All Chapters of Loving Mr. Vance in Silence: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

Emma sat on her couch for a long time after Nick's text.Everything is new.She looked around her apartment — the small kitchen, the worn couch, the stack of books on the coffee table. She had spent two weeks in this apartment, doing nothing and everything. Reading. Walking. Learning to be alone.She had learned something important.She didn't want to be alone anymore.---She picked up her phone. She scrolled through her messages — Nick's name, Olivia's name, Chloe's name. She had people who loved her. She had a life waiting for her.What am I waiting for?She didn't have an answer. But she knew she was tired of waiting.She stood up. She walked to her bedroom. She opened her closet.The green dress was still there — the one she had worn on her first date with Liam. She hadn't worn it since. She had been saving it for something.She pulled it out.She laid it on her bed.Then she picked up her phone.Emma: I'm ready.Nick: Ready for what?Emma: To stop running.Nick: You said that be

Emma woke to sunlight and warmth.Not the harsh fluorescent light of an office. Not the gray morning light of her lonely apartment. This was golden — soft and warm, filtering through windows that stretched from floor to ceiling, painting the room in shades of honey and gold.She was on a couch. Nick's couch. His arm was still around her, his chest still beneath her cheek, his heartbeat still steady and real.She didn't move.She lay there, listening to him breathe, watching the dust motes dance in the sunlight. The city was waking up outside — distant sounds of traffic, of voices, of lives being lived. But inside the penthouse, there was only peace.Nick's hand moved. His fingers traced lazy patterns on her back."You're awake," he murmured. His voice was rough with sleep."So are you.""I've been awake for an hour."Emma tilted her head up. His eyes were open, watching her, a small smile on his lips."An hour?" she asked. "Why didn't you wake me?""Because you looked peaceful. You ne

The call came on a Tuesday morning.Emma was in Nick's kitchen, making coffee. She had been staying at his penthouse for four days now — not officially living there, but close enough. A drawer in his dresser. A toothbrush in his bathroom. A pair of her shoes by the door.Nick was still in bed. He had started sleeping later now that he didn't have to be at the office by 8:00 AM sharp. Dr. Chen had suggested it. Emma had encouraged it.He was changing.Slowly. Imperfectly. But changing.Emma poured two cups of coffee — his with three sugars and a dash of cream, hers black — and carried them to the bedroom. Nick was sitting up, his hair messy, his eyes still heavy with sleep."You're still here," he said."I'm still here.""I keep expecting to wake up alone."Emma set the coffee on the nightstand and sat on the edge of the bed. "You're not going to wake up alone. Not anymore."Nick reached for her hand. "Promise?""I promise."He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her knuckles. Then

The invitation came on a Thursday.Not a formal invitation — a text from Olivia, sent to Emma and Nick both.Olivia: Dinner. Saturday. 7 PM. My place. You're bringing Nick. He's bringing wine. Don't be late.Nick stared at the message. "She's bossy.""That's Olivia.""She texts like she's giving orders.""She learned from the best." Emma smiled. "Me."Nick looked up. "You're going to make me do this, aren't you?""Meet my sister's fiancé? Yes.""Can't I just send a gift?""You're not sending a gift. You're coming to dinner. You're bringing wine. You're going to be charming.""I'm not charming.""You're charming when you want to be."Nick sighed. "Fine. But if he's boring, I'm leaving early."Emma kissed his cheek. "That's fair."---Saturday arrived clear and cold.Emma stood in front of Nick's closet, watching him choose a suit. He had tried on three already."The navy," Emma said."The navy is too formal.""It's dinner at my sister's apartment. Not a board meeting."Nick held up a g

The argument stayed with Nick.Not the yelling — that had faded. Not the burnt eggs or the open window or the way Emma had crossed her arms. What stayed was the fear. The cold, creeping fear that he was broken. That he didn't know how to be with someone. That he would mess this up the way he had messed up everything else.Dr. Chen's office was warm and quiet.Nick sat on the couch — the same couch he had been sitting on for weeks now. The painting of the boat was still on the wall. He still hated it."You seem different today," Dr. Chen said."Different how?""Quieter. More present."Nick looked down at his hands. "We had a fight.""Emma?""Yes.""What about?"Nick told her. The Lee Corporation deal. The board meeting. The eggs burning on the stove. The way Emma had looked at him — not angry, not scared, just... steady."I yelled at her," Nick said. "I didn't mean to. I didn't even know I was yelling until she pointed it out."Dr. Chen nodded. "And how did that make you feel?""Terrib