Chapter five

Emma’s POV

Ethan sat at the head of the table, calm and composed, as if nothing had happened.  

His cold demeanor only fueled my frustration.  

“You’ve been quiet,” he finally said, breaking the silence. “I take it you’re upset.”  

I set my fork down with deliberate slowness. “Upset doesn’t even begin to cover it, Ethan. What was that meeting with Delilah about? Why didn’t you tell me she existed?”  

His jaw tightened, but his expression remained unreadable. “Because it wasn’t relevant.”  

“Not relevant?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You’re telling me that your *betrothed*—the woman you were supposed to marry—isn’t relevant?”  

“She’s my past,” Ethan said flatly. “You’re my present. That’s all that matters.”  

I leaned forward, narrowing my eyes. “Except she doesn’t seem to think she’s in the past. What kind of relationship do you even have with her?”  

Ethan’s lips pressed into a thin line. “It’s complicated.”  

“Complicated,” I echoed, my voice dripping with sarcasm. “That’s all you ever say when I ask you anything important. I’m tired of being left in the dark, Ethan. I deserve to know the truth.”  

He exhaled sharply, his patience visibly wearing thin. “You want the truth? Fine. Delilah and I were engaged—arranged by our families. It was a business deal, nothing more. When I called it off, she didn’t take it well. Now she’s trying to claw her way back into my life, but I won’t let her.”  

I crossed my arms, skeptical. “And I’m just supposed to believe that?”  

“Yes,” he said, his tone final. “Because it’s the truth.”  

I shook my head, disbelief washing over me. “You have no idea how to be honest with people, do you? Everything with you is about control and manipulation.”  

Ethan’s eyes darkened, and he stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor. “This conversation is over.”  

I stood too, my frustration boiling over. “No, it’s not. You can’t just dismiss me whenever you feel like it. I’m not some chess piece you can move around at will.”  

He stepped closer, his towering presence intimidating but not enough to make me back down. “You agreed to this arrangement, Emma. You knew what you were getting into.”  

“I didn’t agree to be treated like this,” I shot back. “I didn’t agree to be your punching bag whenever you’re in a bad mood.”  

His gaze bore into mine, and for a moment, I thought he might actually apologize. But instead, he turned and walked away, leaving me standing there, fuming.  

---

**Ethan’s POV**  

I slammed the door to my study, the sound echoing through the room. My hands clenched into fists as I paced back and forth, her words replaying in my head.  

She didn’t understand. She couldn’t.  

I had spent my entire life building walls around myself, keeping people at arm’s length. It was the only way I knew how to survive. But Emma… she had a way of breaking through those walls, and it terrified me.  

I sat down at my desk, running a hand through my hair. Delilah’s reappearance had complicated things, but I couldn’t let her derail my plans. Emma was right about one thing—I needed to be honest with her. But honesty came with risks I wasn’t sure I was ready to take.  

---

**The Unexpected Visit**  

The next day, a knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. Chloe, my ever-efficient secretary, entered the room.  

“There’s someone here to see you,” she said, her voice calm.  

“Who?”  

“It’s Delilah.”  

My jaw tightened. “Send her in.”  

Delilah walked in, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She looked as poised as ever, her crimson dress hugging her figure perfectly.  

“Ethan,” she said, her voice smooth. “We need to talk.”  

“I thought I made myself clear,” I said, standing to face her. “You’re not welcome here.”  

She smiled, a cold, calculated expression. “You can’t get rid of me that easily. We have unfinished business.”  

“There is no business,” I said firmly. “Whatever we had is over.”  

Delilah stepped closer, her eyes narrowing. “You think you can just walk away from me? From everything our families built together? You owe me, Ethan.”  

“I don’t owe you anything,” I replied, my voice steady. “Leave, Delilah. Now.”  

Her smile faded, replaced by a look of pure venom. “This isn’t over,” she said before turning on her heel and storming out.  

---

Emma’s POV

I watched from the hallway as Delilah left Ethan’s study, her expression a mix of anger and determination. She didn’t see me, but I saw enough to know that whatever had just happened wasn’t good.  

When she was gone, I knocked on the study door and entered without waiting for a response.  

“What was that about?” I asked, crossing my arms.  

Ethan looked up, his expression guarded. “Nothing you need to worry about.”  

“That’s not an answer,” I said, stepping closer. “Why was she here?”  

“She’s trying to stir up trouble,” he admitted. “But it doesn’t matter. I’ll handle it.”  

I frowned, frustrated by his vague responses. “You keep saying that, but you’re not handling anything. You’re just pushing people away.”  

He stood, his gaze hard. “What do you want from me, Emma? Do you want me to bare my soul? To tell you all my secrets? That’s not who I am.”  

“Maybe it should be,” I said softly. “You can’t keep shutting me out, Ethan. Sooner or later, it’s going to destroy you.”  

He looked at me for a long moment, something unreadable flickering in his eyes. “Maybe it already has.”  

The house felt colder than usual, an odd stillness settling over it that mirrored the unease in my chest. I sat by the window in my room, staring out at the garden below. The roses were in full bloom, their vivid red petals a sharp contrast to the gray sky.  

My thoughts were a tangle of confusion and frustration. Ethan had been more distant than ever, and Delilah’s sudden appearance had only deepened the cracks in our already fragile relationship.  

A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts.  

“Come in,” I called, my voice steady.  

The door creaked open, and Chloe stepped inside, her expression as unreadable as always.  

“Miss Emma, Mr. Ethan has requested your presence in the study,” she said, her tone polite but firm.  

I frowned. “Did he say why?”  

“No, ma’am,” Chloe replied. “Only that it’s important.”  

I stood, smoothing my dress. “Thank you, Chloe. I’ll be there shortly.”  

As she left, I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever Ethan wanted to discuss wouldn’t be good.  

Ethan was waiting for me when I arrived, his tall frame silhouetted against the window. He didn’t turn as I entered, his hands clasped behind his back.  

“You wanted to see me?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.  

He finally turned, his expression grim. “We need to talk.”  

“About what?”  

“Delilah,” he said, his voice low.  

I folded my arms, leaning against the doorframe. “What about her?”  

“She’s trying to create problems for us,” Ethan said, his gaze intense. “I need you to trust me, Emma. Whatever she says or does, you can’t let her get to you.”  

I raised an eyebrow. “And why would I do that? She’s already gotten to you.”  

Ethan’s jaw tightened. “This isn’t about me.”  

“No, it’s always about you,” I shot back. “You keep everything locked away, and I’m just supposed to sit here and accept it? That’s not how this works, Ethan.”  

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “I know I haven’t been fair to you. But this… this situation is complicated.”  

“Then explain it to me,” I demanded. “Make me understand.”  

Ethan hesitated, his eyes meeting mine. For a moment, I thought he might actually open up. But then he shook his head.  

“Not yet,” he said softly.  

I scoffed, pushing off the doorframe. “You’re unbelievable.”  

“Emma, please—”  

“No, Ethan. I’m done waiting for you to decide when I’m worthy of the truth.”  

I turned and left the room, ignoring his call after me.  

---

Later that afternoon, I was in the garden, trying to clear my head. The fresh air helped, but the weight of everything still lingered.  

“Emma.”  

I turned at the sound of the familiar voice, my heart sinking as I saw Delilah standing at the gate.  

“What are you doing here?” I asked, my tone sharp.  

She smiled, her expression all too smug. “I thought we should talk.”  

“I have nothing to say to you,” I said, turning away.  

“Then you can listen,” she said, stepping closer.  

I sighed, crossing my arms. “Fine. Say what you came to say and leave.”  

Delilah’s smile widened. “You’re a smart woman, Emma. Surely you’ve realized by now that Ethan isn’t the man you think he is.”  

I frowned. “What are you talking about?”  

“Did he tell you why he ended our engagement?” she asked, her tone almost playful.  

“No,” I admitted reluctantly.  

“Because he didn’t end it,” she said, her voice dropping. “I did.”  

My stomach tightened, but I kept my expression neutral. “Why should I believe anything you say?”  

“Because I have nothing to lose,” Delilah said simply. “Ethan’s always been good at pretending to be something he’s not. But you’ll see the truth eventually.”  

She turned to leave, but her parting words hung in the air like a dark cloud.  

“Be careful, Emma. Some secrets aren’t meant to be uncovered.”  

---

That evening, I confronted Ethan in his study. He looked up as I entered, his expression wary.  

“Delilah came to see me,” I said without preamble.  

“What did she want?” he asked, his voice tight.  

“To stir the pot, as usual,” I replied. “But she said something interesting. She claimed she ended your engagement, not you.”  

Ethan’s eyes darkened, and he stood, crossing the room in a few quick strides. “You can’t trust anything she says.”  

“Why not?” I challenged. “Because it’s inconvenient for you?”  

“Because she’s lying,” he snapped.  

“Then tell me the truth, Ethan,” I said, my voice rising. “Why did your engagement end? What aren’t you telling me?”  

He paused, his jaw clenching. “Because she betrayed me. She was working against me with my rivals. I ended it the moment I found out.”  

I searched his face, trying to gauge his honesty. “And why didn’t you tell me this before?”  

“Because it’s in the past,” he said, his voice softening. “It has nothing to do with us.”  

“But it does, Ethan,” I said firmly. “Because it’s affecting everything between us. You can’t keep shutting me out.”  

Ethan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Emma. I’ll do better. I promise.”  

For the first time in days, I saw a flicker of sincerity in his eyes. And for now, it would have to be enough.  

---

Later that night, Ethan found me in the library, a book open on my lap. He hesitated in the doorway before stepping inside.  

“Do you mind if I join you?” he asked.  

I looked up, surprised by his tone. “Of course.”  

He sat beside me, the silence between us comfortable for once.  

“What are you reading?” he asked, glancing at the book.  

“Just something light,” I said, closing it.  

Ethan leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. “I’ve been thinking… about what you said earlier.”  

“And?”  

“You’re right. I need to let you in more,” he admitted. “It’s not easy for me, but I want to try.”  

I smiled faintly. “That’s all I’m asking for.”  

For the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, we could find our way back to each other.