Emerald’s POV
I drew in a slow breath and tried to begin. "I...I..."
I struggled to force the words past my lips, but they seemed trapped. Before I could try again, Laura cut in.
"Wait!" she said. "No serious conversations over the phone. Whatever it is, tell us when we see you."
"When you see me?" I repeated, a faint frown crossing my face.
"Yes," Claire said at once. "We’ve decided to come see you this Friday."
My frown eased. "Really?"
"Yes," she replied gently. "We’ll pick you up," Laura added with confidence. "You won’t even have to drive."
"Pick me up?" I repeated, unable to hide my confusion.
"Mm-hmm. We’re going to the club."
My brows drew together. "A club?"
Claire seemed to catch my hesitation. "Not just any club," she explained. "The one we go to sometimes. You know how strict they are about membership."
Before I could answer, Laura cut in. "No one there will point fingers or harass you. Half of them don’t even care about celebrity gossip."
I looked out at the garden below. The truth was, I wasn’t afraid of going out. I was afraid of being recognized—afraid of seeing the same disgust I’d seen on hundreds of faces that night.
As if she could read my mind, Claire spoke again. "You can’t hide forever, Mera."
I briefly closed my eyes. She was right.
"We’ll only be out for a little while," she said softly. "No pressure. We just want to see you."
Laura quickly added, "And if anyone dares say anything to you, they’ll have to deal with me first."
A small laugh slipped out of me. "You’re something else."
"I’ve heard that before."
My smile lingered before I let out a quiet sigh. "...Alright."
Laura cheered so loudly I had to pull the phone from my ear.
Claire laughed. "We’ll pick you up Friday evening."
"Okay."
"And no disappearing before then."
"I won’t."
We talked for a little while longer before finally ending the call.
I lowered the phone and stared at the dark screen. The heaviness in my chest had not vanished, but it felt a little easier to breathe.
After slipping the phone back into my purse, I walked slowly toward my room.
Friday.
For reasons I could not explain, I had a feeling that agreeing to go out that night would change something.
I just did not know whether it would be for better... or for worse.
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Two Days Later...
"What?" Laura nearly dropped the wine glass in her hand as she stared at me in disbelief. "For real?"
I couldn’t help smiling at her expression. "Yes."
Claire leaned forward, studying my face as though she expected me to laugh and admit I was joking. When I didn’t, she frowned slightly.
"Wait... you’re serious? You’re really leaving?"
I nodded. "My grandfather has already arranged everything."
Silence settled over the private lounge.
Even Laura, who rarely stayed quiet for more than a few seconds, simply stared at me before reaching for her wine and emptying the glass in one long gulp.
"You’re leaving tomorrow morning?" Claire asked again, as though she still couldn’t quite believe it.
"Yes."
"So... you’re really going to Boston for your MBA?"
"I am."
"And this was all your grandfather’s decision?"
"It was."
Neither of them looked convinced, and I understood why.
Grandfather had always been the kind of man who made decisions without asking for anyone’s opinion. Once he had spoken, everyone else simply adjusted their lives around his wishes.
Laura slowly shook her head before pouring herself another glass of wine. "Damn..."
That was already her third glass. Normally, I would have stopped her, but before I had the chance, Claire spoke again.
"How did this even happen?"
I lifted my own glass and took a small sip before answering. "My grandfather called me to D.C after everything that happened on Saturday. By the time I left his study, my future had already been decided."
Claire sighed and leaned back against the sofa. "I’m going to miss you."
Laura immediately pointed at her. "Exactly! That’s what I’ve been trying to process." Then she looked at me dramatically. "I’m going to miss you too."
A small laugh escaped me. "I haven’t even left yet."
"That’s not the point." Laura folded her arms across her chest. "The point is you’re abandoning us."
Claire rolled her eyes. "Listen to yourself."
"I’m heartbroken."
"No, you’re being dramatic."
"I can be both."
Another laugh slipped from my lips. The tightness in my chest eased off a bit.
The private lounge was peaceful, tucked away from the rest of the club. Soft music drifted faintly through the walls while warm lights cast a comfortable glow across the room.
No one was staring at me. No one was whispering. No one was secretly recording me on their phones.
For the first time since Saturday night, I finally felt like I could breathe properly again.
Claire picked up her drink again before asking, "What about Kelvin and Maya? Have your family’s lawyers done anything yet?"
I nodded. "They’re handling everything."
Laura leaned forward immediately. "But what about you?" she pressed. "Aren’t you angry enough to want revenge yourself?"
I lowered my gaze to the wine in my glass before answering quietly. "I am angry." The words came out softer than I expected. "But I don’t think acting out of anger will solve anything."
Laura clicked her tongue. "If it were me, I’d make sure both of them regretted every second of what they did."
"I know you would."
"I’m serious."
"So am I."
Claire rested her glass on the table and smiled gently at me. "I actually admire the way you’re handling this," she said. "It takes a lot of grace not to fight fire with fire."
A faint smile appeared on my lips. "I don’t know if it’s grace."
"No?"
I shook my head slowly. "I just don’t want to become like them."
Claire’s smile softened, however, Laura looked completely unconvinced. "I still think Maya deserves a slap."
"Laura..."
"What? She does."
Claire sighed helplessly. Before either of us could reply, Laura poured herself another drink.
My brows pulled together. That was her fifth glass.
She lifted it toward me, then emptied it in one swallow. "And Kelvin..." she muttered bitterly. "That idiot has no idea what he threw away."
She set the empty glass down with a soft thud. "For all we know, they could’ve been sneaking around behind your back for years."
Her words hit me like a blow. Without warning, unwanted images flooded my mind.
Kelvin and Maya laughing behind my back while I remained completely unaware.
Nausea surged through me so suddenly that my stomach twisted. The wine I had been drinking moments earlier turned unbearably sour on my tongue.
I quickly set my glass on the table.
Claire noticed at once. "Mera?"
I swallowed hard, trying to force the nausea down, but it only worsened.
"I’m..." The words caught in my throat.
I shot to my feet so abruptly that Claire and Laura both looked up in alarm.
"Are you okay?" Claire asked.
I covered my mouth and shook my head. "I... I need the washroom."
Laura stood at once. "I’ll come with—"
She barely took a step before swaying dangerously. Claire caught her by the arm.
"I’ve got you," she said with a helpless laugh.
Laura frowned. "I’m perfectly fine."
"No," Claire said dryly. "You’re perfectly drunk."
Despite the nausea, a weak smile tugged at my lips. "I’ll be back."
Claire watched me with concern. "Be careful."
I nodded once and hurried out of the private lounge. As soon as the door shut behind me, I picked up my pace.
Each step sent another wave of nausea through me.
I pressed my hand tighter over my mouth and rushed toward the washrooms. Just a little farther...
I rounded the corner too fast and slammed into someone. The impact nearly knocked me back, but a firm hand caught my arm and steadied me.
"I’m so sorr—"
The apology died on my tongue. My gaze dropped first, landing on a pair of polished Tom Ford shoes.
Slowly, I looked higher. Tailored black trousers. A perfectly fitted charcoal suit.
For one confused second, only one thought crossed my mind. Who wears a business suit to a club?
Then I saw his face, and my heart nearly stopped. Michael King. Horror widened my eyes.
Oh no...
The nausea I had been fighting surged up with terrifying force.
I turned my head away on instinct, but it was already too late.