Chapter 196

On the other side. Emma had just wrapped up everything at work. With nothing left to keep her occupied, that familiar restlessness crept back in. She didn't feel like going home—Leo and Matthew Grace weren't around anyway—so she decided she needed a break. "Lucy, I'm not coming home tonight." "Are you working late? Or is something else going on?" Lucy asked, clearly worried. She always fussed over Emma like a mom, afraid she'd overwork herself again. "No, nothing like that. I'm heading to a friend's place. Something happened and I want to check in on her." Hearing that, Lucy finally relaxed, nagged her gently a few more times, then hung up. Once again, Emma wasn't telling the truth. It wasn't her friend who had a problem—it was her. And she hated lying. But when it came to Ethan, she'd already lost count of how many times she bent her own rules. Emma pulled over, got out of the car, and headed upstairs. "Ding-dong... ding-dong—" she stood at the door for what felt like forever, but no