Chapter 17
Emily’s POV
I woke up with a start, disoriented and alone in the bed. The events of yesterday felt like a distant, blurry dream. Had it all really
happened? I blinked against the morning light streaming through the window, my mind trying to piece together the fragments of the day before.
Keith carrying me to bed, his touch surprisingly gentle… It all felt surreal, like something out of a dream I couldn’t quite shake off.
As I lay there, the reality of everything I still had to face started creeping back in. My phone had been destroyed, my car a charred wreck–there was so much to deal with, and I had to fix it before the vacation ended.
I sighed heavily, feeling the weight of it all pressing down on me. There was no escaping the mess my life had become, not even for a moment.
I forced myself out of bed, but as soon as I stood, a wave of dizziness hit me, accompanied by a throbbing headache.
I clutched the edge of the nightstand for support, closing my eyes until the room stopped spinning. Once I felt stable enough, I made
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my way downstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last.
The kitchen greeted me with its familiar scent of coffee, though the smell did nothing to ease the nausea swirling in my stomach. I went through the motions of making breakfast, though the idea of eating seemed almost laughable.
My body felt too weak to handle anything substantial, so I settled for toast and a cup of coffee, hoping it would be enough to take the edge off.
As I swallowed a couple of painkillers, the doorbell rang, startling me out of my thoughts. I wasn’t expecting anyone. Warily, I made my way to the door, every instinct on high alert. The last thing I needed was another surprise.
When I opened the door, a woman stood there, her striking black hair cascading over her shoulders and her green eyes glistening with what seemed like unshed tears. Before I could say anything, she threw her arms around me in a tearful hug.
“Who are you?” I asked, my voice sharp with confusion as I gently pushed her away, trying to keep my distance. Despite the surprise, I let her inside after she promised me she was not one of the criminal team, more out of caution than hospitality.
She wiped her eyes quickly, a nervous smile tugging at her lips. “I‘ m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you. I’m Nina.”
Nina. The name didn’t ring any bells. “Why are you here?” I asked, crossing my arms as I studied her carefully. She seemed genuine, but I wasn’t ready to let my guard down just yet..
She took a deep breath, her hands twisting nervously in front of her. “I know this is a bit… unusual, but I’m Tyler’s girlfriend. I came because I wanted to meet you, to talk to you. Tyler doesn’t know I‘ m here, and honestly, he’d probably be mad if he found out. But I couldn’t stay away. I had to come and see you, to try and make things right.”
Her words caught me off guard, and I couldn’t hide the skepticism in my voice. “You’re Tyler’s girlfriend? And you think coming here. unannounced is going to make things right?”
Nina’s eyes softened with understanding, and she took a cautious step closer. “I know Tyler hasn’t treated you well, and that’s an understatement. But he’s different with me. I love him, and I believe that deep down, he’s capable of being a better person. I just… I want to help, Emily. I want to be there for you.”
I stared at her, torn between disbelief and an inexplicable pull to trust her. She seemed so sincere, so genuine in her desire to mend the rift between us. Part of me wanted to tell her to leave, to keep the wall up that I had so carefully constructed over the years. But another part of me, the part that was tired of being alone, hesitated.
“Why should I trust you?” I finally asked, my voice softer, thought still edged with caution.
Chapter 17
“Because I’m not here to talk about Tyler or your family,” Nina said earnestly. “I’m here because I want to be your friend. I know we don’t know each other, but I believe that if you give me a chance, I can prove that I’m here for you, not for anyone else.”
I studied her for a moment longer, searching her eyes for any sign of deception. But all I saw was a young woman who seemed. genuinely invested in getting to know me, someone who wanted to break through the isolation I had wrapped myself in. And maybe, just maybe, I was ready to let someone in.
“Okay,” I said slowly, nodding as I made up my mind. “We can start as friends, but I have one condition–no talking about Tyler, or anyone else in my family.”
Nina’s face lit up with relief, and she nodded eagerly. “Agreed. I promise, this is just about us. No one else.”
We sat down at the kitchen table, and as we talked, I learned more about Nina. She was a year older than me, an only child who had lost her parents at a young age.
She worked as a secretary at my father’s company, and despite the pain that connection brought, I found myself softening towards her. There was something disarming about her openness, something that made it easy to talk to her.
Just as I was beginning to feel comfortable, the doorbell rang again. My body tensed, the familiar dread creeping back in. I wasn‘
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Chapter 17
t sure I could handle another surprise.
When I opened the door, a woman in a crisp uniform stood there, her posture straight and her expression professional. “Good morning, Miss Emily,” she greeted me with a respectful nod. “I’m your nurse. I’ve been assigned to help you during your recovery.”
My brows furrowed in confusion. “I didn’t hire a nurse,” I said, glancing back at Nina, who looked just as puzzled as I was.
The nurse smiled politely, unfazed by my confusion. “I was hired on your behalf. I’m here to assist you with anything you need.”
My mind raced with questions. Who had hired her? And why? The sense of control I had been trying to regain was slipping through my fingers once again.
