Chapter 40
Keith’s POV
The evening had taken an unexpected turn. What should have been a celebration of generosity had turned into a tense confrontation. I stood frozen, watching as Emily stepped in to defend the little girl, her voice calm yet firm, an authority that demanded attention. Rebecca’s dress, stained by an innocent spill, had sparked a fury that exposed the ugliness beneath her polished exterior.
“You little brat!” Rebecca’s voice was sharp and venomous as she glared down at the child. “Do you have any idea how much this dress costs? More than you’ll ever be worth!”
The girl, no older than five, looked up at Rebecca with wide, tear–filled eyes. My heart clenched at the sight, but before I could move, Emily was already there, placing herself protectively between Rebecca and the girl.
“That’s enough,” Emily said, her voice steady but with an edge that silenced the room. “This is not how we treat children.”
Rebecca blinked, clearly not expecting to be challenged. “Do you know who I am? I’ve donated a million dollars to this foundation! I have done more for these orphans than anyone else here. And now this little-”
Emily didn’t let her finish. “Your money doesn’t give you the right to humiliate a child. If this is what your generosity looks like, we don’t need
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it.”
Rebecca’s jaw dropped. “You can’t be serious.”
“I am,” Emily replied, her gaze unwavering. She turned to Purple, who had been watching the exchange with a mix of shock and admiration. “Purple, return her donation. We won’t accept money that comes with strings attached. And ensure that she leaves the premises immediately.”
Purple nodded, stepping forward with a firm expression. “You heard her, Rebecca. It’s time for you to go.”
Rebecca, now completely flustered, looked around as if hoping someone would come to her defense. But the room remained silent. With one last huff, she turned and stormed out, her departure leaving a heavy tension in
the air.
Emily knelt beside the little girl, her voice softening as she spoke to her. “It’s okay, sweetie. You didn’t do anything wrong.” She wiped away the girl’s tears and offered her a reassuring smile before guiding her back to
her seat.
Once the little girl was settled, Emily straightened up and turned to face. the room, her gaze sweeping over the assembled guests. There was a quiet strength in her voice as she addressed them.
“This foundation was built on the principles of kindness and compassion. If anyone here feels that their donations entitle them to belittle or mistreat others, then this is not the place for you. We welcome those who give selflessly, with genuine hearts. But if your generosity is driven by
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Chapter 40
material interest or malice, I kindly ask that you reconsider your presence here. True charity comes from a place of love, not from a need to control. or demean.”
The room fell into a heavy silence, her words hanging in the air. There was no mistaking the resolve in her tone, the quiet authority that left no room for doubt. Emily had drawn a line, one that everyone present knew better than to cross.
The sight of Emily in that moment–strong, compassionate, and fiercely protective was awe–inspiring. She looked like an avenging angel, her beauty and strength leaving everyone in the room captivated.
But as the moment passed, I knew I had to speak with her. I quickly made my way through the crowd, catching up with her as she moved to leave the hall.
“Emily,” I called out, my voice catching in my throat. She paused, turning to face me, her expression guarded.
“What do you want, Keith?” she asked, her tone calm but distant. There was none of the warmth that had once been there, just a cool detachment.
I hesitated, struggling to find the right words. “Why did you hide all of this from me? Your wealth, your identity… you made everyone look down on you, made me think you needed help.”
Emily’s gaze hardened. “Why would I have bothered to tell you, Keith? You never cared about me or my life. You only saw what you wanted to
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Chapter 40
Her words stung, cutting deeper than I expected. I opened my mouth to apologize, to somehow make things right, but she stopped me with a wave of her hand.
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” she said, her voice softening just a fraction. “I’ve decided to let go of everything from the past. Getting involved with you and Lily was a mistake, one I’ve learned from. That night… I was. really drunk, Keith. But you gave me Zane, and for that, I’m thankful. He‘ s the only good thing that came out of this mess.”
I felt my heart twist at her words. Zane… he was the one thing that connected us, the one thing that had kept me hoping for some kind of reconciliation. But Emily’s next words dashed that hope.
“Lily lied to you, Keith. About everything. But that’s not my concern anymore.” She glanced over my shoulder, and I followed her gaze to see Frank approaching. He moved with purpose, his eyes locked on Emily with a mix of protectiveness and affection that made my blood boil.
“Emily,” Frank said, reaching out to her. She gave him a small smile, one that I realized she had never given me, and took his hand.
As they turned to leave, I watched them walk away together. My chest. tightened with a mix of emotions I couldn’t fully understand–anger, jealousy, and something else that felt a lot like regret.
I wanted to shout after her, to stop her from leaving, but I couldn’t move. I was rooted to the spot, watching as she and Frank disappeared into the garden.
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Through the large windows, I saw them pause, and then, without hesitation, Frank leaned in and kissed her. The sight made my stomach churn, the jealousy rising up like bile in my throat. Emily had moved on. She had a new man, someone who treated her the way I never did.
This was what I had wanted, wasn’t it? For her to stop bothering me, to find someone else? But as I stood there, my fists clenched at my sides, I realized that I felt more lost than ever.
1208 MO
