Page 12 of Forever His Favorite
He tried again. Once. Twice. Over and over, each ring ending in cruel silence. Each failed attempt sent another bolt of panic ripping through him, muscles coiling, heart thudding so violently he thought the walls would shake with it.
Lucas sank slightly to his knees, back leaning against the cool hallway wall, forehead pressed to the tile as he gasped for air.
Chapter 5 Is He Going To Scold Me?
Emily adjusted herself in the backseat of the car, sinking slightly into the supple leather as the cool evening air drifted through the half-open window. She closed her eyes, feeling the gentle brush of wind across her face. The city lights flickered past in streaks of gold and neon, mirrored in the glass beside her.
The sudden vibration and sharp ringing of her phone yanked her from her momentary peace. She sat upright, fingers fumbling in her bag for the device.
Jeremy’s name flashed across the screen.
She swiped and lifted it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Did you see the press conference?” Jeremy’s voice was tight with urgency, words tumbling out almost before she could respond.
Emily shifted, pressing her back against the seat and fixing her gaze on the passing cityscape. “Yeah, I saw it. I don’t see why Lucas would do that. We’re over. We have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
Jeremy exhaled sharply, the sound catching in her ear. “Maybe he feels guilty. Or maybe he’s afraid now that the truth is out with proof—it’ll implicate him. So he’s trying to save face? But it still doesn’t explain why he’d confess he’s your ex-boyfriend when you never even mentioned his name in your post. He ran from it for five years… why now, when everything is already going downhill for him?”
Frustration coiled tight in Emily’s chest, sharpening her voice. “I’m not sure what he’s trying to do. But I’m not interested in anything related to him anymore.”
A faint laugh, tinged with relief, came through the line. “Good. Anyway, you should know—online, the same people who trashed you before are now accusing Lucas of lying. For years, they called you a liar… the second he admitted it, tables turned.”
Emily’s lips lifted in a small, wry curve. “How fast things change. Tomorrow, they’ll probably find something else to blame me for. It’s always easier to curse women for everything.”
Jeremy chuckled softly. “So… what are you up to? Come hang out with me.”
“Can’t,” Emily said, shaking her head, though he couldn’t see her. “I’m heading to my apartment to grab some things I left behind. Jacob wants me to take on a project to expand the business. I need some old design folders for that. I’ll be in and out.”
“Alright. Call me when you’ve got time, and we’ll meet up.” His voice lingered for a moment before the line went dead.
The car eased into her apartment building’s lot. Emily stepped out, the soft click of her heels against the pavement echoing faintly in the quiet evening. She adjusted her bag, shoulders tensing as her gaze swept the surroundings.
Her eyes froze.
Just a few feet away, standing rigid and taut beneath the pale glow of a streetlamp, was Lucas. His eyes were locked on her as if he had been waiting for this very moment.
Emily’s stomach dropped. A cold flush ran through her veins. “Jesus Christ… is he here to pick a fight over me exposing him?” she muttered under her breath.
Her instincts screamed survival. She pivoted sharply, heels skidding slightly on the concrete, planning to slip back into the safety of the car.
But Lucas was faster. His long strides ate the distance between them, urgency propelling him forward. Within seconds, he was in front of her, chest nearly brushing hers, his hand shooting out to grip her arm firmly but not painfully.
“Emily,” he said, voice rough, low, and urgent, vibrating with restrained emotion. “We need to talk.”
She yanked herself free, shoulders stiff, lips pressed into a thin line, her expression twisting with anger. “We have nothing to talk about.”
Without hesitation, she turned sharply, skipping the apartment entirely, and made her way back toward the car.
Lucas’s hand shot out again, gripping her arm with a force that pinned her in place. She jerked violently, twisting her wrist out of his hold. “I’m telling you for the last time—stop it already! We broke up. It’s over. I’m married now! My husband will get jealous if he sees you near me.”
The word—husband—hit him like a physical blow. Lucas froze for a fraction of a second, his chest tightening, a sharp pulse hammering in his temples.
He stepped directly in front of her, cutting off her path. His shoulders were rigid, fists clenched at his sides, muscles taut and coiled like springs. His eyes burned into hers, bloodshot and wild, storm clouds of disbelief and fury swirling behind them.
“You’re saying this on purpose to irritate me,” he growled, voice low, guttural, shaking with suppressed anger. “What fucking husband? You were in love with me for five years. The only man you’ve ever had feelings for is me!”
Emily stared at him, stunned by the sheer madness in his words. “So what if I was in love with you for five years? Does that mean I’m bound to be with you for a lifetime?”
