Chapter 5

"If you're so sure of yourself, why don't you just go straight to Alex and tell him to break up with me? Why come here and ask me to do your dirty work?" Emily fired back, not bothering to hide her disdain.

Emily caught the flicker of hesitation in Sophie's eyes and pressed on, "Don't tell me that your darling Alex, who does everything for you, won't dump me himself?"

Clearly, Emily had hit a nerve since Sophie's jaw tightened in frustration.

Emily was right. Sophie had already tried to convince Alexanderto dump her, telling him this was the perfect chance to end things.

But Alexander just brushed her off, saying it wasn't the right time.

Not the right time? Yeah, right. Obviously, he had feelings for Emily, and that was the only reason he wouldn't cut her loose.

"Emily, you don't stand a chance against me," Sophie smirked, her tone full of smug superiority.

Without another word, Sophie turned and walked out of the hospital room.

The next day, when Emily was finally discharged from the hospital, Alexander actually showed up in person to take her home.

On the ride back, Alexander kept trying to start conversations, but Emily just shut him down every time. He got all cold and distant too, his mood turning sour.

Emily caught his attitude shift, but she just acted like she didn't notice at all.

She used to put Alexander's feelings above everything, but now, she was finally putting herself first.

When Emily stepped into the villa, she could tell right away that something was wrong.

The photo that used to greet her at the door was gone, swapped out for some generic landscape painting. Every little thing she'd chosen for this place had vanished without a trace.

The throw pillows on the couch and the candle holders on the dining table were all gone.

Every item was something she and Alexander had picked out together when she moved in, each one a piece of their shared memories.

But the most important of all was that photo.

"Where's our photo?" Emily asked, her voice steady and cold.

Emily kept her back to him, her tone unnaturally calm as she spoke.

"Where did you put it?" she continued, her voice icy.

That photo was their couple's portrait, the one Alexander had promised to treasure forever.

At first, Alexander seemed a bit guilty, but as she pressed him, he grew annoyed. "I've temporarily stored the photo in the basement, along with your other belongings," he said sharply.

"Sophie's been living here lately, and seeing that photo and your things just upsets her, so I had to put them away for now. You know exactly who's responsible for how she is now. Try to be more understanding," he added, his tone heavy with accusation.

Emily was responsible for how Sophie was?

Like... how great an actress she was?

Emily closed her eyes, turned around, and was about to leave without another word.

Since they'd already cleared out all her things, there was no reason for her to stay here any longer.

"Emmy, where do you think you're going?" Alexander called out, frowning as he stepped in front of her, blocking her way.

"Do you really have to be so petty about these little things? I only let Sophie stay here because of you," he said, frustration clear in his voice.

"When did you turn into such a bitter, heartless woman? You weren't like this before," he added, his words dripping with disappointment.

There was a hint of disappointment in Alexander's last words.

Emily jerked her hand free from Alexander, her eyes cold as she stared him down.

"Is that what you think of me, Alexander? Before you say something like that, maybe you should ask yourself. Have you ever been real with me?"

Alexander's heart skipped a beat.

In Emily's eyes, he saw exhaustion, disappointment, and a chilling indifference. He saw all those emotions swirling together, but the warmth that used to be there when she liked him was nowhere to be found.

He felt a pang of sadness and was about to say something to ease the tension when Sophie's voice rang out from the second-floor landing.

"Emmy, Alex, you two are back," Sophie called out.

She hurried down the stairs and, when she reached them, pretended to just notice the tension between them, speaking softly.

"What's going on? Emmy, are you upset because I'm staying here? If that's the case, I can move out," she said gently.

Emily turned to Sophie, catching the smug, challenging look in her eyes. But when she looked at Alexander, all she saw was concern in his gaze.

Seriously, how clueless could he be?

He couldn't even see what Sophie was really up to, even when it was so obvious.

A wave of nausea rolled through Emily. She was done with their drama and moved to brush past Alexander and get out of there.

"You can't leave."

Alexander blocked her way, locking eyes with Emily, his gaze dark and intense as he lowered his voice.

"Emmy, don't be like this. You're still not fully recovered. You need to rest properly."

Emily was about to protest when Sophie suddenly cried out behind her. Instantly, Alexander released her arm and hurried over to Sophie.

Emily tried to take advantage of the chaos and make her escape, but the bodyguards Alexander had stationed at the door stepped right in front of her, blocking her way.

"Alexander!" Emily called out.

"Alex, it's my fault. My wound hurts so bad that I don't even have an appetite. Don't worry. I'll be fine. I just need to eat something," Sophie said softly.

Their voices overlapped, but Alexander didn't even hear what Emily was saying. His full attention was on Sophie.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked her.

Emily felt a sudden bad premonition at his words, her cold eyes fixed on the two of them standing intimately close nearby.

"Emmy used to make me soup. If she'd make it for me again now, I'd feel better," Alexander said.

"Dream on."

Emily cut in before Alexander could get a word out.

"I'm not cooking for her. Unless you don't mind me spiking her soup."

She continued, "And Alexander, tell your guards to back off. I hope you and Sophie last forever. Your business is your own. But if you insist on keeping me around, don't be surprised if I make Sophie regret it."

"Emily!" Alexander snapped.

He looked clearly provoked by her words, his face darkening as he strode over to her, and his hand suddenly gripping her neck.

"Sophie has been nothing but kind to you. Her health got worse because of you. Since you're stuck at home recovering anyway, you might as well make her soup just the way she likes it."

He continued, "You only learned to cook to please me, didn't you? Now it's just for someone else. No big deal to you."

Emily clawed at Alexander's wrist, desperately trying to pull his arm away, but no matter how hard she struggled, she just couldn't break free.

The suffocating grip of near-asphyxiation made her face flush bright red, and even the pain in her ribs flared up. Despair spread through her like poison, leaving her utterly defeated.

Just when she thought she was really going to die there, Alexander finally released her. He grabbed a handkerchief nearby, wiped his hand off, then looked down at her, his voice cold as ice.

"Remember to cook for Sophie, Emmy. You wouldn't want me to have to do that again, would you?"

Emily was gasping for breath when someone crouched down in front of her, his fingers digging into her chin, forcing her to look up.

"Behave yourself. Sophie's just a guest here. You're the true mistress of this place. When she's gone, I'll make it up to you," Alexander said.

With that, Emily watched as Alexander led Sophie upstairs.

Staring at their retreating figures, Emily's lips curled into a mocking smirk, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.

The true mistress? What a joke.

If Emily were truly the mistress here, how could Sophie get away with pushing her luck just by adding one more thing related to her in this house?