Secret Admiration: Finding True Love After Prison

Secref Admiration: Finding True Love After P...

Chapter 703 A Twinge of Longing Deep

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Emilia's heart raced, the thrum so loud it echoed in her ears. Adrenaline surged, sharp, and unrelenting. This was fear-the kind that made your blood run cold; the kind that whispered death was near.

She'd always known men like him-living on the edge, cold-blooded and unfeeling. But she hadn't truly understood until now. His calm ruthlessness wasn't an act. If he wanted, he could end her life without hesitation.

"Why can't I be a cashier?" Emilia forced down the rising panic, her tone deliberately light, almost puzzled.

She didn't look back, focusing instead on adjusting the flowers in the vase on the table. "Is it because you find it strange? A girl with a house, a car, working at a convenience store-it doesn't add up?"

Her laugh was soft, but it carried a bitter edge. "Honestly, I come from a pretty wealthy family. The house, the car-all my parents' money. And the cashier gig? That's just a distraction, something to keep me busy after I got kidnapped a while back." Andy's eyes narrowed slightly, the only sign her words caught him off guard. He stayed silent, his gaze fixed on her as she busied herself with the flowers. Whatever he was thinking, he didn't let it show.

fter the kidnapping people started treating me like I was

Chapter 703 A Twinge of Longing Deep love match, just a family arrangement."

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She gave a small shrug as if brushing off the sting of her own words. "Still, in our world, being talked about like that, it sticks. I became a joke to everyone. The rich can be cruel, you know? They laughed, they gossiped, and they tore me apart behind my back. "That's why I took the job at the store. It gave me something to do and helped me focus on anything but that mess. Is it so hard to believe a rich girl could work as a cashier?"

Andy's grip on the gun didn't waver, but Emilia noticed he hadn't lowered it either. She hesitated, then pressed on, her voice dropping a notch. "After the ransom, my family took a huge hit. We're drowning in debt now. My dad even mortgaged the company to keep us afloat."

Her gaze dropped to the floor, her shoulders sagging under the weight of her words. It wasn't all a lie. The Clarke family wasn't what it used to be.

Her voice caught slightly, the vulnerability creeping through despite her efforts to mask it. "Every time I see my parents, I feel this crushing guilt. Like it's all my fault. That's why I moved out It's easier this way."

She reached up, brushing at the corner of her eye, the gesture soft, almost hesitant. "And now that you know my secrets, you probably think even less of me, don't you?"

Andy watched as she sank to the floor, hugging her knees. Her shoulders trembled with the effort to hold it together, but he knew better-she was crying. His lips thinned into a line, and

Chapter 703 A Twinge of Longing Deep

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family had been powerful too, until everything fell apart. He'd seen it all-the betrayals, the fake smiles, the knives in the back when they were at their lowest. Andy thought, "I kidnapped Emilia because

Her tear-streaked face was flushed, her wide eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She looked fragile, like someone who could shatter with a word. Before he realized what he was doing, Andy reached out and rested his hand lightly on her

off guard. "What kind of line is that? You're terrible at comforting

down fully onto the floor, crying even harder. "Can't you at least say something

Andy whispered, "I won't..."

head tilted,

down on you," he said

at him, the words sinking in. He was answering her question from earlier, "Now that you

secrets, you

703 A Twinge of Longing Deep probably

"Does he actually believe my story?"

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as if to reply, then thought better of it, staying

Emilia pulled out her broken phone, retrieved the SIM card, and slid it into an old spare. Andy noticed the phone was

to pay me back anytime soon," Emilia said lightly, changing the

Andy didn't respond.

let you crash on the couch until your injuries heal. But don't forget-you still owe me money."

thought, "If getting close to him means keeping him under my roof, so be it.

turned and shut the door

behind. If

Twinge of Longing

flared. To distract himself, he glanced around

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pink sofa was trimmed with lace, and the table was adorned with fresh flowers that filled the air with their faint, sweet scent. The entire place radiated a sense of warmth

hanging off the edge. The pink, lacy cushions created a stark contrast to his imposing frame. With a quiet sigh, he slid his gun under the pillow and closed

11

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light gently seeped through the curtains. Meryl stirred awake, her gaze drifting to Chandler, who was slumped

on Chandler's sharp and handsome features, and for

had refused. And Meryl knew Chandler well-enough-if he didn't agree, there would be no

resolve hadn't wavered. She didn't want to keep living in amarriage that left her teetering between doubt