Chapter 36
Emily’s POV
Present Day
After the conversation with Frank, I felt a strange mix of relief and lingering sadness. For so long, I had carried the weight of my family’s judgment, the shame they had cast upon me for what happened with
Keith.
But here was Frank, sitting across from me, telling me it wasn’t
it wasn’t my fault. That night, Keith was twenty and I was just eighteen–barely an adult, still figuring out who I was. Yet, the blame had fallen squarely on my shoulders.
“Emily,” Frank said softly, reaching across the table to take my hand, “you were young. You didn’t plan for any of this to happen. It was a mistake, but it wasn’t your fault. Keith was older–he should have known better. He should have been the one to stop you both from drinking, not the other way around.”
His words were like a balm to my wounded soul. I had never heard anyone defend me like that, not even in my own head. “But everyone blamed me,” I whispered, my voice barely holding together. “They all said it was my fault. That I seduced him, that I ruined everything.”
“Your parents should never have placed all that responsibility on you,”
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Frank replied, his voice firm. “They should have protected you, helped you, not punished you. And Keith… he was supposed to be a grown man. He should have taken responsibility for his own actions.”
I felt tears well up in my eyes as I looked at him, overwhelmed by the kindness and understanding in his gaze. “I don’t regret having Zane,” I said, my voice trembling. “He’s the only good thing that came out of all this. He’s my salvation.”
Frank squeezed my hand, his eyes never leaving mine. “Zane is lucky to have you as his mother, Emily. But you need to stop punishing yourself for something that wasn’t your fault. Your family… they don’t deserve to have that kind of power over you. You were just a girl, and they should. have been there for you, not against you.”
His words touched something deep inside me, something I hadn’t allowed myself to feel in a long time–hope. For so long, I had accepted the blame, the shame, the judgment, but here was someone telling me that I didn’t deserve any of it.
“I still feel the pain,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “It’s like it’s never going to go away.”
Frank stood up, pulling me gently to my feet. “Come on, let’s get you home,” he said, his tone soft but insistent. “But I’m not letting you drown yourself in alcohol, Emily. There’s a better way to deal with this.”
We drove back to my place in silence, the weight of our conversation hanging between us. When we arrived, Frank walked me to the door, but instead of saying goodnight, he followed me inside.
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I felt a flutter of nerves in my stomach as he closed the door behind him, the soft click echoing in the quiet of the house.
He turned to face me, his eyes searching mine. “You don’t need to forget, Emily,” he said, his voice low and comforting. “But you do need to move forward. And I want to help you with that.”
Before I could respond, he stepped closer, his hand gently cupping my cheek. The warmth of his touch sent a shiver down my spine, and I felt myself leaning into him, craving the comfort he offered.
He tilted my chin up, his eyes locking onto mine, and then his lips were on mine, soft and tender at first, testing the waters.
I melted into the kiss, all the tension, all the pain, slipping away as I lost myself in the moment. His hands moved to my waist, pulling me closer, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.
It was different from anything I had ever experienced–there was no desperation, no guilt, just a pure connection that made my heart race.
He guided me toward the bedroom, our lips never parting. When we reached the bed, he gently laid me down, his eyes dark with desire as he looked at me. “Are you sure?” he whispered, his voice filled with concern
and want.
I nodded, pulling him down to me. “Yes, Frank. I’m sure.”
Ε
Chapter 35
He smiled, a soft, reassuring smile that made my heart skip a beat, and then he kissed me again, his hands exploring my body with a tenderness. that took my breath away. It wasn’t rushed or frantic; it was slow, deliberate, as if he was savoring every moment, every touch.
As our clothes fell away, I felt a sense of vulnerability, but Frank’s gaze was full of admiration and respect, making me feel cherished in a way I hadn’t felt in a long time. He trailed kisses down my neck, across my collarbone, and I sighed, my body responding to his every touch.
And when I finally let go, it wasn’t just the physical pleasure that overwhelmed me–it was the sense of being seen, being valued, being loved. Frank held me as I trembled in his arms, whispering soothing words in my ear, and for the first time in a long time, I felt at peace.
Afterward, we lay there in the quiet of the night, our bodies tangled together, his hand gently stroking my hair. “Emily,” he murmured, his voice full of emotion, “you deserve so much more than what life has given you. I want to be the one to give it to you.
