Chapter 92: Found Dead

Michael’s POV

The thought came so suddenly that I shook it off before I could give it another thought.

Just then, a hearty cackle came from Draxen. It was so irritating to my ears that I told him off on the spot.

"Don’t start."

I looked away and pulled out a chair for Emerald. "Sit."

Her eyes followed my movement. "What?"

I gave her a look. Then she walked toward the dining table and sat down. "Is this all for me?"

"Yes. And I intend to sit here and watch you eat." Then I pulled out the chair across from her and sat down. "I heated enough for both of us."

Her eyes dropped to the food, then she looked up at me. "I’m not hungry."

I ignored that statement and gestured to the food. "Eat, Emerald."

She held my gaze longer, but seeing that she had no choice as I wouldn’t budge, she picked up her fork.

For the first few minutes, the only sounds in the room came from our cutlery touching the plates.

I watched her take a few bites, then she said, "You really don’t have to keep staring at me."

"I’m making sure you eat," I replied.

"I’m eating," she said with food in her mouth while giving me a stare.

I gestured for her to continue. "You are doing well."

Her lips pressed together, but she took another bite. I almost smiled. After a few more minutes, she spoke again.

"I hate that he can still do this to me."

I felt the smile on my lips gradually close in at that statement. Emerald kept her eyes on her plate.

"I thought that part of my life was over. I thought I had left it behind me." She swallowed and placed her fork down. "But he appeared in front of me today, and suddenly, I felt like I was that little girl again."

I chose silence, allowing her to continue quietly.

"I wasn’t focused on the money or his desires. My only concern was that he might take me away."

My jaw tightened.

"I really thought he was going to take me away again," she said and tried to pick up her fork, but her fingers were trembling.

I reached across the table and took her hand. She stopped and lifted her eyes to mine.

"You’re here," I said gently. "You are safe."

Her expression shifted. The tears did not fall at once. She fought to hold them back, but she couldn’t.

I rose and went around the table. She lowered her head, perhaps to hide the tears, but I had already seen enough.

I rested my hand gently on her shoulder. When she looked up, I drew her into my arms. Then she wrapped her arms around me, and I held her tighter as the tears she had been suppressing finally broke free.

She pressed her face into my chest, her body trembling. I didn’t hurry her, simply standing there and holding her.

Draxen stayed quiet, and that told me enough.

Emerald had always carried herself like someone who could face anything. She was strong-minded, stubborn, and too proud to let most people see her vulnerable.

But she was not trying to be strong now, and I did not mind being the one she trusted enough to fall apart with.

I tightened my arms around her. "You don’t have to hold it in."

Her fingers curled into my shirt. I lowered my chin to the top of her head. When Emerald finally pulled back, she looked away at once.

"I’m sorry."

"For what?" I asked.

"I don’t know."

I stepped back just enough to see her clearly. "Don’t apologise for crying."

She nodded and wiped her face with the back of her hand. I took a napkin from the table and handed it to her.

"Thank you," she said, sitting down again.

This time, I did not return to my chair right away. I stood beside her for a few seconds before finally taking my seat. "Eat."

Emerald looked at me. I raised an eyebrow, and despite everything, a small smile touched her lips. She picked up her fork again. I watched her for a moment, then reached for mine.

By the time we started eating again, the food had gone slightly cold, but neither of us mentioned it.

Emerald reached for the dishes as soon as we finished eating. "I can help you clear these."

I caught her wrist before she could pick up her plate and she looked at me.

"Leave them," I said.

"I can at least help you take them to the kitchen," she insisted.

I shook my head. "No need."

She looked as though she wanted to argue, but I released her wrist and stood up with my plate. "Go and get some rest. I will take you back to your dorm tomorrow morning."

"All right." She reluctantly got to her feet, then thanked me. "Thank you for dinner, Michael."

I nodded. "You’re welcome."

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Emerald."

I watched her disappear toward the guest room before gathering the dishes and taking them into the kitchen.

The apartment fell quiet again.

I rinsed the plates one after another, my thoughts returning to everything that had happened earlier.

As much as I would love to deny it, I have known for some time that I was attracted to Emerald. I’m not blind.

I had enjoyed her company more than I should have. Our conversations had gradually become something I looked forward to.

I had allowed her into spaces in my life that I rarely shared with anyone, and I had spent more time with her than I could reasonably blame on her being my student or client.

Still, I had maintained a distance. Or at least, I had tried to.

Seeing her in danger had changed that.

The moment I realised she was trapped in her own vehicle with a gun pressed against her, nothing else had mattered.

The thought of losing her had frightened me. And that was the part I didn’t like.

Fear was not an emotion I allowed to control me. But Emerald had managed to place it inside me without even trying.

I finished the dishes and dried my hands with the small kitchen towel. Draxen already knew what I was trying not to acknowledge.

I could not continue pretending that keeping my distance from her was still an option.

The feeling I had for Emerald had already gone beyond simple attraction.

I could not keep Emerald at a distance anymore.

Just then, my phone began ringing, and the sound pulled me from my thoughts. I left the kitchen and walked toward the dining table where I had placed it earlier.

Xero’s name appeared on the screen. I picked up the call immediately.

"Alpha," he greeted.

There was something urgent in his voice that made me straighten, so I inquired, "What’s wrong?"

He exhaled into the phone before dropping the bomb.

"Vera Hugo was found dead at her vacation home two hours ago, and her husband is missing."