Chapter 25

Emily POV

After Charlotte leaves, I curl up into a ball on the sofa. Her words stung like a harpoon, shredding my skin to bits. Coming here, I know now what her game plan was, and she succeeded.

With Liam fast asleep upstairs, I allow myself to cry. I’m an emotional wreck, but my feelings are compounded more by my confusion. Why am I so affected by what she said?

My feelings for Jacob were purely platonic at first, but these past few days without him here have had me yearning to see his smile and to hear his deep, sexy laugh. I had been so blinded by this fairytale I had illustrated in my mind that I never saw the signs—him retreating to his study at night and being indifferent towards me.

But images of that final night in the kitchen flood back into my head. Was that just a ruse to get me into his bed? He had ample opportunity to tell me he was engaged, but he chose not to.

The realization hits that I’ve been played and, like a fool, I fell into the trap once again.

The thought