Chapter 54
Another day of relentless meetings and overflowing emails had drained her energy, but Emma’s mind was far from focused on work. Instead, her thoughts clung stubbornly to the night before—the café, Thomas’s confession and his kiss that lingered like a mark she couldn’t ignore.
She pressed her fingers to her temple, trying to suppress the surge of emotions that had consumed her since then. The warmth of Thomas’s words echoed in her ears, his promises of steadfast love and a future filled with unwavering support. He’d made her feel seen in a way she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in months. Yet the kiss, tender and electric, had cracked open the carefully built walls around her heart.
Emma’s chest tightened as she replayed the moment, the sincerity in his eyes and the way her guard had slipped so easily. But alongside the comfort Thomas offered, a stubborn knot of unresolved feelings for Alex sat heavy in her chest. She couldn’t deny it—his name still haunted her thoughts, his actions still stirred her emotions, both good and bad.
The elevator dinged softly, and the doors slid open. Emma stepped into the dimly lit parking lot, her heels clicking against the concrete as her emotions churned. Torn between the love she had lost and the possibility of something new, she felt as though she was standing on the edge of two lives, unsure which way to leap.
The lot was dimly lit, the overhead fluorescent lights casting harsh shadows over the rows of parked cars. She was halfway to her car when a flicker of movement caught her eye.
Emma’s steps faltered as something in her peripheral vision caught her attention. She turned her head, her brows knitting together as she spotted Alex’s car parked a few rows away. The sleek black vehicle, pristine and commanding as always, stood out even in the dim light of the underground parking lot.
Her first thought was practical. Alex often worked late—another evening of firefighting the fallout from Barrett Industries’ recent chaos, perhaps. But then, her eyes lingered on the car. Something was off. Movement inside.
Her breath hitched.
She strained to see through the tinted windows, her pulse quickening as two figures took shape. One figure was reclined in the driver’s seat, while the other leaned over them, their positions far too close for anything innocent. The figure atop shifted, the car’s faint rocking betraying the undeniable intimacy of the scene.
Emma’s stomach twisted violently, her mind racing to reject what her eyes were showing her. The muffled sound of laughter seeped through the thick glass, light and careless, as if mocking the storm building inside her. Her chest tightened as a wave of nausea swept over her.
Emma froze mid-step, her breath catching painfully in her throat. The dim light of the parking lot seemed to narrow, casting a spotlight on the car parked just a few rows away. Her mind raced, clinging desperately to the hope that her eyes were playing tricks on her.
It can’t be him. It can’t be Alex.
But as she edged closer, her worst fears began to solidify. The passenger door swung open with a deliberate motion, and a figure stepped out, smoothing down a short, tight dress. The familiar sheen of Sophia’s dark hair caught the light, and Emma’s heart twisted painfully.
No.
Sophia. It was her.
Emma’s heart shattered at the sight of her.
Emma’s chest tightened, her pulse roaring in her ears. She didn’t need to see the other figure still seated in the driver’s seat. The angle obscured their face, but in her heart, Emma already knew. The way Sophia leaned back into the car, the casual laugh that echoed through the space—it told her everything she needed to know.
Alex.
The cold realization crashed over her, knocking the air from her lungs. She stumbled back a step, her hand instinctively flying to her belly as if to shield the twins from the betrayal ripping through her. A wave of nausea rolled over her, sharp and relentless, as her chest heaved with shallow breaths.
The betrayal was visceral, like a knife twisting in her gut. It wasn’t just the sight of Sophia, or the car, or Alex’s unmistakable silhouette—it was the weight of all his promises shattering around her. The moments she had allowed herself to believe in his sincerity, in the possibility of rebuilding something broken, now felt like cruel, mocking illusions.
It was all a lie. Every word. Every gesture. Every look.
All of it.
Emma felt her vision blur as tears spilled freely down her cheeks. She forced herself to take another step back, desperate to put as much distance as possible between her and the scene unfolding before her. Sophia leaned forward again, her hand brushing Alex’s shoulder as if to solidify her hold on him.
The sight burned into Emma’s mind. Her chest tightened further, the ache unbearable, as memories of Alex’s recent efforts to restore her reputation swirled alongside this stark betrayal. How had she been so foolish? How had she let herself believe?
A sharp sob escaped her lips before she could stifle it, the sound too small to draw attention from the figures by the car but loud enough to echo in her own ears. She clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms, willing herself to hold it together.
You will not cry in front of them. You will not let them see you break.
She fumbled with her keys as she reached her car, her hands trembling so badly that she dropped them twice before finally unlocking the door. She slid into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel tightly as sobs wracked her body.
The parking garage spun around her, the fluorescent lights casting distorted shapes through her tear-streaked vision.
“Why?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Why does it always end like this?”
With a trembling resolve, Emma turned sharply on her heel, refusing to look back. Her steps were unsteady, her heels clicking erratically against the concrete floor as she made her way to the exit. Every step felt heavier than the last, as if the weight of her heartbreak was physically dragging her down.
Her mind spiraled, filled with fragmented thoughts and emotions. She felt anger—at Alex, at herself, at the cruel pattern that seemed to repeat no matter how much she tried to protect herself. She felt pain—raw and unyielding, cutting through her with every breath. But most of all, she felt the crushing finality of it all.
This was the moment she realized there was nothing left to save. Whatever threads of hope she had held onto for Alex, for their future, had been severed completely.
Emma started the car, her hands trembling as she shifted into reverse. The drive home felt like a blur, the city lights streaking past her in a haze of anger and heartbreak.
Her mind replayed the scene in the parking garage over and over again, each loop tightening the knot in her chest. She tried to tell herself it didn’t matter, that she had already decided to keep her distance from Alex.
But it did matter.
It mattered because, deep down, she had still hoped for something better.
Tears spilled down her cheeks, unchecked, blurring her vision as her breaths came in short, ragged gasps. The rhythmic sound of the wipers against the windshield did little to calm the storm inside her.
Her mind replayed the scene over and over—Sophia stepping out of Alex’s car, her dress adjusted with a casual intimacy that spoke volumes, and the silhouette of the man she still couldn’t stop loving behind the wheel. Every detail was a dagger, twisting deeper into her chest with each breath she took.
How could he? After everything?
She pulled into the parking lot of her apartment building, her movements mechanical. The engine went silent, leaving her in a suffocating quiet that only amplified the whirlwind of emotions in her head. Her hands remained on the wheel, trembling now as fresh tears spilled over. She bowed her head, her forehead resting against the cool leather, trying to steady herself. But the ache in her chest wouldn’t subside.
Her thoughts shifted to Thomas. His voice—steady, unwavering—echoed in her mind. The warmth in his eyes, the way he had confessed his love with such conviction and selflessness, lingered in her memory. For a fleeting moment, she had felt safe in his presence. Loved. Respected. But even that felt distant now, tangled in the impossible mess of her emotions and the crushing weight of Alex’s betrayal.
Emma forced herself to move, her body heavy as she stepped out of the car and into the crisp night air. The coolness stung her tear-streaked face, and she pulled her coat tighter around herself as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. Each step felt harder than the last, as if the weight of her heartache was dragging her down.
She tried to breathe deeply, to calm the storm raging in her chest, but the pain was relentless. It wasn’t just anger or betrayal—it was the deep, raw ache of losing something she had hoped could be salvaged. The remnants of her love for Alex, the fragile threads of trust she had dared to rebuild, lay in shambles.
The twins stirred faintly, a soft flutter that broke through her haze. Emma’s hand instinctively went to her belly, her fingers splayed protectively over the small bump. For a moment, she felt a flicker of calm—a reminder that despite everything, she wasn’t truly alone.
But then a strange unease crept over her, sharp and undeniable.
Something was wrong.
