Chapter 143.

Emilia closed the bedroom door quietly behind her. She leaned against it for a moment.

Her eyes closed, and then she smiled.

She couldn’t help it. The smile had been there since she’d left the house. It had followed her down the street.

And now, alone in her bedroom, it was still there.

Emilia looked down at the small box in her hand. Adrian had given it to her on her birthday. She still hadn’t opened it.

She sat on the edge of her bed.

The room was dim except for the warm light from the bedside lamp.

Christmas decorations hung around the room. A small string of lights ran along the edge of her mirror.

A few wrapped presents sat near the foot of her bed.

Her handbag was on the floor.

Her coat hung over the back of a chair. And in the middle of all of it sat Emilia, staring at the little box in her hands.

It had a thin silver ribbon wrapped around it. There was no elaborate packaging.

She ran her thumb over it. She carefully untied the ribbon. Then she lifted the lid.

Her breath caught.

Inside, resting against a small cushion, was a delicate necklace. The chain was fine and elegant.

At the center hung a tiny silver pendant.

An E.

But it wasn’t simply an initial. The letter was surrounded by a tiny constellation of stars.

Three small stones caught the light when she tilted the box.

Emilia stared at it.

For several seconds, she said nothing. Then she smiled.

It was beautiful, and simple. Nothing about it screamed for attention. She carefully lifted it from the box.

The pendant rested against her palm.

It was cold at first.

She turned it over.

There was something engraved on the back.

A date.

Her birthday.

She touched the engraving with her fingertip, and swallowed.

Emilia looked at the necklace again.

A quiet laugh escaped her.

She placed the necklace against her chest. It looked perfect.

She imagined Adrian choosing it. Standing somewhere in a jewelry store. Probably pretending not to care.

Probably giving the poor salesperson one of those terrifying looks until they found exactly what he wanted.

The thought made her smile wider.

She carefully placed the necklace back into the box, then she opened it again.

She looked at it. She laughed quietly at herself. "Get a grip."

She closed the box properly and held it against her chest.

Her smile softened.

Three weeks ago, she had been convinced that Adrian didn’t trust her, and that everything was over.

Tonight, she had found him waiting for her for three hours in an empty house.

He had cried, and had apologized. He had told her he loved her.

The thought made something warm settle inside her. She had almost forgotten about the gift entirely.

She looked down at the little box, and then she heard the door open.

Emilia immediately looked up.

Kylie stepped into the room. She closed the door behind her, and her eyes went straight to Emilia, and then to the little box in her hands.

She looked back at Emilia’s face.

Kylie stopped. She narrowed her eyes.

Emilia’s smile slowly disappeared.

Kylie folded her arms.

Emilia blinked. "What?"

Kylie walked toward the bed. She didn’t answer. She simply looked at Emilia.

Emilia shifted slightly. "What?"

Kylie stopped in front of her. "You had a face."

"What face?"

"The face."

Emilia frowned lightly. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Kylie raised an eyebrow. "The face you had when you were leaving. Explain it."

Emilia’s stomach dropped slightly. She smiled.

Kylie sat beside her. "You made a face. I know you, Emilia."

Emilia looked down.

Kylie leaned closer. "You looked like someone who had just decided to do something extremely stupid and extremely important."

Emilia pressed her lips together.

Kylie stared at her. "Want to tell me where you really went to?"

Silence.

Emilia looked at the little box.

Kylie followed her gaze. Her eyebrows rose. "Oh."

Emilia’s cheeks warmed.

Kylie slowly reached toward the box. "Is that—"

Emilia pulled it slightly away. "No."

Kylie stared at her. "You don’t even know what I was going to say. I am absolutely about to interrogate you."

Emilia laughed softly.

Kylie pointed at the box. "What’s inside?"

Emilia opened the box.

Kylie’s expression changed immediately. Her eyes widened. "Oh my God."

Emilia looked down at the necklace. "I know."

Kylie leaned closer. "That’s so pretty. It’s beautiful."

Emilia touched the pendant. "He gave it to me."

Kylie looked at her. She studied her face. "You went to see him."

Emilia nodded.

Kylie closed her eyes. For a second, she looked like she was counting to ten. Her brows furrowed, exhausted.

"You went to see Adrian."

Kylie opened her eyes. "Emilia."

"I know."

"No, I don’t think you do." Kylie pointed at her. "I was one hundred percent certain you were going to do something reckless when I saw your face earlier."

"I didn’t do anything reckless."

"You left the house secretly to meet the man who you nearly lost everything for."

Emilia’s smile faded. "That wasn’t what happened."

Kylie immediately softened.

Emilia looked down. "I didn’t nearly lose everything because of him."

Kylie waited.

"He made a choice too."

"Okay."

"And he wasn’t trying to hurt me."

"I know."

"He was trying to protect me."

Kylie sighed. "I know that too."

Emilia looked at her.

Kylie leaned back against the headboard. "I’ve been angry with him." She glanced at the necklace.

"But..." She nodded. "I can see what tonight did to you."

Emilia’s eyes softened.

"You look happy." Kylie smiled.

Emilia looked back at her.

Kylie reached out and touched the necklace.

Emilia smiled.

Kylie looked at the engraving. "Your birthday."

Emilia nodded. Her fingers traced the back of the pendant.

Kylie looked at her. Then she noticed something. "You kissed him." She blurted out.

Emilia froze. She tried to maintain a straight face. "We talked."

"You didn’t say you didn’t kiss him."

Emilia looked away.

Kylie gasped. "Oh my God." She chuckled.

"Keep your voice down."

"You kissed him!"

"Shh."

"Emilia!" Kylie grabbed a pillow and pressed it against her face. "I knew it. I hope it was just a kiss."

Emilia laughed. "Don’t be dramatic."

"I would be." Kylie teased. "I saw your face when you came back."