The Billionaire’s Obsession

Chapter 3 The Past Returns

Emma barely slept that night. The past clawed its way back into her mind, leaving her restless and emotionally drained. Andrew’s presence in the mansion was like a ticking time bomb, and every interaction with him threatened to unearth the parts of herself she had worked so hard to bury. The next morning, she plastered on a smile and made her way to the dining room. Julian was already there, scrolling through his phone with his coffee in hand. He didn’t acknowledge her entrance, as usual.

"Good morning," Emma said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside.

Julian looked up briefly. "Morning."

Before she could sit, Andrew walked in, his relaxed demeanor a stark contrast to the tension Emma felt. He greeted Julian with a warm handshake, and then his gaze shifted to Emma.

"Good morning, Emma," Andrew said, his voice soft but deliberate.

She nodded, her stomach twisting. "Morning."

Julian’s eyes flicked between them, narrowing slightly. "I hope you two are getting along. I’m sure Andrew has plenty of stories from his time away," he said, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

"Plenty," Andrew replied, his gaze lingering on Emma. "But some stories are better left in the past."

Emma stiffened, gripping her fork tighter. Julian raised an eyebrow but didn’t press further. Andrew’s presence became unavoidable in the days that followed. He joined them for meals, walked the mansion’s grounds with Julian, and even ventured into Emma’s music room one afternoon. She was at the piano, playing a soft, melancholic tune, when she sensed him standing in the doorway.

"You haven’t lost your touch," Andrew said, stepping into the room.

Emma stopped playing, her fingers hovering over the keys. "What do you want, Andrew?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "To talk. To explain."

"Explain?" Emma turned to face him, her hazel eyes blazing. "You disappeared, Andrew. You left me with nothing. No explanation, no goodbye. What could you possibly say now?"Andrew’s expression softened, guilt etched across his face. "I didn’t want to leave you. I didn’t have a choice."

"There’s always a choice," Emma snapped, her voice trembling.

He hesitated, his shoulders sagging. "It was my mother," he admitted. "She found out about us, about how serious we were. She thought you were a distraction, so she forced me to leave. She threatened you, Emma. She made it clear that if I stayed, she’d ruin your life."

Emma stared at him, her mind racing. Brienne. Of course, it was her. The woman who controlled every aspect of Julian’s life had wielded the same power over Andrew.

"You could have told me," Emma whispered. "You could have trusted me."

"I wanted to," Andrew said, stepping closer. "But I was young, and I was scared. I thought I was protecting you."

Emma shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "You didn’t protect me, Andrew. You broke me." The days that followed were a whirlwind of tension and confusion. Andrew made repeated attempts to talk to Emma, but she avoided him as much as she could. Still, their unspoken history hung heavy in the air, and Julian began to notice.

One evening, Julian found Emma in the music room, staring out the window.

"You’ve been quiet lately," he said, his tone as much an observation as a question.

Emma turned to him, her expression guarded. "Just adjusting to having a houseguest."

Julian studied her, his amber eyes narrowing. "Is that all?"

She met his gaze, unwilling to let him see her vulnerability. "Yes."

Julian didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t press the matter. "Stay away from him," he said finally, his voice low.

Emma’s brow furrowed. "Why?"

"He’s not as innocent as he seems," Julian said, turning to leave.

Emma stared after him, his words gnawing at her. Julian rarely gave her advice, let alone warnings. What did he know about Andrew that she didn’t?

Meanwhile, Peach Williams, Julian’s former mistress, was growing restless. She had noticed the tension between Emma and Andrew during her recent visit to the mansion, and her instincts told her there was more to the story. Peach was nothing if not resourceful. She began digging into Emma’s past, determined to find something she could use. It wasn’t long before she stumbled upon old photos of Emma and Andrew together, their smiles filled with the kind of love that couldn’t be faked. Armed with this knowledge, Peach made her way to the Saint Clair mansion under the guise of visiting Julian. She found Emma in the garden, tending to a bed of roses.

"You and Andrew seem awfully close," Peach said, her voice dripping with feigned innocence. Emma glanced up, her hands tightening around the pruning shears. "What do you want, Peach?" Peach smiled, tilting her head. "Nothing. Just making conversation. Though I do wonder what Julian would think if he knew about your... history with his brother."

Emma’s heart sank, but she refused to let Peach see her panic. "There’s nothing to tell."

"Of course," Peach said, her smile widening. "For now."

As the days turned into weeks, Emma’s world continued to unravel. Andrew’s presence was a constant reminder of what she had lost, while Julian’s growing suspicion only added to her stress.

One evening, after Julian had left on a business trip, Emma found herself alone with Andrew. They sat in the drawing room, the tension between them palpable.

"I need to know," Emma said finally, her voice barely above a whisper. "Do you regret leaving me?"

Andrew’s gaze softened, his blue eyes filled with sorrow. "Every day."

Emma felt tears prick her eyes, but she blinked them away. "Then why now? Why come back into my life when I’ve finally found some semblance of stability?"

"Because I couldn’t stay away," Andrew admitted. "Seeing you again, it’s like... it’s like nothing has changed. I still love you, Emma."

Her breath caught in her throat. She wanted to deny it, to tell him he was wrong, but the truth was, a part of her still loved him too.

Before she could respond, Andrew leaned in, his lips brushing against hers in a kiss that was both familiar and forbidden.

Emma pulled away, her heart pounding. "This can’t happen," she said, her voice trembling.

"Why not?" Andrew asked, his voice urgent.

"Because I’m married to Julian," Emma said, standing abruptly.

Andrew’s expression hardened. "A marriage of convenience. You don’t love him, Emma."

Emma turned away, her mind racing. She didn’t have the strength to argue, not when her heart was already so conflicted.That night, Emma lay awake in bed, her thoughts consumed by Andrew’s confession. She knew she had to make a choice, but every path seemed fraught with pain and betrayal. Unbeknownst to her, Peach had been watching. She had captured a photo of Emma and Andrew’s kiss, her mind already scheming how to use it to her advantage. In the shadows of the Saint Clair mansion, the past and present collided, setting the stage for a storm that would change everything.