Chapter 2

Emma's POV 

“Emma!”

I stopped at the door. My heart betrayed me, desperately hoping there was an explanation.

Adrian walked toward me. “You forgot your purse,” he said and handed me the purse

I felt stupid for thinking he was calling to tell me it was a joke, and so the humiliation just got worse. 

I looked deep in his eyes for a moment. Scanning through his pupils and iris. 

I could see it. 

Something was wrong somewhere; I could see the guilt in his eyes, but that didn't stop his attitude.

He smiled coldly.

Adrian leaned closer. “Ask your father what he did to my family.” he paused. “By the way, I'm in love with Olivia, your best friend. She is far better than you in shape and everything a man would ever want.”

I watched as Olivia stood, not saying even a single word. 

Before I knew it, tears dripped down my cheek. I didn't say a word.

Adrian turned his back on me and moved to Olivia, held her hand, and entered the restaurant. 

I stood, speechless, tears over my face like someone thrown out of her home. 

I slipped off my heels to enable me to walk properly on the road. 

“She looks like an onion,” I could hear a woman say in a corner, staring at me with a disgusted expression. 

Whatever confidence I had in myself disappeared. I couldn't bear the shame any longer, so I boarded a cab and headed straight home.

The thought of Adrian still shatters my mind each time I try to let go and be strong. 

I walked slowly to my bed from the shower. I hated the mirror each time my eyes came across it. It reminds me of my full cheeks, round belly, and round head, and also it reminds me of me dressing in front of it to meet Adrian, who had caused me damage. 

“Hey darling!” Sarah Bennett, my mum, called out. “You're back!” She said as she knocked on my door. 

From her voice, I could imagine how happy she would be, thinking I'd had a successful dinner with my long-time crush.

“Mum, come in,” I said.

Her smile vanished immediately she stepped into the room upon seeing my teary face. 

I held my mouth with a towel. “Mummm…” My voice cracked, my eyes squeezed, and my whole body went numb.

“Emmy…” She walked closer, slowly with her arms wide-spread and welcomed me with a warm hug. “Did he hurt you?”

I nodded my head in response. 

She rubbed me like she was soothing dough. I moved my arms across her neck and rested in her arms. For a moment I felt the world revolve around me; her hug healed part of my wound.

“Darling, what was that?” She moved her hand to my face, holding my chin. She looked me straight in the eyes; for the first time, I realized the pity on her face. “Huh? Talk to me… I'm your mother.” She said while I just stared at her eyes.

“Why am I like this, Mum?” I asked with tears, my voice broken.

“Howw…?” she simply asked.

“I'm fat, and it's so foolish of me thinking Adrian would love me with this forever,” I answered.

“OH dear, stop talking like someone with a disability. You are beautiful. Jesus! Why are you thinking this way?” she said, caressing my hair.

“Adrian rejected me,” I paused and exhaled the air I've been holding in. “Not only that, but he also humiliated me, and the worst of all is he proposed to Olivia instead of me…” Tears broke out from my eyes again; I couldn't hold it. I held my tears with the towel I was holding, and my mum sat me down.

“You have to rest, dear. The world doesn't come to an end,” she said, looking at me, her face looking pale. 

I wiped my tears and looked at her. “Mum…” She turned toward the door.

“What did Adrian mean when he said I should ask Dad what he did to his family?”

Her footsteps stopped. 

Slowly, she turned around. The color drained from her face. And for the first time that night, I realized my heartbreak might not be the worst thing that had happened to my family.

“Nothing, dear. Go and sleep. We will talk tomorrow. Just don't think too much. Your dad is busy in his home office.”

I didn't say anything; I didn't want to talk much. But I know something was fishy. 

Richard used to be Daniel Bennett, my father's friend, but they have been distant lately, maybe because my father's company went bankrupt and my father has not been able to manage it well.

“Okay,” I nodded and pulled the blanket to cover me while my mum left. 

I switched off my light by my side and laid my mind to rest. 

The thought of everything couldn't leave me that night.

Then around 11:00pm my phone made a buzzing sound. A message just came through. 

I stood up and checked, and it was Alexander's. The blue light from my screen flashed on my face.

“Come to the Blackwoods' mansion tomorrow.” I read it out loud, wondering if it was another round of humiliation. 

My mind drifted from the thought of going to the thought of not going. Maybe he wants to apologize on his brother's behalf. 

I tried to process everything in my head at once and finally release all the tension in my mind to sleep. 

I put down my phone, arranged my pillow, and fell asleep.

The next morning came quickly. The brightness of the sun flashed through my window, piercing my eyes with its sharp light. 

I raised my hand to cover my eye, and then I realized I didn't even cover the curtain the previous night, so I left it that way.

I hurriedly went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and take a bath. 

I walked out of my room dressed in my normal clothing—inexpensive, oversized, with minimal make-up. 

I went to the dining room. “Good morning, Dad,” I greeted, watching my dad covered with a newspaper, wide open.

“Emma, how was your night?” He said, without even looking at me. 

“I'm good. Good morning, Mum.” I said, turning to my mother.

“How was your sleep, Emmy?” she responded while making breakfast.

“Fine. I will be in the Blackwoods' mansion,” I said, hurrying with my bag hung over my shoulder. 

“At least you will eat, and then we need to talk,” she said. 

“No, Mum, I'm in a hurry. You know the Blackwoods don't joke with time. I need to be there before afternoon comes, and I have a lot of things to talk about with you guys.” I said. I didn't even wait for a response; I left hurriedly like I had a job appointment with them. 

I went outside to meet up with a cab.

On my way, my phone made a buzzing sound notifying me that a message had just come through. 

His name was boldly written on my phone, and his message changed my direction. It was Alexander again.