Page 126 of Pretty Little Fears

Inside, the walls are stark white.Ileft them empty so she could decorate them as she pleases.Asa little boy, she told me many times how much she would love to cover our walls in her art and now she can.Ihired a team to repaint the inside of the house as well, leaving her with a lifetime of blank canvases to shower her creativity with.We’resolidifying the finishing touches with decor.Serawas never a materialistic person, butIdo remember her love for plants.Shewould place them all around the house.Hangingplants, potted plants, and more.Istep back, admiring the work we’ve put in.

Thankingthe guys,Igather my stuff and head back to our house to clean myself up.Ihave a meeting with the new interim dean,Mr.Hamington.They’vealready offered me the dean position onceIhave the proper education and training, butIdeclined.It’snot somethingIwant to do.That’snot my path in this life.

BeforeBlair,Iwasn’t so sure.Iwas accepting that my fate was already hand selected for me byJamesand there was no way out.Thefeeling of freedom, of being able to make the choices for my own life, gave me a newfound confidence and genuine excitement for my future.

IreachMr.Hammington’soffice and knock on the door.Asif he was waiting on my arrival, the door swings open and he flashes a huge smile.

“Mr.Blackwood, it’s so nice to see you again.Comeon in.”Hewelcomes me and gestures to the seat across from his desk.

“Hello,Mr.Hammington, nice to see you as well.”Istride into the room and take a seat.Idon’t know him well at all, but his smile is genuine.Growingup aroundJames,I’vegained the skill of being able to spot a fake from a mile away.

“Iwanted to invite you back to discuss your position as dean.Iknow you’ve expressed it’s not something of interest to you at this time, but you are the one who is to inherit the school as well as the position.Wedo have some paperwork for you to fill out to solidify your stance, should you choose to pass up the profession.”Heexplains, pulling out a manilla folder.Unclaspingit, he removes the paperwork and slides it in front of me, placing a pen on top.

“Ican assure you,Ido not want the dean position.Ihave a different agenda for my future that doesn’t involveBlackwood.Aftergraduation,I'llbe leaving this place in the past, for good.Youor any other eligible candidate is more than welcome to commit to the position,”Iassure him. “Justtell me where to sign.”Ifinish with a smile.Anauthentic smile, due to all of the pieces of my life beginning to line up seamlessly.

I'veinherited all of the businesses thatJamesowned.Despitewhat he said, he did leave every single one in my name.Theone good thing he did in his sorry ass life.

Idon’t plan on keeping a single one, though.Thepaperwork is being finalized and soon,I’llbe able to live out my own dreams.

Themoney from his businesses will be going to start my own project.Somethingpositive, uplifting, and artistic.SomethingI’mpassionate about.Ipurchased an abandoned building a few weeks back and have had a team renovating it from top to bottom, inside and out.

Itwill house numerous art programs for children of any age and background.Everytype of art class and program will be available including pottery and ceramic, art therapy, painting with watercolors, acrylics, and more.We’reeven considering having some fine arts programs as well.

Ihaven’t asked her yet, butI’mhopingSerawill help me run the program.There’sno one more skilled or dedicated to artandchildren than her.We’llchalk it up to making up for lost time, butItruly believe she would be the perfect addition toPaintedPathways, where everyone is encouraged to follow their own path and dream.Here’sto living life the way it was intended, filled with joy, happiness, love, and contentment.AllthingsIthought were far out of my reach.

BLAIR

Pullingout my homework,Iattempt to focus on the papers in front of me but my mind can't concentrate.Emmettonce said he would make me just as obsessed as him, and he was right.Mymind keeps switching over to thoughts of him and everything we’ve been through.

Istill laugh at the fact thatIfell for my fucking stalker.It’ssomething you’d think you would only read about in books, butEmmettinserted himself into my life and didn’t take no for an answer when it came to claiming me.Ididn’t think whenIspilt my coffee on him all those months ago, that it would cause the chain of events that led us here.

Thatwas the first domino in the hundred we had to push over.

Ifyou would have told meIwas going to come toBlackwoodand catch the eyes of a stalker who ended up becoming the other half of my soul,Iwould have laughed in your face and told you that you were fucking insane.Inaddition to being kidnapped, sold, and tortured, all within the first year?Thatwould’ve made me withdraw my enrollment and run for the hills, can’t lie there.

Idon’t know when it happened.Somewherebetween being chased through a graveyard and held through my misery, my heart started to beat for him and him alone.

Imight be unsure of what to do with my future in regard to school and ifIwant to continue my education atBlackwood, butIdo know one thing, and that'sEmmett.Theone thingI’msure of is him.

Speakingof the devil,Ilook up from my homework as a knock sounds on my window.Thesound no longer scares me asIknow it’ll always beEmmett.Rollingmy eyes,Ipush up from my seat and walk over to the glass.Drawingback the curtain, my heart stalls whenIsee him.Ilift open the window, my mouth drops in disbelief.

Mystalker is down on one knee outside of my window, a little black box opened in his hands as he smiles at me.

“Emmett,”Isay, shocked at the sight in front of me.Idon’t know what to do besides blink.Mypulse accelerates andIrub my eyes, trying to confirm ifI’mhallucinating or if this is real fucking life.

“Comehere.It'syour turn to crawl through the window,”Hesays with a wink and a chuckle.Mybody feels like it's on autopilot asIcrawl through my window and stand in front of him.

“I’mnot asking you to marry me,Blair.Becauseyou will.Youwill wear my ring on your finger.Youwill be my wife.Youwill be mine, forever.Ashadow is always there, even if you can’t see it.Iam your shadow, little obsession.Sayyes.”

WhenIjust blink at him in shock, he speaks again. “Ican ask as a formality, if you really want me to.”Hesays while rolling his eyes, that smirk never leaving his face and those dimples making a grand appearance.

Lettingout a small laugh,Istep closer to him and shake my head.Fuckformalities.IwantEmmett.Hiscrazy, his devotion, his obsession, his sarcastic remarks, everything.He’scaptured my heart and holds it with such care and desire, under lock and key.

“Yes.”Thebreathy word leaves my lips and there’s no hesitation as he pops the beautiful emerald diamond out of the box and slides it onto my finger.

“Iwill follow you to the ends of this earth, even if you can’t see me.”Hiseyes bounce between mine before he reaches up and pulls me to him, crashing his lips to mine.He’smurmuring against my lips as he kisses me.

“Myobsession drove me to madness andInever want to be sane again.”

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