Winning Her Heart back (Emelie and William)

Chapter 870 Passive

Emelie didn't flinch. "If you're serious, then let's go through with it."

The silence on Wesley's end was heavy, but Emelie could hear the shift in his breathing as it grew more uneven.

She stood up and walked to the coffee machine, switching the call to speaker mode while making herself an espresso.

Coffee had always been her thing. She was better at it than most baristas.

Back in her days as a secretary, making coffee for bosses and clients was second nature. And, being who she was, she made sure to do everything with precision and perfection.

She measured the coffee grounds, carefully tamping them down into the portafilter, her movements slow and deliberate.

Her voice was just as steady as her hands. "You know, when I look back, I've spent my whole life being passive.

"My mom left with my brother, leaving me behind at the Pierce Residence. I didn't choose the Hovens; they adopted me by chance. You left me when we were in love. My adoptive parents used me to pay off their debts.

"William saved me one night in the rain, then made me his secretary. He used me, manipulated me, and tossed me aside when it was convenient. You brought me to Mercianna, saved me, and proposed to me. Let's not forget how both you and Mrs. Filo kept me in the dark for all this while."

With a sharp click, Emelie locked the portafilter into place. She reached into the glass cabinet and pulled out a delicate coffee cup, its smooth surface was cool against her fingertips.

"I'm used to it by now," she said, her voice steady. "One more time won't change a thing. So, if you still want the wedding to go on, if you want me as your bride, then I'll be your bride. I'll walk down that aisle with you, hand in hand, and we'll stand there in front of everyone like nothing ever happened."

the espresso began to drip slowly,

was strong and unsweetened, the bitter

silence, listening to the distant sounds of her making coffee. He glanced at his own cup sitting on his desk, long

sip, and it tasted like ash. Bitter in a way that he

if he were speaking more to himself than to her, "Mom didn't leave you behind on purpose.

respond, but he knew that she

been taken in by the Hovens. Her plan was to take both you and your brother. When she found out where you were, she went to get you, but the Hovens were treating you so well,

all your eggs in

giving her time to absorb his words before continuing, "Mom always had people keeping an eye on you, making

as if she'd heard it

anymore.

just telling you what

closing his eyes as if the conversation had drained the last of his energy. The line

the plush leather. He stayed in that position for a long, heavy moment as he got

he hadn't rested all night. But when he noticed Wesley's deep, thoughtful silence, he chose

hour later, Wesley's eyes flickered open. He hadn't slept. His mind had been

he thinking about? That was a

once more. This time, he dialed for Samuel,

"Sam," he said.

call with Wesley, she immediately dialed Ashley's number. "Ashley, let's meet up. I'll send

early for dinner, so she picked a