Emma let out a dry laugh. Right to the point, as always.
"Shouldn't you be asking about my wound first, Olivia?" Emma asked, exasperated.
"Oh, you're not going to die."
Emma fell silent.
They continued eating until Olivia suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, Emma, I have some exclusive news for you..." She leaned in mysteriously. "I heard Elijah is coming back. Did you know?"
"Elijah Clark? No, I didn't. I haven't talked to him in ages." Emma shrugged, acting indifferent.
"What? Didn't he used to have a huge crush on you? He even said he'd marry you." Olivia stuffed her face and stretched dramatically.
"Shut up. You actually believed that childhood nonsense? Didn't you swear you'd marry the neighbor's son, Kyle? Why didn't you go through with that?"
Olivia choked on her food. Kyle Jones? That weird kid who picked his nose all day?
But mentioning Elijah brought back a flood of memories.
Back then, Emma, Elijah, and Olivia were inseparable. They grew up together, the three of them. Emma and Olivia were the same age, while Elijah was two years younger. He'd lost his mother early on, and his father—a tall, intimidating man—was rarely around. In all her memories, Emma could only recall seeing Elijah's father four times. So, Elijah was mostly raised by his nanny.
Seeing how lonely he was, Emma had always looked out for him.
But then, almost overnight, Elijah's family vanished without a trace.
No goodbye. Nothing.
And now... why was he suddenly coming back?
Just as they were chatting, Emma's phone rang.
She glanced at the screen, and her mood plummeted. Her eyes dimmed, and a cold chill spread through her chest, making the air around her feel heavy and suffocating.
Olivia noticed the change immediately. "What's wrong? Answer it. What's going on?" She leaned over to peek at the screen.
When she saw the name, she wanted to smash the phone right out of Emma's hand. "Why is he calling you? That shameless, worthless piece of trash! Don't answer it! Block him and ignore him!"
Olivia had watched Emma and Noah Taylor date. She'd also watched Noah betray Emma. Just thinking about that man made her blood boil. She wanted to tear him apart.
Emma didn't say a word. She held the phone for a long time, staring at the screen. Finally, she took a deep breath and pressed the answer button. "Hello..."
Noah's voice came through, surprised. "Emma... you finally answered my call."
"What do you want?" Emma's voice was cold, cutting straight to the point.
"Isabella and I are getting married on the fifth of next month. Will you come?" Noah's tone was slow, almost hesitant. He genuinely wanted Emma to come. After all, they had loved each other once. He still hoped she could forgive him, even though things had already fallen apart.
Emma's grip on the phone tightened. Her face hardened.
Getting married? That sounded like good news.
But right now, she felt nothing but pain.
Still, she forced her voice to stay steady. "Well... congratulations. I'll be there. And... I wish you happiness." Before she could finish, she hung up quickly. Tears spilled onto her knees, leaving dark, wet circles on her jeans.
Seeing her like this, Olivia felt a mix of anger and heartbreak. "Can you stop being so pathetic over a scumbag like him? What are you crying for? He's getting married? Good! Let him! Noah and Isabella deserve each other. Emma, why can't you see that? Noah isn't worth your tears!"
Emma knew Olivia was right. She knew the truth. But knowing didn't make it hurt any less. The joy and despair she had felt—it was all still there, like a sharp blade lodged in her chest.
How could anyone else feel her pain?
Emma wiped her tears away. "I know, Olivia. I won't do anything stupid. I won't cry for Noah anymore."
"Good. That's what I want to hear, Emma. I want you to be happy more than anyone else. If anyone dares to bully you, I'll be the first to stand up for you. I'll protect you. I'll always be here." Olivia moved closer and gently patted Emma's back.
Everything will pass, she thought. All the pain and betrayal will eventually end.
Noah stared blankly at his phone. He didn't notice Isabella watching him from behind, her eyes sharp and calculating. "What's wrong, honey? Were you just talking to my cousin?" She caught a glimpse of the call log on his screen. Her heart sank, and anger flickered across her face, but she forced herself to stay calm, pretending to be sweet.
"Yeah... I just told her about our wedding next month." Noah stammered, caught off guard.
"Well... I don't really want to invite her. Just seeing her face makes me sick. But fine, let her witness our love with her own eyes. Let her see how happy we are. That'll crush any stupid hopes she has. And honey, I don't want you contacting her again. No calls, no meetings. If I find out, I'll break up with you."
Her voice dripped with jealousy. Who does Emma think she is?
A seven-year relationship? So what? It was easy enough to steal him away.
Isabella smirked. Emma Johnson... you'll never beat me.
Noah felt a knot in his stomach. Hearing her talk like that made him uneasy. For a moment, he wanted to stand up and walk away.
The Isabella he knew was gone.
Now, she was a contracted model under Pinnacle Corporation, one of the Williams family businesses. And she had become much more arrogant because of it.
Noah had no choice but to get up and head to his study.