I turned to go back inside, but I couldn’t hide my displeasure.
Emily
“Emily!”
As I stormed off down the street, I didn’t pay attention to anything around me. I kept
walking, my pace quick.
“Wait!” Warm hands clasped my shoulders, and I looked up to meet Micahel’s gaze. I’d nearly run into him.
“Not right now, I’m busy,” I told him. I pulled out of his grasp and continued to walk.
Michael trailed behind me.
“Come on, Emily, we haven’t had a chance to talk since… well…” he trailed off. He knew
very well what he did. But he didn’t want to say it. So I would.
“Since you cheated on me?” I said. I stopped and turned to him. The look of shame on his face almost made me laugh.
“I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, I know that. Everyone was telling me what to do, and I made the mistake of listening to them. If there’s anything I can do to make up for it, anything I can do to be with you again,” Michael said.
I laughed. “Do you really want to get back together?”
“Yes.”
“Why? Is it because Chloe has dumped you?”
Michael looked away. “No. I love you.”
“If you loved me, you wouldn’t have slept with my step–sister.”
1/3
1/3
་་་་་་་་་ 【ས
“I made a mistake.”
40 PUNUS
“That was much bigger than a mistake. You only care about our relationship now that you have something to gain from it.”
The only reason he was here now was because I was making a name for myself. I’d put myself out there for all to see today, and I received public support.
I started to realize that Michael never loved me in the first place. I was a means to an end,
and no more.
It was not unlike my contract with Logan. But at least Logan was honest about our relationship. He had the decency to lay down a contract between us. I’d known from the beginning what he expected of me.
“You know that’s not true,” Michael said.
“It is absolutely true. Leave me alone, Michael. I don’t want to see you again.” I turned to
leave, but Michael grabbed my arm.
“Wait!”
“No. I’ve had enough of this. Let me go.”
“I have evidence that can help you in a lawsuit against your family. You could get your
inheritance back.”
I hesitated. He’d never brought this up before, even though I’d talked about suing my family
for a long time.
“Why are you just now bringing this up?”
“I wasn’t sure if it was good information. But I’ve checked up on it, and it’s a solid lead.‘
I was suspicious. Of course a lead wouldn’t magically pop up as soon as it benefitted Michael. Even if he was lying, I had to check. Otherwise, I’d never stop thinking of it.
“Alright, what is it?”
2/3
Chapter 24
“Come with me, and I’ll give you everything you need.”
+25 BONUS
I hesitated. Then again, if Michael had evidence, it might be the best chance I had since Logan wasn’t interested in handling this issue. I’d have to check it myself if I wanted to make any progress. Any lead was worth following.
“Fine.” Michael lead me to his car, and I got into the passenger seat while he got into the
driver’s side.
I’d go with, but it was only for the evidence. If it was true, it could shift things in my favor. If he was lying, which he probably was, then I’d have lost time, and that was it.
Plus, it took my mind off how much my chest hurts. What Logan said to his father felt like a betrayal despite the fact I knew our relationship was a contract.
This was the best distraction I could ask for.
