Emma

Alone in the quiet of my living room, I'm engulfed by a tempest of thoughts, each of them like a relentless wave crashing against the shore of my consciousness.

The recent whirlwind involving Clare and Asher has left me reeling in a haze of disbelief and confusion.

So much so that I didn't think and came straight here to gather my thoughts.

It's been a while since I last set foot in my house, and the familiarity feels strangely foreign now.

When Asher and I started discussing getting married, I thought I'd need my own space to bring me some sort of normality.

Things happened so fast between us that I was sure we'd have some trouble living together, and we'd both need a breather from time to time.

But life has a way of shattering even the most carefully laid plans.

We stood no chance against that cold business deal that brought us together and soon life showed us what was right in front of our faces from the start: we love each other, fiercely and unapologetically, and life has granted us a second chance to make things right.

But man, did we underestimate the chaos? Life threw us curveballs left and right, reminding us that love isn't always smooth sailing.

The sound of the doorbell interrupts my thoughts, and I draw in a deep breath before making my way to the door.

It's late, but I don't need to check to know it's Asher. He texted me about thirty minutes ago, saying he was on his way over.

My heart is pounding an erratic rhythm in my chest and every part of me is ready for this talk.

In his message, he mentioned having some proof about not sleeping with Clare, but honestly, I don't need it.

I've had the entire day to cool off and I trust him.

As much as I want to understand what happened last night, I know he'd never betray me like this.

And even though it hurts to revisit the worst and most painful moment of my life, I need to open up to him and try to reshape our relationship with no shadows from our past looming over us.

Swinging the door open, I find Asher on the other side. A mix of comfort and chaos swirls in his eyes, mirroring the turmoil in my own heart.

All I want is to make all of this go away.

Without a word, I step aside to let him in.

For a moment, we stand locked in a silent exchange, our eyes meeting in a collision of emotions too complex to unravel in mere words.

As he starts to speak, I instinctively throw myself into his arms, cutting off his words with a soft kiss. Whatever he was about to say gets caught in his throat as I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling him closer.

His hands grab my waist as if by instinct, a soft groan escaping his lips as he pulls away to look at me. "Emma..." he whispers, his gaze boring into mine.

"I love you..." I cup his cheeks, not missing the dark circles under his eyes and the growing stubble under my fingertips. "I can't even remember when I didn't love you. It's always been there, even when I tried to convince myself what we had was just a passing youth infatuation. I'd told myself countless times I should just move on and that you'd never get back... But it only took one look at you after all these years to know that I've never stopped loving you."

"Did your father let you know I spoke to Clare?" He pulls my hands away, taking a step back.

"What?" I frown, shaking my head in confusion. "My father?" The mention of him in this context sends a shiver down my spine, and an unexpected chill lingers in the air.

Asher's expression tightens, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features before he sighs heavily. "Clare confessed something to me," he says, frustration and disbelief clear in his voice. "About your father and Henry."

As his words hang in the air like a heavy cloud on the verge of bursting, my heart sinks under the weight of it all, suffocating me with relentless pressure.

"Come sit down," I gesture towards the couch, my voice barely audible over the rushing in my ears. We both sink into the cushions, the silence between us laden with unspoken words and unresolved tension.

Asher leans forward, his elbows resting on his knees as he runs a hand through his hair. "Clare admitted that she was working with Henry and your father to take me down," he explains, his words laced with bitterness. "They were planning to discredit me, to ruin everything I've worked for."

"What?" I murmur, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me.

"I found out where Clare is staying and confronted her," he says, his tone firm as he reaches for his phone. "She struck a deal with Henry and your father to obtain compromising pictures of me and her together."

"Oh..." I say, watching as he shows me something on his phone.

The sound of Clare's voice fills the room, each word of her confession striking like a hammer against the fragile shell of my composure.

When the video finally ends, Asher holds my gaze, his eyes probing mine with intensity. "Do you know anything about this?" he says, his voice a low rumble that reverberates in the stillness of the room.

Caught in the vice grip of his scrutiny, I struggle to find the words to untangle the web of deceit that has ensnared us both.

As silence hangs heavy between us, Asher reaches for his phone once more, his fingers moving with purpose to pull up another video file.

And this one shows a scene I'm, unfortunately, familiar with.

My father's calculated betrayal cuts deep, his actions a stark reminder of the lengths he's willing to go for power and control. Both his and Henry's voice fills the room, their words dripping with venom as he lays bare his plans to dismantle everything Asher has built.

And I'm there with them—silently looking like I'm part of that.

My mind races, a whirlwind of emotions crashing against the barricades I've built to protect myself. Betrayal, disbelief, anger—all vie for dominance within me, threatening to consume me whole.

As the recording comes to an end, I feel my face burning. "God..." A loud sob tears through me, uncontrollable and raw.

"Em..." Asher's voice breaks the silence, filled with concern as he moves to crouch before me. "Jesus..."

"I... Ash..." My words catch in my throat, the weight of it all pressing down on me.

Asher's presence is a lifeline in the chaos, his concern clear in every line of his face. I'm overwhelmed, unable to catch my breath as years of fear and anger crash over me like a tidal wave.

"Em, shhh..." he murmurs, his voice a gentle reassurance that only makes me cry harder. "I need you to take a couple of deep breaths, okay?"

His words cut through the fog of despair clouding my mind, and I nod, forcing myself to focus on the rhythm of my breath, each inhale a struggle against the darkness threatening to engulf me.

As the tears continue to flow nonstop, Asher remains by my side, his silent strength a comforting presence amid my turmoil.

With each sob that racks my body, he offers a word of encouragement, a touch of solace, a reminder that I'm not alone.

When the storm finally begins to subside, I find myself clinging to him as if he's the only thing keeping me tethered to reality. "Ash," I whisper, my voice hoarse with emotion, "my father... he's been blackmailing me."

The words hang heavy in the air between us, a damning indictment of the twisted web of lies and deceit that has ensnared us both.

Anger flashes in Asher's eyes, a fierce determination burning brightly in the depths of his gaze.

"I'll kill him," he growls, his fists clenched at his sides. "I swear I'll make James pay for what he's done to you."

As his rage threatens to consume him, I reach out to him, my touch a gentle plea for understanding. "Ash," I say, my voice steady despite the tremor in my hands, "do you trust me? Do you believe that I'd never do anything to hurt you?"

His eyes soften at my question, a flicker of something indefinable passing between us.

With a nod, he moves to my side on the couch, his presence a comforting reassurance in the aftermath of the storm.

"I trust you," he says, his voice unwavering.

For a woman who's endured what I have, his words hold more power than he'll ever possibly understand.

Taking a deep breath, I steel myself for what comes next.

Meeting his gaze with resolve, I know it's time. "I was in an abusive relationship for years," I say, expecting the weight of my past to fall heavily on my shoulders.

Instead, as the words leave my lips, I feel a sense of liberation wash over me. It's a newfound freedom, born from the courage to confront my demons head-on. "It was one of the hardest moments of my life." I keep my eyes on him. "But I'm tired of letting it define me."

_____

A/N: The moment you've been waiting for is here, guys! And I can't wait to hear your thoughts! 

Emma & Asher's journey is far from over and they'll need to fight with all they have to get their well-deserved happily ever after! Stay tuned for the next chapter!

Please remember to vote every time you hit a new chapter!

XOXO

Celeste