BENEATH THE FACADE

CHAPTER FOUR

BENEATH THE FACADE

Behind the façade of wealth and power, a web of secrets awaits.

CHAPTER 4

Emily's POV:

As he stood by the door, his hands holding the tray suddenly lost their grip. The plates crashed to the floor, shattering into pieces. The sound of broken ceramics filled the air, echoing off the walls of my room.

“Emily, did you say something?,” My father asked as he approached me, ignoring the broken plates.

“Father, I said I won't be marrying Billionaire Ethan Kingston” I repeated louder and clearer this time.

“Emily, you would do no such thing”, he said, his tone rising, laced with a mix of anger, shock and desperation. His eyes widened with alarm

“All my life, Emily, all, did I give up for you”, he continued, backing me now.

“I gave up my dreams, my goal, everything”

My anger had been simmering, waiting to boil over. I didn't wait to hear the last of it before giving him a reply.

“You did everything you ever did for yourself, not for me in particular,” I shouted angrily before breaking down into tears.

“Don't make this about me. Don't drag me into your mess, fix it!” I retorted.

“Emilyyy!” he screamed as he raised his hands to hit me but was suddenly restrained, and took a step backward.

The air seemed to vibrate with tension as he echoed the words,

“Emily watch it”, he continued, wading his index finger at me

“What did I ever ask for in return?”

“Nothing, and now I ask one simple task of you, to marry Billionaire Ethan Kingston, for your own good, and you refuse” he continued screaming at the top of his voice.

He made for the door now. I expected him to leave the room but instead he bent to the floor, picked up a piece of the broken plate and began inflicting injury on himself.

He had hurt me but I couldn't watch him hurt himself, so I got up immediately to stop him.

“Father, enough, it's enough” I said, struggling to collect the piece from his hand. In the process, I cut myself too and we were both bleeding now.

“Emily, it's just for the love I have for you. I can't watch you continue suffering. You deserve better”

“And how sure are you he'd treat me any better?”, the tears I had fought hard to resist, now came rushing like a torrent.

“Father, I'd do it”, I said

“Thank you Emily, it's for the best” he said but I cut him

“Don't thank me yet, I'd do it on one condition” I said, rising up, as the cloth I used to stop the blood was now soaked.

“What condition, Emily?” He asked, his eyes locked unto mine, his expression unreadable.

The room fell silent , the only sound, the soft hum of the air conditioner

“The deal” my voice firm and resolute

My last sentence got the better part of him.

“What about the deal?”