A week later,
at a luxurious hotel in France...
Emma: "Thank you for inviting me to this wonderful party."
Leonardo: "It's my pleasure. Would you care to dance with me?"
Emma: "Of course."
They danced under dim lights and romantic music that flowed through the room.
Leonardo: "You know... you look stunning in that red dress."
Emma: "You're making me blush."
Leonardo: "Emma."
Emma: "Hmm?"
Trying to lean in for a kiss, he asked, "Will you be my girlfriend?"
She pushed him away forcefully. "Are you insane?!"
Everyone at the party froze, watching the scene unfold.
Leonardo: "What's wrong with you?"
Emma: "Do you even know how old you are? You're as old as my dad—maybe even older!"
Leonardo: "Emma, please don't shout."
Emma stormed out of the party in anger and headed to a nearby beach to be alone.
Emma: "Idiot. Jerk. Who does he think he is?"
Her phone rang, interrupting her turbulent thoughts. It was Jacob.
Jacob: "Where are you? Have you lost your mind? Leonardo told me you left the party furious!"
Emma: "I'm at the beach."
Jacob: "Which beach?"
Emma: "I'll send you the location. Hold on."
As soon as she sent the location, Jacob arrived quickly, furious.
Before he could lash out, he found Emma crying in his arms.
Emma: "He tried to kiss me... he was about to force himself on me. That's why I ran away."
Jacob: "What?"
Emma: "I was so scared."
Jacob: "That bastard!"
Jacob rushed back to the hotel, determined to confront Leonardo. Emma followed him, terrified. She knew well that when Jacob was angry, no one could stop him.
Jacob spotted Leonardo, grabbed him by the collar, and started punching him.
Jacob: "You idiot! How dare you do that to my sister?!"
Emma tried to stop her brother, but failed. The media and paparazzi were capturing everything.
Emma: "Please stop, Jacob!"
Jacob: "Nothing's stopping now."
Leonardo: "I... I'm sorry."
Jacob: "Sorry? After all that? Your apology is worthless!"
With one final punch, Leonardo collapsed, bleeding. Security rushed in and broke them apart.
Jacob: "Take him to jail. I never want to see his face again."
Jacob took Emma and they returned to their mansion — after all, they were a wealthy family with mansions all over the world.
—
Edward: "What did I just see, Jacob? How could you hit him like that? Have you gone mad?"
Jacob: "He almost assaulted Emma. What was I supposed to do, Dad?!"
Edward: "What?!"
Emma (crying): "Y-yes, Dad..."
Edward (furious): "He truly is a monster. Who does he think he is?!"
— Meanwhile with Victor and Camila —
Camila: "Did you see that, Victor? He was so strong!"
Victor: "Why do you care so much?"
Camila: "I wish I could marry a man like him — strong and handsome."
Victor: "Camila..."
Camila: "What?"
Victor: "Are you out of your mind?"
Camila (laughing): "Haha! Let's sleep. We have work tomorrow."
Before sleeping, Camila whispered to herself:
Camila (thinking): "He's so handsome... so strong. If only I had married him. But what would people say? That I married him for his money? They'd never stop talking..."
—
The next evening, Emma and her family returned to Rome.
Emma: "Oh, how I missed Rome."
Jacob: "We were gone for a week."
Emma: "It felt like a month. I'm going to a birthday party. See you!"
Jacob: "Where?"
Emma: "At the restaurant where you met your girlfriend."
Jacob: "Who?"
Emma: "That girl."
Jacob: "She's not my girlfriend."
Emma: "Okay, I'm off."
Jacob: "No alcohol."
Emma: "Got it."
Jacob: "Don't stay out late."
Emma: "Got it."
—
At the party, she was greeted with warm hugs.
Leah: "I missed you so much! A week without you felt like forever!"
Zoe: "She's right."
Emma: "Well, I'm back! Wait... where's the birthday girl?"
Diana: "Here she is!"
Emma: "Wow! The place looks amazing. Is this our usual restaurant? It looks different!"
Diana: "Yes, it is."
Justin: "My love."
Diana: "Yes, my love."
Emma: "Since when?! So much happened while I was gone!"
Zoe: "Everyone's in love except you."
Emma: "Who's your boyfriend then?"
Jack: "Me."
Emma: "Really?! And you, Leah?"
Leah: "My boyfriend is..."
Liam: "Me!"
Emma (shocked): "Oh my God! Someone catch me! You all used to make fun of love and now you're in relationships?!"
Diana: "Of course!"
Emma: "Are you leaving me alone now?"
Leah: "Never. We're always here for you."
Diana: "Let's cut the cake!"
They sang, laughed, and had a great time.
Diana: "Do you want a drink, Emma?"
Emma (hesitant): "Jacob will be mad."
Diana: "It's just a party!"
Emma (giving in): "Alright then."
Diana: "Watch out!"
Emma turned to see Victor standing there.
Victor: "You?"
Emma: "You!"
Diana: "Do you know each other?"
Emma: "Not really."
Diana: "Oh, okay."
Justin: "Can I take my girlfriend now?"
Emma: "Sure, here, take her. Give me the glass."
Victor: "Here you go."
She drank the alcohol, liked the taste, and asked for more — until she became drunk.
Emma: "Wowww... everything is spinning!"
Leah: "Wait, Emma!"
Emma (slurred): "What?"
Leah: "Did you seriously drink?"
Emma: "Yes. So what?"
Leah (laughing): "All of us... hahaha!"
Emma: "Want more?"
Leah: "Why not?"
Emma noticed everyone dancing while she stood alone. She spotted Victor serving drinks and approached him.
Emma (grabbing his collar): "Dance with me."
Victor (shocked): "Excuse me?"
Emma: "I said, dance with me."
Victor: "But I'm just a waiter here."
Emma: "I don't care! Dance with me!"
Victor: "How can I dance wearing this?"
Emma: "I said I don't care! Are you in or out?"
Victor (reluctantly): "If you insist... why not?"
They danced to soft romantic music, each couple in their own world.
Emma (gazing at him): "What color are your eyes? Sometimes they look blue... sometimes green..."
Victor (startled): "What?"
Emma (smirking): "Why are you so nervous? No need to be. Do you even know who you're dancing with? Emma Edward — the girl everyone dreams of!"
Victor (nervous): "I... I... I need to go now."
He left abruptly.
Emma (confused): "What's wrong with him?"
Leah (approaching): "Who were you dancing with?"
Emma: "None of your business. Go to your boyfriend."
Leah (laughing): "Jealous?"
Emma: "Me? Jealous? Never!"
Leah: "Alright, I'm going back to him."
—
Hours passed, and the party ended. Everyone left — except Emma's closest friends and their lovers.
Leah: "Where's Emma?"
Zoe: "I haven't seen her in a while."
Diana: "No way she left without saying goodbye... I'll call her."
She tried calling Emma several times, but there was no answer.
Leah: "Maybe she went home."
Diana (worried): "I don't know... I had a feeling something was off."
They all left, unaware that Emma was sitting behind the restaurant, crying under the moonlight.
Victor, locking up, sensed someone outside. He cautiously approached and found Emma.
Victor: "E... Emma?"
She quickly wiped her tears, though her face showed the pain.
Emma (weakly): "What? Is the party over?"
Victor: "Yes, it ended a while ago. Your friends were looking for you."
Emma: "Oh... I just needed some time alone."
Victor: "Are you okay?"
Emma: "Yeah, I'm fine."
She tried to stand but couldn't. Victor helped her up.
Victor: "Are you planning to drive home like this?"
Emma (drunkenly): "Yes, of course."
Victor: "You think you can drive like this?"
She staggered to her car, and moments later — crash!
Emma: "Damn it!"
Victor ran to find her car had hit a small wall.
Victor (alarmed): "Are you okay?"
Emma: "I just need sleep..."
Victor: "I'm driving you home."
She hesitated but agreed. He got her address from her car's GPS and drove her home.
—
At the mansion, he parked carefully.
Victor: "We're here. Make sure to get some rest."
Emma (slurred): "Thanks... you're sweet."
She stumbled inside, singing and laughing loudly.
In the hallway, she ran into Jacob, holding tea.
Jacob (alarmed): "What's going on? You're still awake?"
Emma (grinning): "How can I sleep when the party isn't over?"
Jacob: "Emma... did you drink?"
Emma (cocky): "Yes. So what? Is that a problem?!"
Jacob struggled to keep calm, but seeing her like that enraged him.
Jacob (angrily): "You crossed the line tonight!"
He slapped her hard. Her cheek reddened instantly. Emma stared at him, shocked and silent, then ran to her room in tears.
Once inside, she slammed the door shut and slid down, her back against it.
Her cheek was burning...
But the real pain? It lived deep in her heart.
"Jacob... her rock, had just broken her."
-
To be continued...
-
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