Chapter 3
Emery’s POV
You know that feeling when you wake up inside a freezer? That was me every morning lately, cold, stiff, and already tired before the day even started. Like my soul hit the snooze button, but my body didn’t get the memo.
I blinked at the empty space beside me and stared at the rumpled pillow. No note, no message, not even a text. Typical Landon.
He probably left before sunrise, off to a meeting in another city, or maybe just escaping the awkward silence that followed us everywhere now. Either way, it didn’t matter. He was gone, like he always was.
Dragging myself out of bed, I reached for the first robe I could find. My head ached faintly, and every step downstairs felt like more effort than it should’ve. But the second I walked into the kitchen, I froze.
There she was.
Marian Rinaldi, seated at the Remington breakfast table like she’d lived there her whole life. Hair curled into soft waves, makeup flawless, silk blouse crisp at eight in the morning. She looked more awake than I’d ever felt.
Portia’s smile widened the moment she spotted me.
“Good morning, Emery,” she said, voice sugary but with that usual sting beneath it.
Marian glanced over, lips curving into something polite. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“Please.” Lily didn’t bother hiding her smirk. “You’re practically family.”
I said nothing, just nodded and took the farthest seat from all of them. I didn’t trust myself to speak, not yet. Portia gestured toward Marian like she was announcing the arrival of a duchess.
“Marian’s been close to the family for years. A proper woman. Refined.”
Lily joined in, her tone a little too eager. “She studied in Paris. Speaks three languages. Honestly, she makes the rest of us look like amateurs.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Marian said, softening her tone. “It’s silly of me, really. I’ve always admired the Remington family. Of course, I know Landon’s married, but admiration doesn’t exactly ask permission.”
Her eyes flicked toward me just long enough to make sure I heard it. I kept mine on my plate, though the smell of eggs made my stomach twist.
Portia didn’t skip a beat. “Landon could use a bit more elegance around him. He’s so often surrounded by stress these days.”
“I’m sure,” Marian said as she stirred her tea. “He deserves softness. Support. Legacy.”
Lily nodded like she’d just discovered the meaning of life. “Exactly.”
I bit the inside of my cheek, holding back the words I really wanted to say. My head pounded, and my body felt off, like I was there but not fully present.
They kept chatting, laughing, building each other up like I wasn’t even at the table. I pressed my palm flat against the cool wood, hoping the surface might ground me.
“Emery?” Marian tilted her head, eyes narrowed slightly. “What’s wrong? You’ve gone pale.”
I shook my head. “I’m fine.” But I wasn’t, not even close. The nausea hit fast, sharp and unrelenting. I stood quickly, one hand over my mouth.
“Excuse me,” I muttered, and didn’t wait for anyone to respond.
I walked out of the kitchen, barely keeping my balance, and rushed down the hall.
Reaching the bathroom just in time, I sank to the floor in front of the toilet as everything inside me came up. My heart thudded hard in my chest while my fingers were cold and shaky against the tile.
For a few minutes, I just sat there, breathing. My hair clung to my face as I leaned back and stared at my hands. Still wearing the ring. Still pretending.
But my body? It was done playing along. Something was wrong…
Or maybe, finally, something was right.
