CHAPTER 7:

"And what did you say?" Emma's voice cut through the quiet like a blade.

Marcus turned slowly, his expression unreadable. For a moment, he said nothing, and Emma felt her heart hammering against her ribcage.

The silence in Marcus felt heavy, almost suffocating. As Emma's eyes were still staring at him, her hands clasped tightly in her lap, her knuckles white from the pressure. However, Marcus, his back turned to her, his shoulders tense beneath his crisp t-shirt.

She needed to know. She had to know what he had said to Serah, what lies or truths had passed between them.

"I didn't say anything," Marcus finally replied, his voice low and measured.

Emma's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean you didn't say anything?"

"Exactly what I said." Marcus moved away close to the window, running a hand through his dark hair. "Even though Serah and I are separated, we still talk on the phone. I'm not the reason for our separation, Emma. You need to understand that."

The words hit Emma like a slap across the face. She felt her chest tighten, anger and hurt swirling inside her like a violent storm. Still talking. Still connected. The woman who should have been nothing more than a ghost from his past was still very much present in his life.

"You're still talking to her?" Emma's voice trembled slightly, though she fought to keep it steady. "After everything?"

Marcus sighed, his jaw clenching. "It's complicated."

"Complicated?" Emma stood abruptly, her hands balling into fists at her sides. "What's so complicated about it? You're with me now. Or at least, I thought you were."

"I am with you," Marcus said, but his tone lacked conviction, and Emma could hear it.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw something. But instead, she forced a smile onto her face, plastering it there like a mask. "Of course you are," she said sweetly, too sweetly. "I understand completely."

Marcus's eyes flickered with something—recognition, perhaps. He knew. He could see right through her. The way her smile didn't reach her eyes, the way her body remained rigid despite her soft words. He understood that she was pretending, and that knowledge only made the tension between them worse.

"Emma—" he began, but she cut him off.

"I'm fine, Marcus. Really." She turned away from him, dropping the cup on the breakfast table. "I should probably head to my room."

"Emma, wait—"

"I said I'm fine." Her voice was sharper now, the mask slipping just slightly. She caught herself and softened again. "I'll see you later."

Marcus watched her walk out of the kitchen, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, frustration etched across his face. He wanted to stop her, to explain, but what was there to explain? The truth was messy and painful, and he wasn't sure Emma was ready to hear it. He wasn't sure he was ready to say it.

Emma went to her room, her mind racing with thoughts she couldn't quite organize. Her phone rang just as she pulled out of her room, the familiar ringtone cutting through her chaotic thoughts.

Lily.

Emma took a deep breath before answering, forcing brightness into her voice. "Hey, Lily."

"Hey, yourself!" Lily's cheerful voice came through the speaker, warm and familiar. "I wanted to check on you. How are things going with you and Dad?"

Emma was standing outside her room and leaned against it, staring up at the darkening sky. "Things are... good. Your father is taking really good care of me."

"Really?" Lily sounded pleased. "That's great! I knew he would. He's always been protective of the people he cares about."

Emma felt a pang in her chest at those words. Protective. Caring. Was Marcus truly those things with her, or was she just another complication in his already complicated life?

"Yeah," Emma managed, her voice quieter now. "He's been wonderful."

Lily laughed on the other end of the line, the sound light and carefree. "You know, Emma, I'm trusting you with something really important here." She jokingly said.

"What's that?" Emma asked, though she already had a feeling where this was going.

"Remember to take good care of my dad," Lily said, her tone playful but with an undercurrent of seriousness. "He's the only man who brought me up, you know? He's everything to me."

Emma closed her eyes, feeling the weight of those words settle over her like a heavy blanket. The only man who brought me up. Lily didn't even know half of it. She didn't know about Serah's phone calls, about the complications, about the lines that were blurring more and more each day.

"I will," Emma promised, her voice thick with emotion. "I'll take care of him, Lily. I promise."

They talked for a few more minutes, exchanging light banter and sharing laughs that felt almost too easy given the turmoil churning inside Emma's heart. When they finally hung up, Emma entered her room and fell on the bed, her phone clutched in her hand.

What was Lily really thinking about her and Marcus?