Chapter 9: Breaking Point
1271 Words
Emily looked at the picture of Ethan on her phone, her heart pounding. The weight of the threat made her hands tremble. They were not only after her. They were keeping an eye on him as well. She needed to act quickly.
She dialed Ethan's number, and her breath caught in her throat as the phone rang. At last, his cool voice answered, and it was like a lifeline, freeing her from the crushing hold of fear.
"Ethan," she uttered, straining to maintain a steady tone. "Are you at home?"
"Yeah, I just came back. Why? Is everything okay? You sound off.
She paused for a moment, glancing back at the photograph. Should she let him know? Would that put him in greater danger? But if she kept it to herself, she would be playing into their hands. She could no longer hide this from him.
"No, everything's not okay," she confessed, her voice faltering. "They are now watching you."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line. Then Ethan's voice came through, firm but concerned. "What exactly do you mean by watching me? Emily, what is going on?
"A picture of you standing outside your apartment was sent to me. They are using you to get to me."
Ethan muttered a curse. Emily, this is serious. Who is really behind all of this?
"I am not sure," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I believe it is my family—or someone related to them. They will do whatever it takes to ensure that I marry Liam.”
"I am coming over," Ethan announced, his tone leaving no room for argument. "We should figure this out together."
"Be careful," Emily warned, her heart racing at the thought of him walking into danger. "If they are watching you—"
Ethan cut in, his voice softening, "I will be fine." "Stop worrying. I will see you shortly."
Emily sat back, her thoughts racing as she hung up the phone. Her life was out of control, and Ethan was now caught in the crossfire. She could not let them control her. But since they had all the cards, how was she supposed to fight back?
She was startled by a knock on the door and tensed in reflexive response. Is it Ethan already. She dashed across the room to check the peephole.
She was relieved to see Henry White, the Parker Empire's trusted manager. But his unexpected appearance at her apartment was strange. Why would he come here, especially now?
Emily took a deep breath and opened the door. "Henry, why are you here?"
Henry smiled politely, maintaining his usual calm and collected demeanor. "I apologize for the late hour, Miss Parker, but we need to talk about some urgent business."
Right now? Emily asked, raising an eyebrow. "Henry, it is late."
Henry nodded and went inside when she motioned for him to. "I understand," Henry answered. "But, with the Starlight project nearing completion, I wanted to make sure everything was in order."
Emily tried to ignore the nagging feeling that something was not right as she closed the door behind him. "Why is this so urgent?"
Henry sat down on the sofa with his hands pressed together. "Miss Parker, there have been some alarming rumors. rumors concerning your recent decisions on a personal and professional level. You are under a lot of pressure, and I worry that some of the choices you have been making might endanger the reputation of the company.
Emily frowned as she sat opposite him. "Which rumors are you referring to?"
Henry lowered his voice and leaned forward a little. "It is no secret that your family expects you to work with Liam for the good of the company. Are not you aware of what will happen if you say no?
Emily felt her pulse quicken. How much did Henry actually know? Was he also involved? "If that is what you are trying to say, I am not marrying Liam."
Although Henry's expression remained unchanged, his tone changed. "There are factors at work here, Miss Parker, that go beyond family. Investors and the board are all watching. One wrong move now, and everything could be lost."
Emily's eyes narrowed. "Are you attempting to convey to me that my private life has become a business matter? Because I will not accept that."
Henry gave her a thoughtful look. I am just pointing out that some choices may have unforeseen repercussions. I am here to support you in navigating those waters and to make sure your leadership is maintained.
Emily felt her skin tingle. Though Henry was usually very careful with his words, it was obvious what he was getting at. Like Jade, he had come to warn her rather than to console her. Her family was not the only source of danger; they also existed within the business empire she had worked so hard to safeguard.
Emily was about to reply when there was another knock on the door. Her heart skipped a beat—it had to be Ethan this time. She dashed toward the door, but her phone vibrated in her pocket before she could open it.
"He is not coming. We made sure of that."
An icy shiver ran down her spine upon receiving the message. Fear gripped her heart as she fumbled with the lock, forcing the door open. But Ethan was not there. Only the silence of the night greeted her.
Her phone vibrated again, this time displaying a picture, and panic broke over her. Ethan's car was smashed against a streetlight, its windows shattered.
"Are you still confident that you can protect him?"
Emily exclaimed, her knees buckling. She put her hand to her mouth to stop the scream from coming out of her. Tears filled her eyes and the photo became blurry. Ethan. Her thoughts raced, desperate to figure out what had happened.
"Miss Parker?" Her panic was broken by Henry's voice, which brought her back to reality.
"What is going on?"With trembling hands, Emily showed him the picture on her phone. "Ethan...something has happened to him."
Henry studied the picture, his expression unnervingly neutral. "This is exactly what I was warning you about, Miss Parker. "It is dangerous to align with someone outside the family."
Emily's grief was quickly replaced by a blazing fury. She clenched her fists, anger trembling through her voice. "You knew, right? You are part of this."
Henry's eyes shone with a cool, calculated detachment. "I have warned you, Emily. There are consequences for disobeying the family. Ethan is nothing more than collateral damage. This is bigger than you, and you have to realize that. The legacy is important."
Emily felt her blood boil. With all her strength, she stormed toward him, trying not to lash out. “Get out. Leave my apartment now."
Henry stood up, his expression expressionless and calm. "Miss Parker, I will give you some time to consider what to do next. Do not wait too long, though. The clock is ticking."
Emily fell to the ground as Henry walked away, her heart pounding as she gazed at her phone. She had no idea the stakes were so high, and now Ethan was paying the price.But she would not let them win. She was determined to fight back at all costs. For Ethan. For herself.
As Emily sat in her dimly lit apartment, her phone vibrated once more—a final message from the faceless threat.
"For the time being, he is still alive. But Emily, you are running out of time. Make your choice."
- Writer
