Tous les chapitres de : Chapitre 121 - Chapitre 130

Justin’s phone buzzed just as Emily lowered her gaze. He saw the caller ID and sighed through his teeth—his assistant. Again.Emily saw the shift in his eyes. “You have to go,” she murmured, her voice only slightly louder than the hum of the café espresso machine.“I do,” Justin admitted, reluctantly tapping to answer, “but I’m not leaving you here.”She looked up finally, “Mr. Richie. I promise I will not cause you any trouble this time.” She lifted her palm, swearing along with her cheerful smile.“No, that’s not gonna happen, Oopsie, Daisy. Not again,” he said gently but firmly. “Charlotte and her mother were still out there. We can’t take the risk. So will you just follow my lead today?” he paused, his jaw tightening at the memory. “I’m not risking once again.”She took a shaky breath. “You said you just need to sign something?”“That’s it. Five minutes. Just important paperwork, otherwise we don’t need to go.”Her fingers toyed nervously with the edge of her phone. She still didn

A moment earlier…Emily stepped out of the restroom, patting her hands dry with a tissue as she turned toward the corridor. Her brows furrowed at the faint sound of hurried footsteps and scattered whispers echoing through the hallway.Then she saw them.Justin and Rachel.He was holding her wrist, dragging her with determined urgency toward the elevator. His jaw was tight, his stride relentless.Her breath caught.She blinked, watching the scene unfold like slow motion.Rachel—calm, confident, with heels clicking and chin lifted—followed him like they were perfectly in sync.They looked like a couple.And suddenly Emily’s realization hit her.Maybe Justin changed his mind after that meeting with his father. Maybe Rachel was exactly the kind of woman everyone expected him to marry—bold, fearless, magnetic, just like Justin.Emily smiled genuinely.She was happy for him. Now he could hear him complaining about his forced engagement. Finally, Justin had already accepted Rachel.Her heels

The room was quiet. Too quiet.The kind of quiet that didn’t feel ceremonial—it felt personal like the walls themselves were holding their breath.Emily stood frozen, her gaze locked on Charles, who waited at the center of the aisle. He didn’t move. Didn’t gesture. But something in his stillness pulled at her like gravity.The planner cleared her throat gently. “Miss Greyson?”Emily blinked, then nodded, her heels clicking softly as she stepped forward.She walked slowly, deliberately, each step echoing in the grand hall. Her dress swayed gently around her legs, and her fingers curled tightly around the bouquet she’d been handed moments earlier.Charles watched her approach.Not with warmth.Not with coldness.Just... presence.When she reached him, she stopped a breath away. Close enough to feel the heat of him. Close enough to remember what they shared.The planner smiled, clearly pleased. “Perfect. Now, let’s walk through the ceremony. Just a simple rehearsal—no pressure.”Emily no

At the University’s library, late afternoon…The scent of old paper and highlighters lingered in the air. Students passed by in hushed conversation, books tucked under their arms, their eyes fixed on their schedules.Emily sat at a window-facing desk in the farthest row of the library, surrounded by architectural blueprints and textbooks—but her gaze wasn’t on the pages. Her fingers traced over the edges of her notebook, but every line blurred.Charles.Her mind kept returning to Charles.The cryptic post. It hit her hard.He wasn’t the type to do that. He never shared personal matters online. Not with his status. Not with his world watching every move. He was too composed, too private, too guarded. And yet, last night… he broke.Emily bit her lip and stared outside where the clouds moved slowly like questions drifting without answers.What if he does love me?What if I wasn’t wrong after all?Her heart thudded. She tried to focus on her notes—on structural designs, on columns and can

Emily slapped him. Fury, fear, and shock were in her eyes.The sound cracked through the silence, sharp and final.Her hand trembled. She wished it didn’t, but she had to do it before she lost control. Before she would forget everything. Before, they could do something they would regret later.‘No! This can’t happen!’ Her mind was shouting, forcefully awakened.She then shoved Charles hard, breath catching in her throat. But Charles, unfazed by the sting of her slap, reached for her again. His arms wrapped around her with a desperation that stole the air from the room. And then—he kissed her. Again.This time, it was different. Softer. Slower. A kiss soaked in longing and remorse, not fire. Its warmth gave her nerves an electric shock. She felt millions of tingling sensations coursing wildly through her body. She could feel his lips savoring hers, sending a message that she couldn't figure out, and with a sensation impossible to ignore. His lips were very soft, giving her all the reas