Chapter 46
Emily’s POV
I returned to my new home, the place that was supposed to offer me a fresh start, a clean break from the past. The furniture had just been delivered, and I was ready to settle in, but as I pulled up to the driveway, I spotted an all–too–familiar figure sitting on my doorstep.
Keith.
A knot immediately tightened in my stomach. What was he doing here? Had he come to accuse me again, maybe after hearing Lily’s latest complaints? My patience was already worn thin after the earlier confrontation with Lily, and the last thing I needed was Keith making everything worse.
Taking a deep breath, I got out of the car and walked up to him. “What do you want, Keith?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.
He glanced up at me, his expression oddly neutral. “I’m here to help with the furniture,” he said, surprising me. “Tyler called me.”
I froze for a moment, not expecting that answer. Tyler had arranged this? After everything that had happened, after Lily’s threats, I couldn’t believe. it. How could Tyler just brush aside what Lily had done, how she had insulted and threatened my son?
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Chapter 46
I felt the familiar surge of anger rising in me. “Tyler allowed Lily to insult Zane, and now he thinks having you help me move furniture will somehow fix that?” I snapped, crossing my arms.
Keith sighed, standing up. “I didn’t come here to argue, Emily,” he said. “Lily told me what happened, and I pressed her on it. She admitted to threatening Zane.”
I stared at him, waiting for the inevitable defense of Lily. It was always. the same with Keith–no matter what Lily did, he’d find a way to excuse her. But instead, he surprised me again.
“I would never let Lily harm Zane,” he said, his voice firm. “You know that, right?”
For a brief moment, I saw something in Keith’s eyes–something I hadn’t seen in a long time. It was the protective side of him, the part of him that cared deeply about his son, even if he didn’t always show it.
Before I could respond, Frank’s car pulled up. I hadn’t expected him this early, but there he was, stepping out of his car, looking every bit as protective as Keith had just been.
The tension between the two of them was immediate, thickening the air around us. Frank shot a glance at Keith, his eyes narrowing slightly, and Keith straightened up, his jaw tightening.
“Frank,” I greeted, trying to diffuse the tension before it escalated. “Thanks for coming. Keith’s here to help with the furniture too.”
Chapter 46
Frank didn’t say anything, but his silence spoke volumes. The two of them exchanged a look that made my stomach churn with unease. I had bad feeling about this.
As we began moving the boxes and furniture into my new place, I could sense the tension simmering between Frank and Keith. It was there in the way Frank’s jaw tightened every time Keith spoke and in the way Keith kept shooting glances in Frank’s direction as if daring him to say something. Neither of them was making it easy.
I carried a small lamp into the living room, placing it carefully on the side table. “Could you both grab the heavier stuff? The couch needs to come in next,” I said, hoping to break the awkward silence.
Keith didn’t miss a beat, hoisting one end of the couch like it weighed nothing. “Got it. Just make sure Frank doesn’t drop his end,” he muttered. under his breath, loud enough for me to hear but pretending it was a joke.
Frank shot him a look, his hands gripping the other side of the couch tighter than necessary. “I can handle it just fine, thanks,” he replied coolly, though I could hear the underlying irritation in his voice..
They maneuvered the couch through the door, each step filled with unspoken frustration. I could feel it building between them, like a dam
about to burst.
“Careful, don’t scratch the wall,” I said, trying to ease the situation. But it was like talking to brick walls.
Keith let out a low chuckle, almost mocking. “Don’t worry, Frank’s got it.
Chapter 46
Right, Frank?”
Frank’s eyes darkened, but he didn’t respond. He focused on getting the couch into place, while I watched helplessly as the room seemed to shrink with every passing second.
“Alright, next is the coffee table,” I suggested, but my voice was drowned out by the tension that had grown too thick to cut.
It was becoming unbearable, and I needed a moment away from the brewing storm. “I’ll just grab a few things from the car,” I said, backing out of the room, hoping they’d cool off while I was gone.
I walked briskly to my car, letting the cool air calm my nerves. Grabbing the pillow I’d left in the backseat, I took a deep breath. Maybe, just maybe, the few minutes of space would settle whatever unspoken issues were simmering between the two of them.
But as I returned and pushed open the door, I was greeted by the unmistakable sounds of a struggle.
My stomach dropped.
Keith and Frank were at it–physically fighting.
Not just shoving, but full–on grappling, fists swinging, and knocking over anything in their way. The brand–new living room I’d hoped to set up was being torn apart, the couch already pushed aside as they threw punches.
Chapter 46
“Stop it!” I shouted, rushing forward, dropping the pillow in shock.
Keith shoved Frank hard into the wall, the sound of the impact echoing through the room. “You think you can just walk in and take over?” Keith growled, his voice thick with rage. “You think you can replace me?”
Frank wiped the blood from his split lip, his eyes blazing. “I’m not trying to replace you. But maybe if you treated her better, you wouldn’t be standing here like a jealous child!”
The insult landed hard. Keith swung at him again, and Frank dodged, his fists clenched.
“Enough!” I yelled, stepping forward to wedge myself between them, but they were too far gone in their anger to notice me.
Fists were still flying, and the tension in the air was unbearable. I couldn’t stand to watch any longer. My heart raced as the sound of their fists hitting each other filled the room, every punch echoing in my ears.
“Both of you, stop!” I screamed, louder this time, forcing myself between them and pushing as hard as I could. The desperation in my voice finally cut through the chaos. Finally, they pulled apart, both of them breathing heavily, their faces flushed with anger.
“That’s enough! You’re both acting like idiots!” I said, my voice shaking.
with emotion.
“He started it,” Frank muttered, wiping the corner of his mouth where a
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small cut was beginning to form.
Keith scoffed, glaring at him. “Yeah, right. You’re just mad because I don‘ t want Emily dating a jerk like you.”
My heart sank. I had been afraid this was where the fight was headed, but hearing Keith say it out loud only made it worse.
“Keith, stop,” I warned, but he wasn’t done.
“You think you’re so perfect, Frank, don’t you?” Keith’s voice was low, almost growling. “You think you’re this great guy, swooping in to save Emily, but you’re not. You’re pretending to be someone you’re not, and Emily’s just too eager to be loved to see it.”
I felt the sting of his words like a slap across my face. My chest tightened with anger and hurt. How dare he? How dare he accuse me of being desperate, of not being able to see the truth?
“That’s enough, Keith,” I said, my voice icy. “Get out.”
Keith turned to look at me, his face filled with frustration and something else–something that looked almost like desperation. “I’m trying to help you, Emily. Frank is not who you think he is. He’s going to hurt you.”
His words sent a chill down my spine, but I refused to let it show. “No, Keith,” I said firmly. “You’re the one who hurt me. Frank cares about me. He’s not going to hurt me.”
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Keith’s shoulders slumped, and for a moment, I thought he might
apologize, that he might realize how wrong he was. But instead, he just shook his head.
“You’ll see,” he muttered, turning to leave. “You’ll see I’m right.”
As Keith walked out the door, slamming it behind him, I stood there for a moment, trying to collect myself. Frank came over to me, his hand gently resting on my
arm.
“You okay?” he asked softly, concern etched on his face.
I nodded, though I wasn’t sure if I was. My mind was spinning with everything that had just happened, but one thing was clear–I wasn’t going to let Keith control me anymore.
