Page 25 of Forever His Favorite
“Emily… you don’t know. When you were gone, Lucas did everything he could to bring you back. He never intended to leave you. He only loves you. He never touched Amelia. Even when he was frustrated, even when you pushed him away, he never thought of betraying you. Whenever anyone attacked you or spoke badly of you, he was always the first to protect you.”
Emily didn’t move, her body stiff, eyes fixed ahead as if Lucas wasn’t even there.
Taylor, who had stood silently at Lucas’s side until now, finally stepped forward. His voice was calm and pleading as he tried to salvage whatever remained.
“Emily, you don’t know. When you were gone, Lucas did everything he could to bring you back. He never intended to leave you. He only loves you. He never touched Amelia. Even when he was frustrated, even when you pushed him away, he never thought of betraying you. Whenever people slandered you, he was always the first to protect you.”
Dillon, his hands folded in front of him, added quietly from behind, “This is true, Miss Emily. Mr. Cantrell knows he made a terrible mistake, but he truly loves you. You should come back to him instead of dragging this fight any further.”
Lucas’s chest rose and fell in ragged, uneven breaths, each inhale shuddering like a man on the verge of collapse. He stepped closer, eyes locked on Emily.
“Emily,” he whispered, voice raw, trembling with nerves, “if you’re angry, hit me. Hit me as much as you want. I’ll take it.The only thing I want is your forgiveness. I don’t want us to separate.”
Emily stared back at him blankly. “Mr. Cantrell, are you done with your explanation?”
The blunt dismissal hit him like a physical blow. His lips trembled, but desperation surged, and he reached out, gripping her hand with both of his hands digging in as if a drowning man had found a rope.
Sebastian’s body stiffened instantly. Every muscle coiled like steel as his eyes snapped down to Lucas’s hands on Emily. A dangerous, silent warning radiated from him, thick enough to choke the air.
Lucas’s eyes glimmered with a fragile hope, searching Emily’s face. “Emily… so… do you forgive me?”
“Forgiveness?” Emily repeated softly, the word sharp and deliberate, hovering like a blade. For a heartbeat, a flicker of softness crossed her features—just enough to make Lucas’s chest rise with relief. Gratitude and longing clawed at him, tears stinging the corners of his eyes.
The blunt dismissal landed like a physical blow. Lucas’s lips trembled, but he forced himself on. Desperation seized him; he reached out, gripping her hand with both of his, clutching as if a drowning man had found a rope. His fingers pressed into her skin, knuckles white, his entire body leaning forward.
Sebastian went rigid at once, his body jerking as his eyes snapped down to Lucas’s grip on Emily. A dangerous silence radiated from him.
Lucas, eyes shining with hope, searched Emily’s face. “Emily… so… do you forgive me?”
“Forgiveness?” Emily tilted her head just slightly, a faint shadow of softness flashing across her face—enough to fool Lucas for a heartbeat. Relief surged through him; he exhaled shakily, tears prickling his eyes, chest rising and falling unevenly, gratitude choking him.
Sebastian’s jaw tightened further, the subtle clench of his fists betraying the storm inside him.
Then Emily’s words shattered the fragile moment. “I do not want to accept your apology, Mr. Cantrell.”
She jerked her hand out of his grip, ripping away from him. Lucas stumbled back in shock, his face blanching.
Immediately, Sebastian reached for her hand—the one Lucas had touched—and wiped it carefully with his own. The gesture was possessive, protective, and a clear slap in Lucas’s face.
The sight made Lucas’s lips curl, fury and fear twisting his expression. He took a few agitated steps toward Sebastian, rage boiling in his veins.
But Emily’s voice stopped him cold.
“I remember the things you said. You told me that all I did was create drama, and issues in your life. That I was nothing but a bother. That I was never good enough for you.”
Lucas froze mid-step. He swallowed hard, forcing his expression into something steadier, though pain clawed mercilessly at his chest. His gaze dropped helplessly to her hand that was safely enclosed in Sebastian’s grasp.
“Yes…” he admitted hoarsely. “Back then, I really thought you were lying. Creating problems for me out of jealousy. Stalking me, sending photographs, twisting everything. I didn’t want todeal with more issues after work. I told myself Amelia was the rightful owner of those designs. And I blamed you.”
His voice cracked, raw with regret, his eyes pleading. “But after you left, I realized how wrong I was. Everything I thought, everything I imagined, was worthless. Because even if I lose everything—my company, my reputation, my work—I cannot lose you, Emily.”
“Emily… I have everything in the world,” he whispered, voice low, almost breathless. “And I’d give it all up just to spend my life with you. Please… come back.”
Emily stared at him, unflinching. A bitter smile ghosted across her lips. “Firstly, I was never the one stalking you, Lucas. The photographs you saw? Every single one of them was delivered to me at your house—by someone else. Someone like Amelia, perhaps? Sending them just to keep me updated on your perfect, loving relationship.”
Lucas’s body stiffened like stone.
Emily’s eyes hardened as she went on. “But since you never believed me before, I don’t expect you to believe me now. It doesn’t even matter anymore. What matters is—we’re already over. We broke up. Nothing you say makes sense anymore. I already have a husband.”
