Chapter 41
“You broke up with my cousin? Finally!”
“Stop.” Valentina giggled at the way Emily was dancing with her upper body, her hands flailing in the air. “Stop doing that. You look ridiculous.” She prompted her her hands down.
“Ridiculously happy, yes.”
“But yeah, I think it’s been a long-time coming. Our mindsets don’t align, not to mention he couldn’t stay loyal.”
Emily’s brain still buzzed at the fact that they had even been a thing. Ew. Again, what did her insufferable cousin do to have deserved someone like her?
Valentina was hot and knew how to make a mean sponge cake, which Emily was devouring right now in her apartment.
“Honestly, I’m think I’m still going to have nightmares from the images of you two being together for a while.”
She choked on a laugh, but Emily saw the way her eyes lingered with sadness.
“Is this why you’ve been so engrossed on set? You’ve been at it like a machine, hitting take after take. Don’t get me wrong, it’s impressive, but also a bit…concerning.”
Valentina sighed as if her love life was a trivial matter. “I doubt that’s more concerning than us still not figuring who this stalker of yours is. Has Adrianna said anything to you since the timed device happening?”
“Thanks to you, nope.”
Valentina had emitted an aura that had Adrianna avoiding them like the plague.
Or maybe it was guilt for potentially being the perpetrator.
Whatever the case may be, filming had gone pretty smoothy afterward.
The sudden silence after all the past occurrences did nothing to quiet Emily’s nerves though.
It felt like the calm before the storm.
Getting up onto her feet, Valentina took both their plates to the sink. She pulled the curtain of her apartment. “Nicolas is really serious about your safety though,” she said, referring to the two vehicles with bodyguards downstairs.
Cameron, who Emily had offered to come inside, was stationed in the hallway, outside the front door.
“Is it normal for people like you guys to have a secret marriage?”
Emily frowned. “It’s not as much as secret now, but no. Or I don’t think so.”
Valentina’s eyes found hers gleaming. “Either way, I know Jake is going to have a fit when he finds out. It’s basically confirmed that he’s cheated on you with Stella after that video he claims is fake dropped.”
She sighed when the topic that had been gnawing at her finally came up. “Honestly, I wanted them to grovel, to hurt, to feel the same misery I felt back then. But now…now I’m starting to question everything.”
Emily thought her revenge would bring her happiness, would make her feel a sense of justice, but was it truly doing that? She didn’t know anymore.
There had been moments of what she thought was enjoyment, but they still lacked something. Something fulfilling.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is there may be far more important things in life.”
“Like the ridiculously attractive man you have at home? Nicolas is tens across the board, E. Minus one point for threatening me that if I were to make you cry, he’ll make me regret ever crossing your path.”
She gasped. “He did not say that!”
Laughing even louder, Valentina took a seat back onto the couch.
“Yes, he did! It was when you left us to fend for ourselves in your living room after the entire getting tailed fiasco. He said that and so much more, but I’ll spare you the details because holy fuck you’re as red as my favorite lipstick shade. ”
She shook her head at her husband’s protective self.
Valentina chuckled once more before her voice lowered. “But honestly, I thought his threats were cute. They show how much he genuinely cares about you. I’m happy knowing you found someone like that because if anyone in the world deserves it, it’s you.”
“I genuinely care about him too,” Emily admitted softly. “I really do.”
“I can tell as much,” Valentina sighed. “And E?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t let revenge steal your happiness. You’re worth more than that, and I’d hate to see you lose yourself in the process.”
The crew was wrapping up the last day of filming for Don’t Break My Spirit. The staff came out with a celebratory cake for the cast to cut. Valentina had hugged Emily and said she had to leave early.
Taylor cleared his throat from beside her. “So this is it, huh? Can’t believe we’re done. These months flew by.”
“Thank you, Taylor.”
He blinked. “For what?”
“Being a good cast mate to me.”
He chuckled. “Emily, I’m happy to have been that guy for you. You know this.”
This was the last time they’d see each other for a short while. The movie promotions and premiere wasn’t until the next four months or so.
“At least we’ll see each other at the wrap party after New Year’s,” he added with a soft smile.
Oh yes, they still had that.
Emily nodded before finding her way over to Talia. Her manager was busy talking on the phone, so she took a seat on the chair to the side, watching the staff packed up the rest of the equipment.
In the corner of his eye, Director Tsang caught sight of her and eagerly made a beeline. Emily stood up promptly. “Emily, so glad I caught you one last time before you left. Just wanted to give a reminder about the wrap party.”
“Wouldn't miss it for the world.”
“Of course not, it’d be a disaster if our lead was to go missing on such an important day. There’ll be lots of press so imagine the embarrassment. God, I don’t even want to.”
“Don’t worry. My agency has made me aware.”
He grinned. “Fantastic! I’ll see you in a few weeks, Miss Academy Award Winner.”
Talia crept up as he disappeared. “You ready?”
Her throat suddenly burned with emotions. “Like I’ve never been before.”
Reality was starting to hit her.
Emily had just finished her first production. After four years. Her body was flooded with relief, but also pride. She’d finally made peace with what had happened. For the first time, the future felt like something she could walk toward without a sense of fear.