Chapter 78 Through Unseen Eyes
Henry sat at the grand Kingsley dining table, his fingers pressed together as he gathered his thoughts. The chandelier above cast long, fractured shadows, making the room feel colder than it should have. Across from him, Emilia watched with quiet concern, her hand resting lightly on his arm, though he could feel the tension in her touch.
His parents, Elias and Linda, and brother Beau sat at the head of the table, their faces unreadable, but their eyes—dark with worry—betrayed their thoughts. Caleb and Cayden leaned in, their postures rigid, the weight of what Henry was about to say already thickening the air.
Elias finally broke the silence, his voice grave. "So let me get this straight. You found a shrine dedicated to Emilia?"
Henry exhaled sharply. The words felt insufficient to capture what they had seen. "Not just a shrine," he said, his voice edged with something raw. "It was... obsession. Her clothes, dolls made to look like her, journals filled with threats." His throat tightened as he recalled the scrawled handwriting, the slashed fabric, the glassy doll eyes that had stared back at him. "Whoever did this isn't just watching—this is personal."
Linda's face paled, her breath catching as she clasped her hands together. "My God."
Emilia, silent until now, curled her fingers slightly against Henry's arm, as if grounding herself. "Do you think it was Hallie? Before she was arrested?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Henry shook his head. "No." The word came out too quickly, too certain. "This felt different. More unhinged. More... recent."
The weight of that last word sent a chill through the room.
Then, as if the memory had burrowed deeper, Henry's jaw clenched. "There was something else," he added, his voice quieter now. "A small recorder, hidden inside one of the dolls. It was still running."
Emilia's breath caught. "What was on it?"
He hesitated, the nauseating dread of that discovery washing over him once again. "A recording of you," he said finally. "From your office. Recently."
A stunned silence fell over the table.
Beau's hands balled into fists. "This psycho is getting bolder."
Elias let out a slow breath, rubbing a hand over his jaw, his gaze distant as if calculating the worst. "We increase security. You and Emilia need to be careful." His voice dipped lower. "Whoever did this won't just stop."
Henry nodded, his pulse drumming in his ears. He already knew that.
Henry watched Emilia closely as the conversation at the table continued. She hadn't said much after asking about Hallie, but he could feel the tension in her body, the way her fingers curled against his arm, the way her breathing had gone shallow. She was trying to hold it together, trying to suppress whatever was clawing at her insides. But Henry knew her too well.
The second there was a natural break in conversation, he gently slipped his hand over hers and squeezed. "Come with me for a second."
Emilia glanced up, her brows knitting together in question, but she didn't resist when he stood, subtly guiding her away from the table. He led her down the hall and into the quiet warmth of the study, shutting the door behind them.
She crossed her arms over her chest almost immediately, her posture stiff, like she was holding herself together by sheer force of will. "I'm fine, Henry," she said before he could even speak, her voice steady but too controlled.
Henry exhaled, stepping closer. "No, you're not."
Her lips parted slightly, but she didn't respond, just looking at him with those guarded eyes he knew too well.
He reached up, cupping her face gently, his thumb smoothing over her cheek. "Em, you don't have to pretend with me."
Her breath hitched just slightly, her resolve wavering. "I just..." She swallowed, shaking her head. "This isn't just about me anymore. What if something happens to you? To your family? I don't—"
Her voice cracked on the last word, and Henry felt something in his chest tighten. He hated seeing her like this. [This book is available exclusively and for free on Wattpad. If you find it anywhere else, it has been stolen. Please report any unauthorized copies.] He hated that she felt like the people she loved were in danger just because of their connection to her.
She let out a slow, shaky breath, her fingers tightening slightly against him. He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, lingering there, as if he could shield her from everything with just this embrace.
She didn't say anything right away, but after a moment, she turned her face just enough to press a soft kiss against his collarbone, her silent way of telling him she believed him.
And for Henry, that was enough.
_____________________________________________
A Few Weeks Later
Sunlight filtered through the Kingsley estate's gardens, casting golden hues over the terrace where Henry and Emilia sat, fingers intertwined. The tension of the past few weeks still lingered, but today, they were allowing themselves a moment of something different hope.
Henry chuckled, relaxing slightly. "Good call. So, what are we thinking?"
Henry nodded thoughtfully. "How about early October? The weather will be perfect, and it gives us time to plan without it feeling rushed."
Emilia's cheeks warmed. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Kingsley."
He smirked. "Then consider this—October 11th. Not too early, not too late. A Saturday, which makes it easier for guests."
She pretended to think it over, though she already knew she loved the idea. "October 11th it is. Now, how do we tell everyone?"
Emilia laughed. "Let's start with family and friends. Less dramatic that way."
She turned the page in her notebook, revealing swatches of colors and floral arrangements. Henry arched a brow, instantly amused. "Alright, what's this?"
Henry tilted his head, pretending to scrutinize them. "Hmm. Not bad. But what if we did neon green and hot pink instead? Really make a statement."
Emilia gasped in mock horror, swatting his arm. "Absolutely not. This is why you don't get full creative control."
He laughed, leaning in closer. "Fine, fine. Burgundy and gold. But you should know, no matter what, all eyes will be on you."
She rolled her eyes but couldn't fight her smile. "You're impossible. Now, flowers. I want something romantic but a little wild. Not just perfect roses, but like... a mix of things. Orchids, dahlias, maybe some greenery to make it feel natural."
Henry reached for the page, then, with a mischievous smirk, flipped it over. "Alright, and what's the real priority? The cake."
Emilia groaned. "Of course you'd go straight to the cake."
He grinned. "Look, it's the most important part of any wedding. And let's be honest, you'll be too busy dancing with me to eat much of it, so I have to make sure it's worth it."
She huffed a laugh. "Fine. But no weird flavors."
She gave him a deadpan look. "You're about as wild as a house cat, Kingsley."
Henry gasped dramatically. "I am offended."
Emilia grinned, closing the notebook and placing it aside. "You'll survive. Now, are we actually going to plan this wedding or are you just going to keep distracting me?"