Chapter Four

Noah could feel just how stiff Emma was in his arms, her body practically stone beneath his hands. Even though he had deliberately pulled her against his chest to present a united front to those irritating women, the total lack of yielding in her posture made a strange, defensive prickle of irritation flare in his gut.

Usually, whenever he deigned to touch her in public, she would lean into him with a quiet, grateful compliance, eager to play the role of the cherished wife. Now, she felt like an icy statue, completely detached from his presence.

Aunt Patricia's mouth dropped open, her smug expression freezing into a look of sheer terror as she stared at the CEO who had materialized out of nowhere. What the hell, she thought, could she have been mistaken about the affair?

She had thought this was finally the moment to put her cousin and her daughter in their place finally. They never should've risen beyond their status as the lowly branch family they were, they didn't deserve the prestige and protection Noah Walker's name gave them, and yet, here Noah Walker was, treating Emma like she was the center of his universe.

Noah's dark eyes swept over the three women, his gaze stopping on Aunt Patricia with a cold intensity that made her breath hitch in her throat.

"Noah, dear!" Aunt Patricia finally stammered, her voice pitching up an octave as she desperately tried to force her trembling features into a polite smile. "We... we didn't realize you were coming today! The internet this morning had all those silly rumors, and we were simply looking out for our dear Emma."

"Your concern is noted, Patricia," Noah replied, his voice dropping into a tone that made it clear the conversation was over. "But I assure you, my wife knows exactly where I am, and exactly who I am with. She wouldn't be misled by such frivolous gossips."

"Now, if you'll excuse us," Noah continued, his voice smooth as he subtly tightened his grip on Emma's waist, "I'd like to take my wife inside to get a proper drink."

Aunt Patricia's face flushed in embarrassment She swallowed hard, nodding quickly as she took her exit before she offended Noah further. Carol and the third woman murmured tight, panicked apologies, and went after her.

Emma's mother who had gone inside briefly quickly came out after hearing her precious son in law had some. Her face radiant, as she beamed at the sight of him. The sheer happiness on her face was enough to make Emma's stomach churn.

"Noah, darling! I knew you wouldn't miss it!" her mother gushed, reaching out to touch his arm.

"Come, you must see the patio, the caterers just brought out the imported truffles. Everyone has been dying to speak with you."

"In a moment, Mother," Noah smoothly replied, the performative, adoring smile sliding over his handsome features so flawlessly that Emma felt a cold shiver run down her spine. To her mother and the rest of the high-society guests watching them, he looked like the image of a doting, fiercely protective husband. "Let me say hello properly first."

He reached into his jacket brought out a small, elegantly wrapped box and gave it to her mother. "A little something for the new house."

Her mother took it immediately, not even pretending to be cordial. Her hands flew to her mouth the moment she peeled back the wrapping. Inside was a delicate gold bracelet, the kind that probably cost more than the entire event combined. "Noah, you really shouldn't have, this is far too much—"

"Nonsense. You deserve it." His tone was warm and easy, performing exactly as expected.

Her mother practically glowed, clutching the box to her chest like it was made of something sacred. "You hear that, everyone? This is the kind of son-in-law you pray for."

Emma stood there and said nothing, watching the scene unfold with a strange, hollow feeling settling into her chest. Once, this would have made her happy. Once, she would have clung to this small gesture as proof that maybe, somewhere underneath all his coldness, there was something real between them.

Now she only felt bitter. Watching Noah charm her mother while Veronica's face still lingered behind her eyelids, she understood with sudden clarity that none of this had ever been real. It never would be. Noah was just a damn good actor. And even though she knew the reality of their marriage, he managed to fool her too.

She slipped away while her mother was busy fawning over Noah, and walked toward the quiet edge of the yard where the noise of the party could barely be heard.

She should probably go find her sisters, but she just didn't have the energy to be sized up and criticized once again. Or god forbid they ask her about the scandal, which they definitely would. And unlike Aunt Patricia, they won't be satisfied with half hearted answers.

"Hiding out here too?" She heard a voice from the side, and she turned to see her stepfather. He was nursing a glass of whiskey and looked as out of place in his wife's extravagant party as Emma felt.

"Something like that." Emma sighed, leaning against the wall. "Just needed a moment of quiet."

Her stepfather took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes scanning the manicured lawns and the sprawling, luxurious estate around them. "It's quite a place," he said softly, a hint of something complex in his tone. "Your mother spent weeks picking out the layout. Still can't believe Noah managed to secure the deed to this entire property so quickly. I know it wasn't even on the market yet."

Emma froze, the air catching in her throat. She slowly turned her head to look at him, her heart dropping like a stone into her stomach. "What do you mean, Noah secured the deed?"

Her stepfather blinked, looking at her with a sudden flash of realization, as if he hadn't meant to let that slip. He cleared his throat, shifting his weight uncomfortably. "Ah... I thought you knew. Your mother went to Noah's office a few weeks ago. She asked him for it directly, telling him that a family of our status needed an estate that matched the Walker name. Noah bought the entire property for her."

Emma was completely speechless, feeling a burning humiliation washing over her from head to toe.

Throughout their entire three-year marriage, Emma had strictly and fiercely refused to let her family take advantage of Noah's wealth. She had constantly drawn a hard line, knowing full well that their marriage wasn't exactly traditional. It might've been arranged, but it was almost contractual in nature.

At some point she wanted nothing more than for it to be real, heck just yesterday she was ready to risk everything just so he could see her, finally see her, but not because but not because she wanted his money, his name, or the empty validation that came with being Mrs. Walker. She'd wanted it because, despite everything, despite every cold rejection and every careful distance he kept between them, some foolish, stubborn part of her still hoped he could love her the way she'd let herself love him.

But looking at this house, knowing her mother had gone behind her back to practically beg him for it, that final, desperate hope shattered into pieces. Her mother always did things like this, shamelessly using Noah's name and status to fuel her own impossible vanity.

"Emma, dear, don't look like that," her stepfather said quickly, noticing the way the color had completely drained from her face. "Your mother was just trying to secure the family image."

"I need to speak with her," Emma whispered, her voice trembling with anger.

She didn't wait for his response. She quickly walked back to the party, where she spotted her mother standing near the champagne tower, still proudly showing off her new gold bracelet to a group of nodding relatives.

Emma tightly caught her mother by the wrist, "Mom. We need to talk. Now."

"Emma, let go, you're wrinkling the silk!" her mother hissed under her breath, but the look in  Emma's eyes made her follow without making a scene. Emma dragged her into a secluded, empty corridor near the side entrance of the house.

The moment they were out of view, Emma turned around to face her, her hands curling into tight fists. "How could you do such a thing? How could you go behind my back and ask Noah to buy you a freaking house mom? It's one thing to ask for designer bags and jewelry but an estate?!"

But instead of looking guilty or apologizing, her mother's expression instantly turned defensive. She let out a sharp, irritated scoff and quickly reached into her handbag, pulling out her phone and aggressively turning the screen around to force it into Emma's face.

"How could I?" her mother hissed, her voice a sharp whisper as she pointed a manicured nail directly at the screen. "Look at the news, Emma! Look at what's trending on every single blog this morning! You're letting that Veronica woman steal your husband away right under your nose, and you're out here worrying about a house?"

Emma's eyes involuntarily locked onto the screen. It was the same headline from this morning, the same photos of Noah and Veronica leaving the lounge together.

"If you can't lock down his heart and keep him close, the least you can do is secure our family's future before it all falls apart!" her mother lectured, her eyes calculating, "If he leaves you for her, do you think the Walker family will give us a single dime? You should be thanking me for at least securing this house."

The words hit Emma like a physical blow, knocking the remaining breath right out of her lungs. Staring at the glaring evidence of her husband's devotion to his first love, Emma was completely unable to argue back.

Her mother wasn't wrong about one thing...Noah's heart belonged to Victoria, and Emma was completely disposable.

She opened her mouth, searching for some response, but nothing came. There was nothing to say that wouldn't spiral into a fight she didn't have the strength for, not today.

"Forget it," Emma said quietly, turning away. "I need to go."

She didn't wait for a response, weaving back through the party until she found Noah near the patio, still entertaining a small crowd with that same easy, practiced charm. She caught his eye and gave a small nod toward the door, and he excused himself almost immediately, falling into step beside her without a word.

"Drive back with me," he said, his tone clipped as they left the crowded estate and approached his parked luxury sports car. "We need to show we're united."

Emma didn't answer. She just opened the passenger door, slipped inside, and stared straight ahead at the dashboard.