Chapter 197.

Lucy gave a small laugh. "That’s usually how your holidays go."

"I know." Emilia laughed. "But this one was different."

Lucy studied her. "How?"

Emilia’s eyes brightened. She shrugged excitedly. "I stopped trying to control everything."

She paused. "I just let things happen."

Lucy smiled faintly. "And?"

"And it was amazing."

Emilia’s expression softened. "I think this holiday could honestly be the best one I’ve ever had."

Lucy stared at her. There was something almost painful in her eyes.

Emilia noticed. Her smile faded slightly. "Lucy?"

Lucy looked down at her hands. "Can I tell you something?"

"Of course."

Lucy swallowed. Her fingers tightened together. "I need to tell you something, Emilia."

The change in her voice made Emilia’s heart skip.

She sat up straighter. "Did something happen to you?"

Lucy shook her head. "No."

"Then what?"

Lucy’s eyes watered. She looked at Emilia. "I’m sorry." She sniffed.

Emilia’s stomach dropped. "For what?"

Lucy took a shaky breath. "The pictures." She said softly, still holding Emilia’s eyes.

Emilia froze. "What pictures?"

"The pictures of you and Mr. Ashford."

Emilia stared at her in shock. Her brain went down. She couldn’t process what Lucy just said.

Lucy wiped beneath one eye. "The secret photos."

Emilia’s face went still.

Lucy swallowed. "I released them to the board."

For a moment, Emilia couldn’t speak.

Everything inside her seemed to stop. The classroom around them suddenly felt very far away.

She could only hear Lucy’s words.

’I released them to the board.’

"You..." Emilia’s voice barely came out.

Lucy nodded. "I did."

"Why?"

"I thought I was protecting you."

Emilia stared at her.

Lucy quickly continued. "I know how it looks. I know it was wrong. I know I should have told you first."

Her voice cracked. "But I genuinely thought Mr. Ashford was manipulating you."

Emilia said nothing.

Lucy wiped another tear.

"You were more likely to lose a lot after getting involved with him. You were taking risks. You were putting your scholarship in danger."

"I loved him."

"I suspected." Lucy looked down. "But I didn’t understand it."

Emilia’s chest tightened.

Lucy continued.

"I thought he was using you. I thought he knew exactly what he was doing and you were too emotionally involved to see it."

She shook her head. "I saw those pictures and I panicked."

Emilia’s jaw tightened. "You could have come to me." Her voice hardened.

"I’m sorry."

"You could have asked me." Emilia shook her head at her. "You could have trusted me enough to tell me what you were thinking."

Lucy looked up at her. "I was scared."

Emilia’s eyes softened slightly.

Lucy whispered, "I was scared I was going to watch my friend get destroyed."

The words landed differently.

Emilia looked at her.

Lucy wasn’t defending herself.

She wasn’t blaming Emilia. She wasn’t pretending what she’d done was right. She was simply telling the truth.

"I thought..." Lucy swallowed.

"I thought if the board knew, they would investigate him. I thought they would separate you from him before he could hurt you."

Emilia closed her eyes for a moment.

The memories came rushing back.

She remembered the board, the photographs, Adrian calling her naive, and the way she’d felt like the entire world had suddenly turned against her.

She had blamed everyone involved with those photos. And now Lucy was sitting in front of her admitting she had been one of them.

When Emilia opened her eyes again, Lucy was crying silently.

"I’m sorry."

Emilia looked at her. "You hurt me."

Lucy nodded.

"You didn’t just put Adrian in trouble."

"I know."

"You put me in trouble too." The edge of her eyes sharpened. "You made a decision about my life without asking me."

Lucy nodded softly. "I’m sorry, Emilia." She apologised shakingly. "I haven’t been at peace with myself. And I couldn’t tell you through the phone."

Emilia stared at her. After a few seconds, she sighed. "You really thought you were protecting me?"

Lucy nodded.

"Yes."

"Even though you didn’t trust me to know what I was doing?"

"I was wrong."

Emilia looked down. For a few seconds, she didn’t say anything.

Then she remembered something.

Lucy had always been there.

Not perfectly, but she was the girl who had shared notes with her. The girl who had saved her a seat. The girl who had listened to her complain about assignments.

Lucy had made a terrible decision.

But Emilia could see the fear behind it.

Emilia reached for her hand.

Lucy looked up in surprise.

"I’m still angry."

Lucy’s lips trembled.

"And what you did wasn’t okay."

"I’m sorry."

"But..." Emilia squeezed her hand. "I don’t want this to be the end of our friendship."

Lucy looked at her through tears. "Does that mean you forgive me?"

Emilia hesitated. "It means I’m willing to."

Lucy’s eyes widened. "Emilia..."

"I’m not saying it didn’t hurt." Emilia held her gaze. "And I’m not saying you were right. I’m saying I understand why you did it."

Lucy’s tears finally fell. "You do?"

Emilia nodded.

"I can understand being scared for someone you love." She smiled sadly. "You thought you were saving me."

Lucy nodded.

Emilia drew in a soft breath. "You just went about it the wrong way."

"I was so stupid."

Emilia pulled her into a hug.

Lucy broke down against her shoulder. "I’m so sorry."

Emilia closed her eyes and held her. "It’s okay."

"I’m really sorry."

"I know."

"I should have told you." Lucy whimpered. "I should have trusted you."

"Yes."

"I’m sorry."

Emilia smiled faintly. "I heard you the first three times."

Lucy laughed through her tears. "I’m still sorry."

"I know."

They stayed like that for a while.

Eventually Lucy pulled away.

Her eyes were red.

Emilia reached into her bag and handed her a tissue. "Here."

Lucy took it. "Thank you."

Emilia watched her wipe her face. Then she smiled.

"You know..."

Lucy looked at her.

"I was wondering why you weren’t answering my messages."

Lucy looked guilty.

"I didn’t know how to face you."

"Well, now you know. You can face me."

Lucy smiled weakly. "Even after everything?"

Emilia nodded. "Even after everything."

Lucy looked at her for several seconds, then she smiled.

The professor entered the classroom.

The room gradually quieted.

Emilia opened her notebook.

Lucy leaned toward her. "So..."

Emilia glanced at her. "Hmm?"

"You’re really happy with Mr. Ashford?"

A smile slowly spread across Emilia’s face. "Very."

Lucy smiled.

Emilia looked at her. "And Lucy?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you for telling me."

Lucy nodded. "I should have done it sooner."

"You should have."

They both smiled. The professor began speaking.

Emilia looked toward the board.

"Tell me everything. Can I listen, please?"

Emilia smiled softly with her eyes still on the board. "Let’s get through this class first."