Talia capped her lipstick and turned toward her. “For a mistress, you’re really brave.” She took you’re nothing without Samuel.”

“To be honest, I never thought that you would know Mr. Be too,” Talia said as she adjusted her lipstick in front of the mirror. “I mean… I knew you and Samuel used to be close, so I never expected you to be close with his rival as well.”

Emery leaned against the sink, arms crossed. “Why am I not surprised you followed me in here?” Earlier, James didn’t let Talia and Samuel join them, telling her that he had something private to discuss with her. While Talia and Samuel moved to a different table, Talia had been ring at her ever since.

She wasn’t surprised that the woman followed her to the restroom the moment she left to retouch her makeup.

2

step forward. “Surprising, considering

Emery tilted her head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Talia stepped back, then reached for the lock. The click echoed in the tiled restroom. “If I tell my fans that you’ve been trying to seduce my fiancé, do you think they’ll care what your story is?” She turned to face her again. “Let’s be honest. One post, one headline, and your name is done. Nopany will want to deal with the scandal.”

Emery gave a short smile. “Samuel and I were college ssmates. That’s it. We’re not even close.”

“Stop lying,” Talia snapped, stepping closer. “I know you’re his mistress. I know he’s been hiding you in one of his houses like some dirty little secret.” Her finger pointed at Emery’s chest. “But that stops now.”

Emery’s smile didn’t fade. “I didn’t know the great Talia Arden was like this in private. Are you sure no one’s recording this?” She paused. “And you say all that like we’ve met before. But I’m pretty sure this is the first time. So why do you talk like you know me so well? Are you stalking me… Miss Arden?”

Talia’s hand flew up, aiming for her faceb. /b

But Emery caught her wrist mid–swing. Her grip was firm, her hand tight around Talia’s arm.

Talia let out a sharp breath as her body tensed. “Let go.”

Emery didn’t move. “Try that again,” she said. “See what happens.”

“bI /bsaid let go!”

“Did you really think I would let you do whatever you want, Miss Arden?b” /b

“You-”

Emery stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Talia instinctively moved back, her spine brushing against the restroom wall.

“I was with him for five years,” Emery said. “And I have proof. Photos. Videos. Messages. Everything.”

Talia’s eyes widened. She didn’t speak.

Emery let out a quietugh. “But you.” Her gaze dropped pointedly to Talia’s stomach. “You’re pregnant.”

She paused just long enough for the words to settle before looking her straight in the eye.

“So tell me, Miss Arden–what do you think your fans will say when they find out you were sleeping with my boyfriend while bwe /bwere still together?”

Talia’s face lost its color. She didn’t bsay /bba /bword.

Einery took a slow step back, her eyes never leaving hers. “I bwas /bwith him bfor /bfive danm years, Miss Arden”

Her voice didn’t shake. Her shoulders didn’t drop

b“/bI bwas /bpped. Humiliated. Dragged through bevery /bkind of insult has family could throw at me. bAnd /bI took it. I took it bbecause /bI thought if I endured enough, they’d finally bsee /bme as enough.”

She let out a short breath, then straightened. “But don’t mistake that for weakness.”

12:34 AM P p.

She pointed to herself. “I’m not some pushover you can corner in a bathroom and scare into silence.”

Then her hand dropped, and her voice lowered. “You can have Samuel. All of him. Everyst piece. He’s yours.”

She stepped back again, calm and steady.

“There’s no world where I’d ever want him back.” She paused at the door, eyes cold. “That will never happen.”

Emery stepped out of the restroom, exhaling slowly as she pulled out her phone. One nce at the screen made her frown.

James had left. He’d sent a short message–Meeting came up. Call meter.

M

Til

w

Th

She muttered under her breath. “Useless. He knew Samuel was here and still couldn’t wait five minutesb./bb” /b

She shoved the phone back into her purse and shook her head. This was exactly why she stopped using the Be name in the first

forever.

ce. Less baggage. Fewer questions. If only she could keep it that way

Another sigh escaped her as she walked toward the restaurant’s exit. In a few weeks, she would know if she’s pregnant, and that should change things.

But before she could step outside, a hand grabbed her arm. She stumbled slightly, caught off guard, but the grip steadied her before she could fall.

She looked up.

Samuel.

Her expression hardened immediately.

“What’s your rtionship with James Be?” Samuel asked, ignoring the look she gave him.

From a few feet behind, Talia stood still, eyes locked on Samuel. She didn’t speak, but Emery could feel the tension from her stare.

Emery pulled her arm back. “That’s none of your businessb./bb” /b

“You are my businessb,/b” Samuel said.

Emery scoffed. “Mr. Dwight, I don’t bsee /bhow that’s possible. You’re about to marry someone elseb./bb” /b

“Stop it,” he snapped. “Whatever this is, stop it. It’s making me angry, and you know how I am when I’m angry.”

Emery tilted her head, a smile creeping up her lips. Of course, she knows how he is when he’s angry. She knew very well what this man is capable of. “Then maybe you should focus on your wedding instead of sticking your nose in other people’s lives.”

Samuel stepped closer. “Stop ying games. Go bback /bto the apartment. We’ll talk there. Like adults.”

“That’s not possible,” Emery said tly.

“Why not?” he demanded.

Emery’s eyes shifted past him. “Because I’m already with someone else.”

Samuel’s head turned.

And there bhe /bwas..

The same man who had punched him the day before, walking inside the restaurant–calm band /bposed, hands in his pockets

Without hesitation, Emery moved. bShe /bwalked straight toward him and bslipped /bbher /bbarm /baround his like it belonged there. Then she looked up and met his beautiful brown eyes bthat /balmost looked blike /bgems.

“Isn’t that right, honey?b” /bbshe /basked