Page 76 of The Billionaire I Left Behind

Nate grins, standing. “Now we’re talking.”

I pace the room, my mind racing. “I need to show her.”

And then it hits me. I know exactly what I have to do. I grab my keys, determination settling in my bones. This time, I won’t let her walk away.

Not without a fight.

Chapter twenty-three

Emma

The walls of Stella’s guest room feel like they’re closing in. Three days. Three days of trying to pretend I’m fine. Three days of waking up with swollen eyes, forcing myself to eat whatever Stella puts in front of me, and swallowing back the ache that threatens to spill over every time I think about him.

I was so stupid. So unbelievably stupid. I should’ve known better. I should’ve protected myself from the start. He never promised me anything. He never once said this was real. That we were real.

I let myself believe in something that was never there. I stare at the ceiling, my fingers gripping the blanket tight as I try to ignore the lump in my throat.

I had been so relieved when the calls from the debt collectors stopped, thinking maybe they felt sorry for me. Silly me, they are all ruthless. So why would they have pitied me out of the blue? I was finally happy to be catching a break that I didn't think much of it.

Turns out, the break had come from Bryan. Bryan.

The man who had looked me in the eyes, touched me like I was his, kissed me like he meant it, all while knowing I was just a project to him. Because to him, that’s all I was. A problem to fix. A mistake he wouldn’t make again.

I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to push back the fresh wave of pain that hits me square in the chest. I should be grateful, right? My debts are gone. I don’t have to worry anymore. But I would rather owe every cent to the devil himself than know Bryan cleared them out of pity.

A knock at the door pulls me from my thoughts. I don’t even need to look up to know it’s Stella. She’s been hovering, watching me like I’m going to shatter at any second. I drag in a breath and sit up as she pokes her head inside.

“Hey,” she says gently, stepping in and closing the door behind her. “How’re you doing?”

I let out a hollow laugh. “Like I just got punched in the chest. Repeatedly.”

She sighs, crossing the room and flopping down on the bed beside me. “Yeah…figured.”

Silence stretches between us. She waits, probably hoping I’ll break down and spill everything, but I can’t.

I won’t. Finally, she nudges my arm. “Listen, I know you’re hurting, but you need to go get your other things.”

I shake my head immediately. “I can’t.”

“Emma.”

“No, seriously, I can’t. I can’t walk back into that house and…” My voice wobbles. “And see everything we had. I just…I can’t.”

Stella lets out a breath and grabs my hand, squeezing it. “I get it. I do. But you’re gonna need to face it at some point. You need to rest of your stuff, and if it helps, I’ll go with you.”

I bite my lip, my chest tightening. I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to step into that house and see the life I thought wewere building together, only to be reminded that it was all built on lies.

But what choice do I have? I can’t hide here forever. I exhale slowly, pressing my fingers to my temples. “Fine,” I murmur. “But only if you come with me.” Stella grins. “Obviously.”

I nod, trying to steady myself, but my heart is already racing. Because whether I’m ready or not, I’m about to walk back into his world.

And I don’t know if I’ll survive it.

***

I shouldn't be this uneasy. It’s just a house. Just walls and floors and memories I’m going to shove into a box and leave behind. I should be eager to get this over with, to walk in, grab my things, and never step foot here again.

But as Stella practically bounces beside me in the passenger seat, something gnaws at my gut.

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