, her gaze locking onto his. The intensity in his eyes took her breath away. For a moment, the noise of the café, the hum of the city outside, and even the chaos in her mind faded to nothing.
“I need to say this,” he interrupted gently, his voice low but filled with emotion. “I know this might not be the right time, and I know you’re still figuring things out. But I can’t hold this in anymore.”
Emma held her breath, the air between them charged with unspoken emotions.
“I love you, Emma,” Thomas confessed, his voice thick with sincerity. “And I’ve loved you for a while now. I don’t just admire you, Emma—I’m in awe of you. Your strength, your kindness, your determination, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart. And those twins…” He paused, his voice softening as he smiled faintly. “I would love them as if they were my own. They deserve to grow up surrounded by love, without doubt or uncertainty.”
Emma’s breath caught, her pulse quickening as his words washed over her.
“I promise you this,” Thomas continued, his voice unwavering. “I would never make you question where you stand with me. I would never abandon you emotionally, never leave you wondering if you’re enough. You’re more than enough, Emma. For me, for the twins—for everything.”
Her mind raced, tangled emotions swirling inside her. Thomas’s words were everything she hadn’t realized she needed to hear, a balm for wounds she’d been trying to ignore. But the weight of his confession left her speechless, her heart torn between gratitude, fear, and something deeper she couldn’t yet name.
“I just needed you to know how I feel. No matter what you decide, no matter who you choose—I’ll be here. Always,” Thomas said softly, sensing her hesitation.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, and she quickly wiped them away, overwhelmed by the tenderness and conviction in his voice.
“Thomas,” she whispered, her voice cracking.
“Just let me be here for you,” he said gently
Emma hesitated, her gaze dropping to where his hand covered hers. Slowly, she turned her palm upward, intertwining their fingers. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Thomas leaned closer, his voice dropping to a tender murmur. “Emma, can I—”
Emma’s chest tightened, the sincerity in his eyes breaking through her defenses.
She nodded before he could finish, and he closed the gap between them. His lips met hers in a kiss that was both tender and filled with unspoken promises.
Without thinking, she reached out, her fingers brushing his cheek as tears continued to fall. In that moment, the pain and doubt she’d been carrying seemed to lighten, replaced by the warmth of his unwavering devotion.
His lips meeting hers in a kiss that was tender yet intense, filled with the promise of everything he had just said. For the first time in what felt like forever, Emma allowed herself to feel—not the pain or confusion, but the hope of something new.
Emma let herself melt into the warmth of his touch for a moment, the quiet strength he had shown her time and time again.
When they finally parted, Thomas rested his forehead against hers, his voice soft. “No matter what happens, I’m here.”
Emma swallowed hard, her emotions swirling in a storm of confusion and longing. “I don’t know what I feel right now, Thomas. I’m so scared of making the wrong choice.”
“You’ll figure it out,” he said, his tone steady. “And when you do, I’ll be here, ready to stand beside you.”
