Chapter 47
For now, Emma would focus on completing the William Enterprises project. Everything else could wait.
The moment she finally nodded in agreement, a subtle smile tugged at Gabriel’s lips. The warmth in his eyes deepened, impossible to conceal.
Without another word, the two of them left together.
1/1
Meanwhile, back in the country, Frank once again found himself dreaming of Emma. In his dream, she stood before him, her piercing gaze locked on his. Her eyes had always seen straight through him, reaching the deepest corners of his heart. But this time, that gaze cut like a knife.
In the dream, Emma didn’t forgive him.
Frank reached out, trying to pull her close–but she only stepped farther and farther away, looking at him as if he were nothing more than a stranger.
The sight was unbearable. The woman who had once followed him around like a loyal shadow… How could she now disappear from his life so completely? Frank jolted awake, yanking the covers off as he sat up abruptly.
Outside, the sky was just beginning to lighten, a soft blue hue creeping across the horizon. But no matter how exhausted he was, sleep was impossible now.
A storm of questions churned in his mind, consuming his thoughts. His expression darkened.
Without hesitation, he grabbed his phone and strode out of the room, dialing Shane to pull up the hospital surveillance footage.
That silhouette had been far too familiar. After all these years, there was no way he could mistake her for someone else.
Minutes later, Chris sent over the footage. There was Emma, walking straight into Thea’s hospital ward. Frank’s breath hitched, and a sharp pain clenched his chest. His eyes widened, his heart pounding erratically as emotions crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Emma had really come back.
But why had Thea hidden it from him?
Frank gripped his phone tightly, struggling to contain the fury surging in his eyes. But in the end, he failed.
By the time he arrived at the hospital, a nurse had just finished tending to Thea. She sat propped up in the bed, calm and composed when Frank burst through the door.
Her brows twitched slightly as she inwardly sighed. “This son of mine is getting more and more irrational.”
But Frank didn’t care. He strode straight to her bedside, his expression cold and unyielding. “Mom, why didn’t you tell me?”
Thea met his gaze with an air of quiet indifference. “Tell you what?”
“Emma was here! Why didn’t you tell me?”
If he had seen her, he could have demanded answers. He could have asked why she had disappeared from his life without a single word. Thea’s brows furrowed. A flicker of frustration crossed her eyes, but beneath it was something softer–sympathy for Emma.
Emma had made it clear she wanted no unnecessary entanglements with Frank, and Thea saw no reason not to protect her. “Emina is married now. Can you stop harassing her?”
If the news of Einma’s return had stunned Frank, then hearing she was married sent a sharp, piercing pain straight through his chest.
His jaw tightened. His already cold expression darkened even further as he let out a low, humor less chuckle.
“Mom, do you expect me to believe that? Emma followed me around her entire life. She never had contact with other men. And now, out of nowhere, she’s suddenly married? Are you two putting on a show to make me regret everything?”
Thea’s face turned livid. She was so furious she nearly questioned whether her time in the hospital had been a complete waste,
“Yes, she followed you around since she was a child. Have you never understood why? Why do you think she went to the university you chose for me? Why do you think she joined Castro Group right after she graduated? You really don’t get it?”
Each word struck Frank like a blade. A deep, lingering ache spread through him, sharp and bitter like salt poured over an open wound.
“And since you do understand, then tell ne–after Lea came back, how did you treat Emma? Even if you didn’t love her, did you have to hurt her? Do I have to spell it out for you before you wake up?”
Frank’s hands clenchedinto fists, his entire body tense with frustration.
Emma had married someone else.
