Chapter 3

I pinched the bridge of my nose, grabbed my car keys, and turned to leave. "Finlay, I have boundaries too."

Finlay hurriedly grabbed my hand, his voice growing frantic. "I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again. Please, don't leave."

I could feel my anger boiling up inside me.

No matter what, I knew Finlay could never be him.

But when he showed up with that familiar face, and I saw traces of someone else on him, my emotions just crashed over me, completely out of control.

I pulled my hand away, and his voice was choked with sobs as he pleaded, "Giovanna... don't go to Emberville, don't leave me here alone."

I let out a soft sigh, but before I could say anything, Finlay's phone started ringing.

The distinctive ringtone cut through the awkward tension, and Finlay picked up the call without a second thought, totally ignoring how heavy the atmosphere was.

"Finlay, it's pitch black here, the power's out... Someone's knocking at the door, and I'm too scared to even open it. Can you come over?" Destinee's voice was soft and a little damp.

Finlay put the call on mute, his eyelashes trembling as he looked up at me.

My eyes stayed cold and unreadable as I stared at him. "If you really want me to stay, then end her call."

Finlay pressed his lips together, his gaze dropping as if he was making a huge decision.

After about thirty seconds, he finally tapped the lit-up screen.

But it wasn't to hang up. He just took it off mute.

"Okay, I'll be there right away," he said.

His voice was gentle, giving Destinee all the reassurance she needed.

Then he hung up.

"Giovanna, Destinee's not like you. She can't protect herself. You're strong, you can handle anything on your own, but she can't. I have to go to her," he said.

With that, he turned, ducked into the bedroom, threw on some clothes, and rushed out the door.

I found it almost laughable. He just begged me not to leave him alone, but apparently it's perfectly fine for him to leave me behind.

I opened up the long-forgotten cigarette cabinet.

I stuck one between my lips, lit it, and took a deep drag. The haze clouded my eyes, blurring everything in front of me.

Out of nowhere, a voice I'd been suppressing in my mind surfaced in my ears.

'Giovanna, smoking's bad for you,' someone whispered in my head.

My eyes grew somber as I stubbed out the cigarette.

I got up, went downstairs, and hit the road straight to Emberville.

When I was in Emberville, I only handled the important things. As for the others, I just tuned out.

But Finlay just brushed off everything I said. He kept switching up his numbers, blowing up my phone with calls and messages nonstop.

He knew I'd always indulge him, letting him do whatever he wanted, so he kept pestering me, totally shameless, until I finally paid him some attention.

But this time, I stayed in Emberville for five days, and no matter how hard he bombarded me with calls and texts, I didn't even bother to answer once, until I suddenly heard his voice downstairs.

This place was way out in the suburbs of Emberville, totally off the beaten path and barely anyone around. I'd never brought him here before, and honestly, I never would.

He somehow managed to find me here, and that just pissed me off even more.

My expression was stormy, brows furrowed. The moment I saw Finlay, I snapped at him, "How the hell did you even find this place?"

Finlay didn't even answer. He just pulled me into a hug, arms wide. "Giovanna, I thought you were never going to see me again."

I shoved him off, my gaze cold as ice. "Answer my question."

Finlay's face instantly twisted with hurt. "I... I put a tracker on your car."

The moment the words left his mouth, I slammed my foot into his knee, forcing him down, then grabbed him by the throat, rage blazing in my eyes.

"Finlay, did you really think I wouldn't do anything to you? Just because I've always spoiled you, you think you can climb all over me and track my every move?" I snarled.

Finlay was gasping for breath, his pale cheeks burning red, tears streaming down as he struggled to get the words out.

"I never wanted things to end up like this, but every time you go to Emberville, it feels like I'm losing you. You never let me come here with you. What's so special about this house? Is it really more important to you than I am?" he sobbed, voice breaking.

I shoved him away, shook out my wrist, reined in my emotions, and looked down at him coldly.

With a warning edge to my voice, I said, "If you want to keep living your easy rich boy life, then stay out of things that aren't your business."

Once he'd calmed down a bit, Finlay stood up and reached for my hand, begging, "Giovanna, I'm sorry, I really messed up. Please, just forgive me, okay?"

If I stayed in Emberville, Finlay would just cling to me and refuse to leave.

There was no way I was letting him set foot in this house.

So I just left Emberville with him. Problem solved.

He played the good boy for two whole days, didn't even parade Destinee in front of me.

But when things get too quiet, you know something's up.

Sure enough, today he came to me, begging me to invest in his school, under his name, of course.