CHAPTER 403

Antoine’s POV

I stood at the entrance of Emily's apartment building, my hands shoved deep into my pockets to stop them from trembling. My heart raced as I looked up at her window, and I could feel the anxiety clawing at my chest. I wasn’t sure how she’d react to seeing me here.

But when I heard Phoebe was settling down in the city, looking for a job, I thought maybe... just maybe, I could help. Not just for her sake, but for Emily’s. I wanted to show her I wasn’t the same person I used to be. That I cared about her and her family, about the people she loved.

And Jared. God, I want to be a part of his life, not just a fleeting visitor in the background.

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath before knocking on the door. My hand lingered in the air for a second, hesitating, before it landed on the wood.

A moment later, the door opened. Emily stood there, staring at me in surprise. She looked shaken. Her eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say a word.

“Emily,” I started uncertainly.

She did