Chapter 145

Emma's POV

The door clicked shut behind us, and suddenly we were alone, the intimacy of the moment enveloping us both. My heart pounded in my chest, the air between us thick with unspoken tension.

"Why were you crying?" he asked, his voice low and steady, though I could hear the concern behind it, his voice low, his eyes searching mine.

I couldn’t answer. I stood there, frozen, as my mind raced for a response that would make sense. I couldn’t tell him the truth—not now, not yet. But I couldn’t lie, either. Not with him standing so close, his eyes searching mine, waiting for an explanation.

"Emma," he said softly, stepping closer to me. His hand reached up to gently brush a strand of hair away from my face, his fingers brushing against my cheek, wiping away the tear stains...his touch was achingly familiar. "Please talk to me," he murmured, his voice softening. "I don’t want to see you like this."

I shook my head, my throat tightening with emotion. "It’s nothing," I whispered, though