Chapter 29
Emily’s POV
The fluorescent lights of the supermarket felt too bright, ast harsh against the dull ache in my head. My body still bore the n…..s of the attack–bruises that hadn’t yet faded and a deep fatigue that clung to my
bones.
Every movement felt heavy, every breath an effort. But life didn’t stop just because someone wanted me dead. I still had to buy groceries, still had to find a way to keep going for Zane’s sake.
I pushed the shopping cart slowly, my mind elsewhere, replaying the terrifying moments of the past few days. Someone had tried to kill me- three times now–and I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. Why would anyone want me dead? The thought gnawed at me constantly.
And then there was Zane. The idea that I might not be there to watch him grow up, to see him reach all those milestones, was a pain I couldn’t bear. It broke my heart in ways I couldn’t even begin to describe.
Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t notice the elderly woman in the aisle until I almost bumped into her. She looked up at me, her eyes softening with concern as she took in my bruised face and the dark circles under my
eyes.
“Are you all right, dear?” she asked gently, her voice full of genuine
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Chapter 29
worry.
I forced a smile, though it felt like a strain on my face. “I’m fine, thank you,” I replied, trying to sound convincing, but the way she kept looking
at me told me she didn’t believe a word of it..
“You don’t look fine,” she said, her brow furrowing. “Are you sure there’s nothing I can do for you?”
“No, really, I’m okay,” I insisted, feeling a little guilty for lying to her. But what could I say? That someone was out there trying to kill me, and I had no idea why? That every day felt like a battle just to keep my head above water?
The old woman hesitated for a moment, then patted my hand reassuringly. “Just take care of yourself, dear. Life can be hard sometimes, but you’ll get through it.”
I nodded, forcing another smile as she walked away, her words lingering in the air. I wished I could believe her, that this nightmare would eventually end, and I’d be able to live a normal life again. But as things stood, normal seemed like a distant dream.
I moved down the aisle, trying to focus on the mundane task of picking out groceries, when I heard a familiar voice behind me. My heart sank as I turned to see Rosa, Keith’s secretary, striding toward me with a smug look on her face. She always seemed to pop up at the worst times, like some unwelcome shadow from my past.
“Emily,” Rosa sneered, her eyes sweeping over me with disdain. “You
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look as pathetic as ever. Guess trying to steal someone else’s man doesn’t pay off, huh?”
I stiffened, anger flaring up inside me. I knew Rosa had always disliked me, but her words still cut deep. “I don’t need this from you, Rosa,” I shot back, trying to keep my voice steady. “You’ve always hatede, but that doesn’t give you the right to insult me.”
Rosa’s lips curled into a cruel smile. “Hate you? Please, I just think it’s hilarious that you ended up like this. You tried to take Keith from Lily, and look where it got you. You’re nothing but a slut, Emily, and everyone knows it.”
Her words stung, but I wasn’t going to let her see how much they hurt. Instead, I decided to hit her where it would really hurt.
“And what about you, Rosa? You’ve been flirting with Keith for years, but he never gave you the time of day. You’re just a secretary to him, nothing more. Even now that Keith’s with Lily, he still doesn’t care about you.”
Rosa’s face flushed with anger, her eyes narrowing into slits. “You” she started, but before she could finish, she lunged at me, her hands reaching out to grab me.
I stepped back, startled by her sudden aggression, and she slipped on the wet floor, falling hard into my shopping cart. The milk I had just picked up splashed all over her, soaking her from head to toe.
The scene was almost comical–Rosa, dripping with milk, her hair
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plastered to her face, looking like a drowned rat. But I couldn’t find it in me to laugh. The anger and frustration inside me boiled over, and all I felt was a hollow emptiness.
The commotion drew the attention of the store manager, who rushed over with a look of exasperation. “What’s going on here?” he demanded, his eyes flicking between me and Rosa, who was now trying to get to her feet, her face twisted with rage and humiliation.
“She attacked me!” Rosa shouted, pointing a trembling finger at me. “She threw milk at me on purpose!”
I rolled my eyes, too tired to argue. “She slipped,” I said flatly. “It was an accident.”
The manager didn’t look convinced, but he seemed more interested in ending the scene than figuring out the truth. “I don’t care who started it,” he said, rubbing his temples. “You’re both causing a disturbance. Please leave the store, and don’t come back.”
Rosa and I were both escorted out, the cold air outside hitting me like a slap in the face. Rosa stormed off without another word, her pride clearly more wounded than anything else. I, on the other hand, felt nothing but a deep sense of weariness.
When I finally got home, I was greeted by Frank, who looked both worried and a little annoyed. “Where have you been?” he asked, his voice edged with concern. “I’ve been trying to call you.”
“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, dropping my keys on the table. “I had a run–in
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with Keith’s secretary, Rosa, at the supermarket. She started insulting me, but she ended up slipping and falling into my cart. It was a mess.
Frank’s expression softened as he pulled me into a hug. “I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he murmured into my hair. “But I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. You didn’t let her push you around.”
The warmth of his embrace and the sincerity in his voice made something inside me unclench, and I found myself leaning into him, feeling a sense of safety that I hadn’t felt in a long time. Without thinking, I tilted my head up, and before I knew it, our lips met in a soft, tentative kiss.
The kiss deepened, and for a moment, all the fear and uncertainty melted away. All that existed was the feeling of Frank’s arms around me, grounding me, making me feel like everything might just be okay.
When we finally pulled apart, I looked into his eyes, seeing the same mix. of emotions that I felt–hope, desire, and a deep, growing connection. Maybe, just maybe, there was a chance for something real between us.
