Chapter 17 - EMMA LEAVES THE MANSION
Emma’s final official day came eighteen months after the Rolex accusation.
Her old room looked strange empty.
One suitcase on the bed.
No uniform.
No schedule pinned beside the door.
Lily sat on the floor.
“You can still change your mind.”
“I signed a lease.”
“Break it.”
Emma laughed.
“You sound like your father.”
“That’s rude.”
Adrian appeared.
“I heard that.”
Lily ignored him.
She handed Emma a box.
Inside was a plastic gold watch.
Emma burst out laughing.
Lily crossed her arms.
“It’s vintage.”
“It was made last month.”
“Vintage style.”
Emma put it on.
“It’s beautiful.”
“And if it disappears?”
Emma looked at Adrian.
He smiled.
“We check the cameras.”
Lily groaned.
“That joke was obvious.”
The laughter faded when Emma hugged her.
Lily cried.
Emma cried.
Adrian looked away because he might too.
When it was his turn, he held out a hand.
Emma stared.
“A handshake?”
“I’m trying to respect boundaries.”
“That is depressingly formal.”
He laughed.
Then she hugged him.
Brief.
Warm.
Different from before.
“Thank you,” Adrian whispered.
“For what?”
“Lily.”
“Matthew.”
“The company.”
“Me.”
Emma stepped back.
“I didn’t save you.”
“I know.”
“You finally stopped expecting someone else to.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
She walked toward the door.
Then turned.
“Adrian.”
“Yes?”
“You’re a better man than the one who let Matthew walk out.”
He said nothing.
Because that mattered more than forgiveness.
May you like
Emma left the mansion where someone once tried to destroy her.
This time she walked out because she had somewhere better to go.
