Chapter 28
Amelia’s POV
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The house felt too quiet after Lewis left, even though the remains of Scarlett’s birthday still lingered everywhere. Balloons sagged half–deflated against the porch railing, paper cups and plates sat abandoned on the grass, and the faint smell of frosting still clung to the air.
Scarlett was inside with Leyla, laughing over her new toys, but all I could feel was the tightness in my chest. Lewis’s words kept replaying.
Oh God of all the times for her to run towards me, why on earth did it have to be at that damn moment?
I had begged him not to tell, and for a moment, I’d believed him when his eyes softened and he gave a small nod. But Lewis was loyal to Edmund. How long could he possibly keep a secret this big?
I rubbed my arms, shivering even though the evening air was warm. The thought of Edmund finding out, not from me, but from someone else, twisted my stomach until I felt sick.
“Hey,” Leyla’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts. She stepped outside with a garbage bag in one hand, raising her brows as soon as she saw my face. “Wow. You look like the cake just tried to murder you. What’s wrong?”
I forced a smile that felt brittle. “Nothing. Just tired.”
Leyla dropped the bag by the bin and crossed her arms. “Don’t give me that. I’ve known you for too long. Something’s eating you alive. Spill.”
I bit down on my lip, hesitating. She’d see right through me if I tried to deflect again. So I sank into one of the chairs on the porch, pressing my palms together to steady myself.
“Lewis came by,” I admitted.
Her brows shot up. “Lewis? As in Edmund’s right–hand man Lewis? What the hell did he want?”
I exhaled shakily. “He saw Scarlett.”
Leyla froze. “Oh.”
“Yeah. Oh.” I buried my face in my hands for a moment before looking at her again. “He asked questions. Too many questions. And then he saw the birthmark.”
Leyla dropped into the chair beside me, her expression softening. “And?”
“I begged him not to tell Edmund.” My voice cracked at the end, and I hated how fragile I sounded.
“Do you think he will?” she asked gently.
I shook my head, though uncertainty clung to me like a second skin. “He said nothing, but the way he looked at me… I don’t know. I don’t trust it. He is very loyal to Edmund.”
20:38 Wed, Jan 28
Chapter 28
:
73
55 vouchers
Leyla reached for my hand, squeezing it. “Amelia, listen. I know you’re scared, but Lewis doesn’t strike me as reckless. If he promised, even silently, there’s a good chance he won’t break that right away. But the bigger issue isn’t Lewis, is it? It’s Edmund.”
I swallowed hard. “If he finds out…”
“What? What’s the worst that could happen?” she pressed. “I mean come on Amelia, don’t you think it’s time to let him know? I mean, the girl is six years old.”
“He will hate me,” I whispered, my throat tight. “He will think I stole all those years he would’ve spent with her from him. And maybe he might even try to take Scarlett away from me. He has the money, the power… everything. I’m just me.”
“Amelia-”
“And then again, I don’t want to be the reason his marriage falls apart.” The words rushed out of me before I could stop them.
Leyla frowned. “His marriage is already falling apart. You said it yourself he doesn’t even love Vikki anymore.”
“But I don’t know that. And even if I did, that doesn’t matter. She was his first love, Leyla. The one he fought for, the one he chose. I was just” my voice broke,” the lady he had a contract marriage with- a business deal. And I knew it. I knew I never stood a chance against her.”
Leyla’s grip on my hand tightened. “Don’t you dare say that, because you and I know that it was way more than that. Scarlett is not a mistake, and neither was all the time you both spent and shared together.”
Tears burned the corners of my eyes. “But if he finds out, what if everything falls apart? What if he blames me? What if…”
“What if,” she cut in firmly, “he loves you more than you realize?”
I shook my head, frustrated. “That’s not possible. He loved Vikki for years, she was, or rather, she is his first love. I don’t want to be the one to destroy that. I don’t want Scarlett to grow up in the middle of that mess.”
Leyla sighed, leaning back in her chair. “Amelia, you’re carrying all this guilt, all these fears, but you’re forgetting one thing. Secrets have a way of coming out. And when they do, it’s always worse if you weren’t the one to tell them.”
Her words hit me like a blow.
She continued, gentler now. “You should be the one to tell him, not Lewis, not anyone else. If Edmund hears it from you, at least he’ll know the truth from your lips. If he finds out from someone else…” she trailed off, shaking her head, “it’ll feel like betrayal. He’ll be angry. And trust me, he’ll have every right to be.”
“I know,” I admitted softly. “I know you’re right. I just… I don’t know how to do it. How do I even start that conversation? Oh, by the way, Edmund, you have a daughter you never knew about.“_
Leyla gave a sad smile, chuckling lightly. “Maybe not exactly like that.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Yeah, thanks.”
20:38 Wed, Jan 28
Chapter 28
:
73
55 vouchers
Silence stretched between us, broken only by the faint sound of Scarlett’s laughter drifting through the open
window.
“Amelia,” Leyla said finally, her voice softer now, “you’re stronger than you think. You’ve carried this alone for years.”
“Well I had help from you and mum,” I countered.”
she chuckled. “True. But you took most of the blow. But the truth is, you don’t have to anymore. Maybe it’s time to let him in. Even if it’s terrifying.”
I stared at her, my chest aching with the weight of everything I wanted to say but couldn’t. She was right. She was always right. But the fear still clung to me like a shadow I couldn’t shake.
“I’ll think about it,” I whispered.
Leyla squeezed my hand again. “That’s all I ask.”
Just then, my phone vibrated on the table. The sound was jarring in the quiet night. My stomach dropped when I saw the name on the screen.
_Edmund_.
My heart slammed against my ribs. My throat went dry.
Leyla’s eyes widened as she glanced at the phone, then back at me. “Do you think-?”
“I don’t know,” I whispered, staring at the glowing screen. “God, did Lewis…?”
The phone buzzed again, insistently.
I forced myself to pick it up, but my hands trembled so badly I nearly dropped it, contemplating if it was wise to pick the call or just let it go to voicemail.
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AD
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Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
