Chapter 25 Emilia
EMILIA
“You don’t mean that,” I said, voice strained. He couldn’t mean that.
Because if he really thought that love stood no chance of lasting, then what were we doing?
“Isn’t that the way these things always go?
” he huffed back at me. “The beginning is amazing. You’re getting to know each other, having tons of sex, and the only thing you have to worry about is where you’re going to dinner.
Then, life throws obstacles at you, and you have to figure out if you can handle them together. ”
“But that’s a good thing, right? The figuring it out together?” Please say yes.
“Sure. Unless the other person isn’t willing to put in the effort or they’re insistent on getting everything their way.”
“So, you talk it out. Figure out what’s important. Make compromises.”
“And then what? You wake up the next morning and realize the person sleeping next to you is just a regular person with their own flaws and issues. The fantasy that you built up is gone and real life has taken over.”
“Wow,” I breathed out softly. “That’s how you view your relationships? That they should stay a fantasy and then you break it off when things become too real? Do you think you’re DiCaprio or something?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know what that means. All I’m saying is I’ve been able to avoid any real disasters because I haven’t had many relationships get all that serious, but Harrison’s first marriage? That was a shitshow. Talk about a cautionary tale.”
“When was the last time you had a serious relationship?” I pressed.
“The last one was…” He looked thoughtful. “Huh, I guess it was Kristen. It followed the usual pattern. We got together about five years back, and everything was great at first.”
“So what happened?”
“Life happened—like it always does. My mom got sick, and my priorities took a major turn. Meanwhile, Kristen’s career was really taking off, and she wanted to live it up—go out and have a good time.
She didn’t know how to be what I needed back then, and it all sort of fractured apart.
Luckily, neither of us were in too deep.
There weren’t any hearts broken. We just realized it wasn’t working.
What we’d built wasn’t strong enough to stay standing once it was put to the test. That’s how it always goes. Love doesn’t last.”
That’s not true I wanted to scream, but screaming at him wouldn’t fix this.
I had to get him to see sense. Had to get him to realize that love could work, could last, could be worth the effort.
I’d thought we were building something together that could be all of those things and I didn’t want to admit that I was wrong.
I didn’t want to think that I’d been building alone all this time.
“Tell that to Harrison and Gwen,” I said. “You and I both know that they’re an amazing couple. And your parents seemed to have had a pretty solid relationship as well, from what I’ve heard.”
He didn’t seem impressed. “Yeah, and people get struck by lightning sometimes. It’s possible but doesn’t make it likely.
Look, I’m not saying no one should be in a relationship.
Enjoy the good times while they last. But everyone would be better off if they’d accept their relationships for what they are—and what they’re not. ”
“So where does that leave us?” I finally asked.
He had the nerve to look startled. “Us?” he repeated.
“Is our relationship just another one that’s doomed to fail? Are you making the most of the sex and companionship while you have it on tap, all while you’re waiting for it to fall apart?”
“I wasn’t talking about us,” he sputtered.
“I’m talking about us,” I shot back. “Are we building something real here, or has this all been a waste of my time?”
Voices got louder outside the door. Another fight, maybe? Seemed likely—almost inevitable, really—with the way Dorian had been so determinedly stirring the pot. I was more than happy to ignore it, but Drew’s eyes went straight to the door like nothing else mattered.
“Look, we can talk about this later,” Drew stated. “There’s plenty more for you to worry about out there.”
So, that was my answer. I didn’t matter. Our relationship didn’t matter. All that mattered to Drew was someone else’s wedding. He wasn’t willing to put in the work for anything else.
And that meant I was ready to be done too, just not how he intended. I tugged at the ring on my finger only to discover that it was going to take some effort to remove it, like the few weeks I’d been wearing it had anchored it onto me.
I finally managed to pull it off. As much as I wanted to throw it in his face, it was his mother’s ring, and even though I had zero respect for him, I opted to be respectful with the important piece of jewelry.
I held the ring up in front of me.
“What are you doing?” Drew frowned.
All of the emotions I’d been fighting to tamp down overwhelmed me at the sight of his confused face. How could he not know that I was upset, and hurt? Did he seriously think he could belittle our entire relationship and I’d be cool with it?
“If our relationship means so little to you then you might as well take this back,” I said.
“Emilia, come on,” he huffed, glancing between the ring and my face. “You’re being stupid.”
I lowered my hand, still clutching the ring. “I’m sorry? What did you just call me?”
He sighed again, like he was bored with the conversation. “Put the ring back on.”
“There’s no point,” I insisted. “If none of this matters there’s no reason for us to bother with the fake engagement.”
I held my breath, hoping that maybe he’d snap out of his haze and realize that despite the fake set-up, we’d become something he cared about saving.
Drew’s expression morphed into an expression that almost looked like sadness before settling back into a withering glare.
“We have an agreement,” he said slowly. “You need to wear that ring for one more day if you want the payout you so clearly need.”
What the hell did that mean? My face burned at him calling me out so callously.
My eyes welled, but I forced myself to stay strong. He didn’t deserve a single tear.
“And what if I don’t?” I shot back at him. “Are you going to rescind the job offer after I worked my ass off to earn it? Or make me pay back the money spent on Winston’s vet bills and my roof?”
He blinked at me silently, like he was shocked I’d suggest it. I swore I could see the wheels turning in his brain as he formulated a response, and I could tell by the hard set of his jaw that it wasn’t going to be pretty.
“Might not be a bad idea, if you refuse to finish out this commitment we agreed to.”
My body was flooded with white hot fury.
“Are you … do you really think … why would you …” I couldn’t find the right words and I hated that I sounded like an idiot.
“Emilia, calm down, put the damn ring back on, and get back out there.”
“I am calm,” I shrieked at him.
He pursed his lips at me. “So I see.”
We stared at each other in silence. The room was now feeling way more claustrophobic, and even though I wanted to get far away from Andrew Ashford, Certified Asshole, there was still a part of me that hoped he’d come to his senses and admit that what we’d shared was worth fighting for.
That I wasn’t imagining our connection.
I was still clutching the ring so tightly that I probably had grooves in my fingertips from it. I saw him glance down at my hands then back up at my face.
“Well?” Drew demanded.
I straightened my back and held my left hand in the air. I slipped the ring back on then briefly flashed the finger at him, so quickly that he probably thought he imagined it.
“Good,” he said with a nod. “This fucking nightmare of a wedding is almost over. After tomorrow you won’t have to worry about me, but for now the charade continues.”
He held my gaze for a beat longer and I did my best to strangle any remaining hope from my body. When he finally strode towards the door and it clicked closed behind him, I knew without a doubt that we were done.