Chapter Fourteen: Smoke and Fire

Emma’s POV

I didn’t speak to Xander the entire morning.

I moved through the penthouse like a ghost, brushing past him without a glance, letting my silence carve space between us. Every time he tried to say something, I either left the room or turned up the volume of whatever I was doing. I refused to give him what he wanted: a confrontation he could control.

Not this time.

My phone was blowing up with calls from unknown numbers, messages from accounts I didn’t recognize. Half the internet thought I was Xander Blake’s mistress. The other half thought I was a gold digger. No one was close to the truth.

And the truth? It didn’t matter anymore. Not when the world had already picked a side.

I stood by the balcony doors, watching the city thrum below, a steaming mug of untouched tea in my hands. My reflection in the glass looked calm. But inside, I was lava.

Behind me, I heard his footsteps.

"Emma," he said quietly.

I didn’t turn.

"I didn’t leak anything. I didn’t even tell anyone."

I said