Chapter 215.

Emilia didn’t know what made her say yes.

Maybe it was the way Kylie had looked at her when she finally stopped crying. Maybe it was the exhaustion.

Or maybe, beneath all the anger and hurt and confusion, there was still a small part of her that wanted to see Adrian’s face.

She had spent the entire night trying to decide what she felt. She had failed.

Every time she thought she had been deceived, she remembered him standing outside her door after she told him to leave.

He hadn’t argued. He hadn’t demanded that she listen. He had simply left.

That somehow made everything worse.

If Adrian had fought her, maybe it would have been easier.

If he had raised his voice, defended himself, accused her of being unfair, maybe she could have hated him for the night and slept peacefully afterward.

Instead, he had accepted the hurt in her eyes like he knew he deserved to carry some of it.

And now she was sitting in Christian’s car, staring through the windshield at Adrian’s house.

Christian had barely spoken on the drive. He didn’t ask if she was sure. He didn’t even glance at her more than necessary.

When they stopped outside the house, he turned off the engine.

Emilia stared at the familiar front door. Her chest tightened.

"I can wait in the car," Christian said quietly.

She nodded.

Her hand rested on the door handle. Then she stopped. "Christian."

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

He looked at her. There was no teasing smile this time. "Go."

She swallowed. "What if I—"

"You don’t have to know what you’re going to say before you go in."

Her fingers tightened around the handle.

Christian looked back at the house. "You came here because you wanted to see him. That’s enough."

Emilia nodded.

She opened the door. "Christian?"

"Yeah?"

"If I don’t come out for a while..."

"I’ll still be here."

Her chest loosened. She gave him a small smile, and stepped out.

The door closed behind her.

For a few seconds, Emilia simply stood there.

Emilia pushed every thought away as she walked inside.

The door clicked shut behind her.

For a moment, the house was silent.

Then she heard Adrian’s voice. He was at the other end of the living room.

"I understand."

Emilia stopped.

He was on the phone. She could only see part of him from where she stood. His back was turned toward her with one hand was in the pocket of his trousers while the other held his phone against his ear.

His voice was calm, and controlled. Almost painfully normal.

"We should—" He turned. His eyes landed on her, and everything stopped.

Adrian’s expression changed so quickly that Emilia almost looked away.

Surprise first, then disbelief.

"I’ll call you back." He ended the call. "Emilia."

Her shoulders fell. "Adrian."

Neither moved.

The distance between them suddenly felt enormous.

Adrian took one step toward her, then stopped. He didn’t come any closer. He was giving her the choice.

Just like he had outside her door. Just like he always did.

Emilia stared at him.

He looked tired.

She looked down, then back at him. "My judgments were quick."

Adrian didn’t answer.

Emilia took another step closer. "I was hurt."

She took another step forwaed.

"I thought..." Her voice broke. She stopped.

Adrian remained still.

"I thought you had planned everything. I thought maybe you knew who I was before you even met me."

His eyes didn’t leave hers.

She took another step. "I thought maybe you saw Dante when you looked at me."

His face tightened. "Emilia."

She took the final step.

Now she was standing in front of him. Close enough to notice the tiny crease between his eyebrows.

Close enough to remember how safe she used to feel here. How safe she still felt. And that was the part she didn’t know what to do with.

"I was angry," she whispered.

"You had every right to be."

She shook her head. "I don’t know if I had every right."

"You did. I’m to blame. It’s on me."

"Adrian..."

He finally lifted his hand. But he stopped before touching her. His fingers hovered near her cheek.

Emilia closed the distance herself.

She stepped forward and pressed her forehead against his chest.

"I don’t want to lose this with you." Adrian’s breath caught. "I’m sorry that I hurt you."

Emilia’s knees weakened.

Adrian leaned down, and caught her immediately.

She sank against him. "I don’t know what I’m doing," she whispered.

Her hands curled into the front of his shirt. "My dad can’t be alive, Adrian." She swallowed hard. "Tell me he isn’t."

Adrian closed his eyes. "I can’t, Emilia."

Emilia’s legs gave way again.

Adrian bent down without hesitation, slipping one arm behind her knees and the other around her back.

He lifted her from the floor.

She didn’t protest. She didn’t even seem to notice. She simply wrapped both arms around his neck and buried her face against him.

Adrian held her tightly. Not possessively, or desperately. He held her securely.

He carried her to the couch. He sat first and settled her carefully against him.

Emilia’s arms remained around his neck. Her face stayed buried against the side of his neck.

Adrian’s hand moved slowly through her hair. His fingers combed gently through the strands.

"I’m sorry," he whispered.

Emilia squeezed her eyes shut.

"I’m sorry to break your heart, honey."

Her breathing hitched.

"But Ethan also works for your father."

She went still.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

"Ethan from school?" Emilia asked quietly.

Adrian kissed the side of her hair. "I’m sorry I went into your friend." He paused. "He also received money from Dante. From the moment he met you coming out of the hote room."

Emilia’s fingers loosened slightly around his neck.

"Within these three months he had been around you." Adrian reached for his phone. "Here."

He unlocked the screen. "I’ll show you."

He didn’t force it into her hand.

He simply held it where she could take it. "Just in case you need proof."

Emilia pulled away from his neck. Her eyes were red. She pressed her hand gently against his wrist.

"I don’t want to see."

Adrian stopped.

She looked down at the phone. "Something has always been off about him." Her voice was barely audible. "But I waved it off countless times."

Adrian lowered the phone.

Emilia stared at the floor.

"I remember the first week."

She gave a small, humorless laugh. "I remember thinking he was strange because he always smiled nervously."

Adrian said nothing.

"I thought maybe he was just observant." She rubbed her thumb against her palm. "He mentioned you."

Adrian’s expression hardened.

Emilia noticed. "He never asked directly."

"What did he ask?"

She shook her head. "I don’t remember exactly. But you were the professor to him."

"That’s okay."

She almost smiled. Instead, she rested her forehead against his shoulder.

"I missed you."

His eyes closed. "I missed you too."

She breathed in slowly.

His scent was familiar. That stupidly familiar scent that had stopped her in a sea of people.

Adrian looked down at her. "I’m terrified."

She stared at him in disbelief.

He rarely admitted fear.

"Of what?"

"Losing you."

Her lips parted.

Adrian looked away for a second.

"When I walked out earlier, I knew there was a chance you wouldn’t come back."

Emilia’s chest tightened.

"It did terrify me. I didn’t want to make another mistake after the hearing...."

She softly cut him off. "I don’t hate you."

He gave a faint smile. "I fear I might make another mistake, Emilia."

Emilia said nothing. Rather, she leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him again.

Adrian held her.

"He looks normal." Emilia whisered in the hug. "Ethan."

"He does." Adrian’s thumb moved across the screen. "He wanted to look normal."

Emilia looked at him. "Do you think he knew I knew something?"

"No."

"Do you think he knows you know?"

"Yes."

Her heart began to pound. "What happens now?"

Adrian locked the phone. "Now?"

"Yes."

"Now I make sure he can’t get close to you again."

She frowned. "Without making decisions for me."

Adrian paused. "Without making decisions for you."

She nodded. "And if I want to see him?"

Adrian was quiet for a moment. "Then I’ll make sure you’re safe while you do."

She stared at him.

His expression hardened slightly. "But if you need answers, I’ll help you get them."