Is it Guit
126 BONUS
Is it Guilt
“Yes, Miss, I understand you perfectly, and it won’t repeat itself again,” Rose bites. out each word, her tone barely masking the resentment beneath her facade. She doesn’t want to do this, I can see it in her face, and feel it in the way each syllable is pronounced.
But as long as she stays in her lane, I really don’t care.
“You can go now,” I tell her dismissively.
She looks down, then turns and walks toward the door, dragging her feet. As soon as she closed it, I let out a deep sigh of relief.
When I came into this house, I expected things to go smoothly. I knew everyone here already, after all. I thought this would be a small, quick transition, that everyone. would remain as cordial as they’d always been. But everyone’s different now, except for Thomas, who keeps to himself as he always has. He just gets the updates, nods, and goes on with his day.
My relationship with Madeline seems to have gone down the drain. We were once close, and now… it’s like there’s a wall between us. Rose and I have never been friends, but at least we were civil. Now, even that’s shattered. And then, of course, there’s Emerson……. I don’t even know what to say about him.
I sit down at my desk, my eyes drifting to the scratched area, the place where someone, Rose most likely, carved the word “bitch.” Was it meant as an insult? A message, maybe? I really believe she left it there, a parting shot. Who else would do it? I get that Madeline sees Eric as her son and might resent the change in titles now that I’m here as Emerson’s soon–to–be wife, but she wouldn’t be so cruel. That’s not who she is. I don’t think she is capable of this.
But Rose… her words from the kitchen still play in my mind. Why did she say what she did? That Emerson should be with someone who truly loves him? Was she talking about herself? Or is there someone else she’s aware of? Does Emerson have someone else, and Rose knows about it?
The thought eats at me. Why wouldn’t Emerson tell me if he were seeing someone else? The only reason I can think of is guilt, because of the night we slept together and how everything had transpired that morning.
I sit there in horror as the realization dawns on me. It’s guilt. Emerson’s actions, and his hesitation, they must all come from that place. We shared that one night together, and then I asked him to marry me think, maybe, he only agreed because
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is it Gult
he felt guilty.
Even though he may have been in a relationship with someone else, Emerson cut it short for me. I remember telling him what Eric did, and everything that had happened between us. Given his connection to my father, maybe Emerson felt it was his duty to stay with me. But now, with all these doubts in my head, I’m starting to wonder…..are we both just lying to each other? Should I confront him? Should we sit down and have that honest talk? Or should I simply sweep it under the rug and pretend it doesn’t exist?
I feel like I’ve trapped myself in a corner, unable to see what’s really happening anymore. There’s a ping on my phone, breaking the silence in the room. I pick it up, glancing at the screen.
Notifications light up about me and Emerson, all connected to the company. Articles, headlines–they’re all talking about us, accusing me of things I never thought would be said. Rumours cycle about me trying to steal the company from Eric, and that Emerson is choosing his “mistress” over his own son. ‘I am not a mistress, I am his fiancee and we already announced our wedding. What is up with these people?”
I’m apparently breaking up families, destroying bonds, and tarnishing legacies.
Seeing those headlines, I feel a sting that I didn’t expect. I had always known what happened today at the company might make it to the press, but somehow, I foolishly thought it wouldn’t hurt me like this. The things they’re saying, they aren’t just inaccurate, they’re straight–up vile. They’re painting me as this manipulative vampire, out to suck Emerson dry and destroy everything I touch. It couldn’t be farther from the truth.
I set my phone down, anger and hurt twisting together.
I don’t know why I do it, but I keep reading each hurtful word, link after link, every article and headline twisted against me. They’re claiming that I’ll corrupt Emerson, that I’ll ruin the company and drive it into bankruptcy. They say I’ll use up all his
money
like I’ve only ever cared about that. It’s absurd, especially given that I’ve worked at the Blackwind company for three years, and built my own reputation through hard work.
But these people, they think they know my entire life, my motives, my character, when they don’t know me at all. They don’t know the story behind everything.
Just then, Emerson walks in.
“Hey,” he says, but his face changes as he notices the expression on mine. “What’s
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wrong?”
Without a word, I hand him my phone. He glances down, scrolling through the hateful articles.
“Why are you reading all this?” he asks.
“I can’t help it,” I admit, defeated.
“Well, you need to ignore it,” he says firmly. “It doesn’t help to read these people’s lies about your life. You know they’re not true.”
“Easy for you to say,” I murmur. “I’ve never been plastered in the media like this, except for my wedding to Eric, and no one was attacking me then. Now, it feels like they’re trying to destroy me. I mean, who would hire me after this? It feels like… like I’m going to be ruined. They are going after my reputation.”
Emerson steps closer. For a moment, it seems like he’s about to hug me, but he stops himself, taking my hand instead.
“Look, you’re going to be my wife. You don’t have to work.”
I feel my pulse quicken and I tense as I stare at him.
“Wait, what? So… if I just stay here and don’t work, letting you support me, that only fuels their claims. They’ll think they’re right, that I’m some leech. Even Madeline thought I was after your money when I mentioned that I quit this morning.”
“Stop, stop.” He gives me a serious look. “That’s not what I’m saying. I mean… whatever you want to do, I’m here for it. Do you want to stay home? Start a business? Whatever you want to do, I’ll support you. I just don’t want you working for someone else, especially a competitor.”
I arch an eyebrow. “What, you don’t want me having another boss besides you?”
He chuckles. “No… I’m afraid you’re so good at what you do, you’ll steal all my clients and run me into the ground.”
