Chapter 4

Throughout the entire dinner, the Lane family was treated like we were invisible. The Hart family's elders spent almost all their time chatting with Sophia, William, and Cindy.

My parents and I were left awkwardly on the sidelines.

Maybe that was when my parents finally realized this wasn't some apology dinner. If anything, the whole point was to put us in our place.

It was a warning that something major was about to go down between the two families.

They were telling our Lane family to keep our heads down, behave ourselves, and make sure we didn't cause any more trouble.

Even so, my parents had to grit their teeth and swallow their anger. With the Hart family calling all the shots, we were forced to lower our heads and accept it, no matter how humiliating it felt.

I glanced over at Lisa.

Back then, she used to hold my hand and say, "Sweetie heart, Emily, you're the granddaughter-in-law I've always cherished.

"On your wedding day with Michael, I'll give you a whole chest of family heirlooms.

"Emily, you're so cute. You always make me so happy."

As I thought about it, it was only because the Lane family's business was still thriving at that time.

The heiress of the Lane family and the heir of the Hart family were well-matched in status and background.

But after the Turner family rose to power, I was no longer the Hart family's ideal choice for Michael's wife.

I zoned out for a moment.

The spoon slipped from my hand and clattered onto the plate.

How embarrassing!

Everyone was staring at me now.

Lisa let out a snort. "After all those years abroad, Emily is still as clumsy as ever."

Ella Hart, Michael's mother, glanced at me, though she still held a smile. "Emily, you really need to watch that habit of always wanting to be the center of attention."

I bet I looked pretty pale right then.

I opened my mouth to explain, but honestly, it wasn't worth it.

But then, I suddenly locked eyes with someone who was staring right at me.

It was Michael.

He was even more disrespectful. He pulled out a cigarette and clamped it between his lips.

Ella shot him a sharp, warning look, and only then did he take the cigarette out of his mouth.

He tossed it onto the table.

Sophia leaned in a bit closer to him. "Michael, look, Nathan and the others are in Noray watching the Northern Lights. They're asking if we want to go too."

I lowered my eyes, tracing the lines on my hand.

Finally, I felt like I couldn't breathe, like I was suffocating.

I pulled out my phone, which was buzzing in my hand. "Excuse me, I need to step out and take this call."

Once I stepped outside, I picked up the call with excitement bubbling inside me. "Alex?"

On the other end was that smooth, deep voice I knew so well. "Emily, I miss you so much."

I barely managed a smile.

But when I tried to say it, the words felt clumsy and unnatural. "I-I miss..."

"Come on, Emily. You promised you'd say it more often. Don't tell me you're backing out on me again?" Alex Weston teased.

The words still felt awkward on my tongue. "Alex, I—"

"I'm mad now," Alex said.

I closed my eyes. 'I-I miss you too.'

Suddenly, I heard something crash to the ground behind me.

I spun around in shock, only to meet Michael's gaze. His eyes narrowed slightly for a moment.

I quickly pulled my phone away from my ear.

When did he come out there?

My back was suddenly damp with cold sweat.

"Emily, what's wrong?" Alex urged.

I could tell something was off.

Michael popped open his cigarette case and lit up with a slow, loaded air. His gaze was downright intimidating.

It was like three years ago, when he dropped a bombshell, all casual. "Mr. Lane, Emily's car hit Sophia's. So, should she go to jail, or maybe get shipped overseas to straighten her out?"

I hung up the call with my heart racing and got ready to get out of there fast.

I'd wandered into the wrong place. This courtyard was Michael's favorite spot to be alone.

But as I stepped into the corridor, he grabbed my hand.

"Who is that?" Michael's voice was icy, almost dangerous.

My hand hurt like hell, like he was about to break it off.