Chapter 18 - Consequences of his actions

Emily's world was crumbling around her. She felt like she had been punched in the gut with her breath knocked out of her. She couldn't believe what Emilia had just told her. She thought back to all the times Alex's grandmother had encouraged her to pursue Alex, telling her that they would make a perfect couple. Emily had thought it was just innocent meddling, but now she realized it was all part of a larger plan. A plan to secure a marriage between Alex and Emily, regardless of Alex's true feelings. Emily felt like a pawn in a game, used to fulfill someone else's wishes. She looked at Emilia, who was watching her with a smug expression. "You're enjoying this, aren't you Emilia?" Emily spat with her anger and hurt boiling over. Emilia shrugged. "You should have stayed out of our way, my dear sister," Emilia said, her voice evident with malice. "Alex and I were meant to be together. You're just a temporary obstacle and i am going to get rid of you." Emily's eyes flashed with anger, but she kept her cool. She wasn't going to give Emilia the satisfaction of seeing her lose her temper. Instead, Emily turned and walked away, leaving Emilia and her cruel words behind. She knew she had to get out of there, to clear her head and figure out what to do next. She could barely eat, her mind racing with thoughts of what she had just learned. She felt a sense of numbness wash over her, but she knew she had to keep moving. She couldn't let Alex and Emilia's betrayal paralyze her. She began to get dressed, her hands moving as she put on a pair of jeans and a simple white top. She didn't bother with makeup or hair, she just wanted to get out of the house, away from Alexander and his lover. As she finished dressing, Emily pulled out her phone and dialed Justin's number. Justin. She knew she could count on him to get her out of the house without drawing attention to herself. "Justin, I need the car." Emily said, her voice firm despite how weak she felt "I'm going out." There was a pause on the other end of the line before Justin responded. "Right away, ma'am. I'll bring the car around." Emily hung up the phone and took a deep breath. She knew she had to get out of the house, to clear her head and figure out what to do next. She was determined to take control of her life, to not let Alex and Emilia's betrayal define her. Vivian’s place Emily was barely done with telling her friends what had happened before her friends reacted with a mix of shock and outrage, their gasps and exclamations filling the room. "What the hell? Are you serious right now?" Vivian shouted, her eyes wide with incredulity. Selena's face was a picture of disgust. "You mean he's been cheating on you with his step-sister? Out of all the girls in the world, he had to go and choose your own family member?" Chloe nodded smugly, an "I told you so" expression on her face. "I told you, didn't I? I told you a lot of men are scum. Even a business meeting on your honeymoon, nah it didnt feel right." Emily felt a lump form in her throat as she looked at her friends. She was grateful for their support and outrage on her behalf. "How could he do this to me?" Emily asked, her voice shaking with emotion. No matter how she tried to ignore it, her heart was hurt and the pain she felt didn’t hurt like this when her mum had passed away. Vivian got up and wrapped her arms around Emily. "We're here for you, girl. We're not going to let him get away with this." Selena nodded in agreement. "We need to come up with a plan to take him down. He can't just cheat on you and get away with it. He messed with the wrong squad." Chloe smiled sweetly. "Don't worry, we've got your back. We'll make sure he pays for what he's done." Chloe's expression turned concerned as she looked at Emily. "Have you eaten anything today? I've seen it happen to a lot of my friends who have gone through similar situations, their appetite just disappears." Emily shook her head, feeling a pang of nausea at the thought of food. "I couldn't eat," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Selena's face set in a determined expression. "You have to eat, Emily. You can't let this situation drain you physically and emotionally." Without waiting for Emily's response, Selena got up and headed into the kitchen. "I'm going to make your favorite, with chicken and waffles. You're going to eat, and you're going to feel better." Emily felt a small smile creep onto her face as she watched Selena bustling around the kitchen. Her friends were trying to take care of her, to make her feel better, and it touched her heart. Vivian sat down beside Emily and wrapped her arms around her. "We're here for you, girl. We're not going to let you go through this alone." Chloe nodded in agreement. "We'll get through this together. And we'll make sure Alex and Emilia pay for what they have done." Emily's eyes clouded with concern as she looked at her friends. "Guys, I don't know if I should tell my dad about this. He's going to be furious." Vivian's expression turned serious. "Furious is an understatement. Your dad is going to kill Alex." Chloe nodded in agreement. "Mr. Johnson was in the military, remember? He's not exactly the kind of guy you want to mess with." Selena, who was still busy in the kitchen, called out, "Yeah, and he's always been super protective of you, Emily. If he finds out what Alex has been up to..." Emily's friends trailed off, but the implication was clear. Mr. Johnson would not take the news lightly, and Alex would likely be in grave danger if he found out. Emily bit her lip, unsure of what to do. Part of her wanted to tell her dad, to let him handle Alex and make him pay for his betrayal. But another part of her was scared of what might happen, of the potential consequences of her dad's anger.