Chapter 42: Running into Vera Hugo

Emerald’s POV

The moment I stepped out of the arrival hall at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, I spotted a familiar face waiting patiently near the pick-up area.

"Miss Emerald."

The Hugo family’s chauffeur gave a respectful nod before taking the small suitcase from my hand.

"Good morning."

"Good morning."

I followed him towards the waiting car.

It felt strange returning to Washington after spending the past month in Boston. Everything looked familiar, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that I no longer belonged here.

The drive to the Hugo estate passed quietly.

By the time the gates opened and the car rolled inside, I had already gone over the conversation I intended to have with Grandfather several times in my head.

None of those rehearsals made me feel any less nervous.

The chauffeur stopped in front of the main entrance before stepping out to open my door. "Mr. Hugo is expecting you."

I thanked him before making my way inside.

I had barely crossed the foyer when voices drifted down from the staircase.

"...Why wouldn’t he come to my wedding?"

I looked up naturally and saw Vera descending the staircase with her father, Uncle Dante, beside her.

Tomorrow was her wedding day, yet there wasn’t the slightest excitement on her face.

She looked annoyed. No... Upset.

I blinked once. I hadn’t expected to run into her here.

Since the wedding was taking place in Los Angeles tomorrow, I assumed she would already be there making final preparations.

Apparently not.

"...Dad, I still don’t understand."

"I’ve already spoken to him." Uncle Dante sounded patient. "Your grandfather has made his decision."

Vera pressed her lips together. "I wanted him there."

I frowned slightly. Grandfather isn’t attending his own granddaughter’s wedding?

Before I could think any further, Vera looked up, and our eyes met.

The irritation on her face disappeared almost instantly, replaced by the familiar expression I had grown up seeing whenever she looked at me.

Disdain.

I quietly drew in a breath before shifting my attention to Uncle Dante. "Good morning, Uncle."

"Emerald." He smiled warmly. "I didn’t know you were coming."

"I came to see Grandfather," I explained.

"I see." He nodded, then shifted his gaze to Vera, and back to me. "I will leave you, girls, to yourselves."

With that, he continued downstairs.

"Dad," Vera called after him. "I haven’t seen my dear cousin in months. I should greet her properly, so I will take a little time."

Uncle Dante merely smiled before walking away.

Silence settled between us, lasting barely five seconds before I broke it. I offered the courtesy first. "Congratulations on your wedding."

Vera gave a short scoff. Her eyes travelled slowly from my shoes to my face before settling there. "Too bad you can’t relate." Then she smiled to herself.

"You really do have terrible luck. I suppose that’s what happens when a man decides another woman is worth marrying instead."

She tilted her head slightly. "Tell me... have you recovered from being dumped publicly?"

I stayed silent, deliberately refusing to utter a word at this point.

"I almost forgot." Vera clicked her tongue. "You didn’t just lose your fiancé; you lost your company too. What an impressive achievement."

Still, I said nothing.

Vera seemed disappointed by my lack of reaction. "I heard you’ve gone back to school." She laughed lightly "What exactly are you studying? How to lose another company or give it out?" ℯℯ𝘭.

I met her eyes calmly as she folded her arms. "Honestly, Emerald, I’ve never understood why you try so hard. You will always be chasing after people who are already ahead of you."

She looked at me as though examining something beneath her. "You should learn your place."

Just then, she paused, angling her head as if thinking for a second before saying, "Your wonderful best friend is the woman who snatched your boyfriend, right?"

I suffered a pang in my heart as something shifted in my gaze. But my lips remained sealed.

"I suppose I should thank Maya. She saved Kelvin from making the biggest mistake of his life."

For the first time since she began speaking, I felt my fingers grip the handle of my handbag more tightly.

It wasn’t just that her words hurt, but that she had spoken so confidently about something she clearly knew nothing about.

She noticed the faint shift, and a content smile spread across her face. "There you are. I was beginning to think you no longer had any feelings." She took one step closer. "Since you’re here, let me give you one piece of advice."

Her voice lowered. "Remember who you are." Her gaze swept over me once more. "You’re only half a Hugo. So at least try to look the part."

I kept my expression unchanged as she gave another quiet laugh.

"And tomorrow..." She lifted a finger between us. "Tomorrow is my wedding. "I don’t want to wake up on Sunday or Monday and find your face all over the headlines because you’ve somehow managed to drag another scandal into this family, and ruin my moment."

"If that happens..." Her smile disappeared. "I’ll hunt you down myself." She held my gaze for another second before adding, "So be on your best behaviour."

Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and walked away. I watched her leave before quietly releasing the breath.

Some people never changed.

Mentally, I rolled my eyes. Then I adjusted the strap of my handbag and headed towards the staircase.

A familiar figure appeared from the corridor ahead. Mrs. Walters. She smiled kindly when she saw me.

"Miss Emerald. It’s nice to see you again."

"You too, Mrs. Walters."

She looked at me with gentle eyes. "Mr. Hugo has been waiting for you."

My heartbeat slowed for a moment before picking up again.

"He’s in the living room sit-out. I will take you there," she said to me.

"Thank you." I followed beside her in silence.

With every step we took, the confidence I had tried to gather during the flight slowly gave way to tension.

Grandfather was waiting. And in a few moments, I would have to ask him for something I had never imagined asking before.