The Billionaire's Replacement

CHAPTER FOUR - BENEATH THE BENNETT NAME.

Emma's POV

I heard footsteps so I hastily rushed out of the office to avoid getting caught.

My legs moved fast and in less than a minute, I was standing in front of my room.

The image remained stuck in my head but what haunted me the most was the name.

Alexander Bennett.

Why would my father’s image ne inside the Bennett mansion?

Why did he have the Bennett surname?

The sad reality was that I had no answers to the numerous questions swirling in my head. Calling my mother wasn't even an option because she promised to cut ties with me the moment I said yes to Gabriel's proposal to marry Jeremy.

But If my father truly was a Bennett, Then what did that make me?

I shook my head in disagreement. No, that couldn't be possible!

Could it?

"Emma!"

Jeremy's voice startled me.

I turned around so quickly that I almost bumped into him.

As usual, his expression was unreadable. His arms were folded and his eyes remained fixated on me.

"You've been standing there for several minutes."

I cleared my throat. “I just needed to be out of that room.”

"Good thing because my family is waiting." He suddenly said, adjusting the sleeve of his suit.

I frowned. "Your family?"

"You have met the reporters."

His voice remained calm. "It is high time you met the people who dislike you even more."

“You could have at least given me a heads up or something…” I started but Jeremy had already began walking. What did I expect? I had to meet them since they weren't present at our wedding for some reasons unknown to me. Gabriel was the only close relative and logically speaking, he wasn't even related to Jeremy by blood.

Jeremy led me to a lounge and it three times the size of my apartment.

This time, normal portraits of former generations lined the walls.

The room felt cold, I noticed the little conversation stopped the moment Jeremy and I entered. Every pair of eyes landed on me.

Their gazes seemed familiar, the normal judgemental gaze I usually got from people whenever I was seen with Jeremy.

An elegant elderly woman sat in the center of the room with a silver cane resting beside her chair. She carefully took off her spectacles and her sharp eyes examined me from head to toe.

"This is the replacement?” Her tone was questioning but I could also sense disappointment laced in her tone.

I wanted to reply but another voice spoke. "I expected someone prettier."

A man casually leaned against the fireplace. His tie hung loosely around his neck and he had a glass of whiskey rested clutched tight to one hand.

"Your ex fiancee disappears for like two weeks and all of a sudden, you're married to a different lady?” Whoever this guy was, I knew he was trying to taunt Jeremy.

"I don't owe anyone an explanation, Damon." Jeremy clenched his fist tight.

The so called Damon slowly looked at me. "I hope he warned you."

I frowned. "Warned me about what?"

Damon smiled mischievously. "Everyone Jeremy gets close to eventually disappears."

The room fell silent and I knew Damon had crossed the line.

"Enough." Jeremy snapped at him but Damon only laughed, he was clearly enjoying this.

It's the truth, Isabella, Dad, even your bio—---"

"I said enough!" Jeremy yelled. He grabbed Damon by the collar.

Seemed like this wasn't Jeremy's first bicker with Damon. Everyone in the room didn't look surprised.

All of a sudden, The elderly woman struck her cane sharply against the marble floor. "Both of you!"

Jeremy released Damon immediately and without wasting a split second, he walked out of the lounge.

I couldn't be here either, I bowed my head was a form of respect before walking out.

I went to my room immediately and spent hours trying to snap but I couldn't, Not after everything that had happened.

For some weird reason, even the room was more suffocating.

At night, I stepped out of my room and wandered into the gardens in the quest for fresh air.

I did find fresh air but I also found Jeremy, He was sitting close to the fountain, staring at the water.

“Can I join you?” I asked politely. He didn't seem startled by my voice.

Jeremy pointed to the empty space besides the bench. I carefully sat besides him, accidentally brushing my arm against his.

He let out a quiet breath. “Sorry about earlier.”

I never imagined Jeremy would apologize. Something about his voice was different, There was no arrogance nor coldness. Just exhaustion.

“Are you okay?” I raised a brow at him, genuinely concerned.

Jeremy gave a faint, humorless smile. “What if I'm not?”

"You can talk to me then.” I paused to shrug. “I've been told I'm a good listener."

Jeremy gazed at me then, deeply and for a brief moment, I saw the man from the hotel. The stranger who allowed me to share the suite with him after the snowstorm.

“Emma, is it okay if I kiss you?” Jeremy’s next words suddenly took me off guard.

I went silent as Jeremy leaned in closer. His fingers gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

My heart raced extremely fast, I could feel his breath.

My gaze shifted to his lips and then all of a sudden, thar name rang in my head.

Alexander Bennett.

My body stiffened and I hastily moved backward.

Jeremy noticed and he frowned.

"What?”

I gulped a lump down my throat, I couldn't hide it anymore. "Who's Alexander Bennett?"

Everything changed immediately. The softness instantly vanished from Jeremy's face and his expression hardened.

"Why are you asking about my father?"

What? His father?

That was supposed to be my father.

I hastily rose to my feet. No, no, no….

If Alexander Bennett was Jeremy's father…

And he was my father too…

Did that mean…

Jeremy and I were...