007 more lies
1206 Words
"Emma!"
Lauren had been following Emma for twenty minutes, ever since their mother called in a panic. Now she was sprinting toward her sister's body across the road.
She knelt beside her. Emma's head was bleeding from a gash above her eyebrow. Bruises forming on her arms. But she was conscious, trying to sit up.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!"
Emma opened her eyes slowly and saw her sister, her face red with fury and tears.
"Mom sent me to drag you away from the estate. I found you through people's posts, Emma. You're making headlines on the internet. But… were you trying to—God…" Lauren couldn't finish. She just pulled Emma into a hug on the dirty sidewalk while people stepped around them.
Emma started crying.
"I can't do this anymore," she sobbed into Lauren's shoulder. "I can't. Everyone hates me. Mom hates me. Alex… I lost…" her tears increased. "I lost him… I ruined everything."
"You did." Lauren pulled back, grabbed Emma's face, and forced her to look. "You absolutely did ruin everything. But you know what? Death doesn't solve that. It just makes it permanent."
"But…" she hiccupped. "I don't know what to do."
"You'll have to live with it." Lauren's voice was hard. "Now face them like an adult. Not like a coward throwing herself in front of cars."
"I can't face this—"
"Yes, you can. Because you have to." Lauren stood and pulled Emma up. "Let's go home before you cause more controversy."
It was too late. People had filmed everything that happened.
By the time Lauren got Emma into a car, "Emma Williams suicide attempt?" was starting to trend.
Emma put her head against the window and closed her eyes.
She'd wanted to be someone important. Someone people noticed. A celebrity who makes headlines and trends online.
Careful what you wish for.
Twenty minutes later, they arrived at Lauren's apartment. It was a small one-bedroom flat.
Emma had never been here before. She had always thought it was cute that Lauren lived in a place like this instead of at home. Now, sitting on the warm couch with a blanket around her shoulders, Emma understood it differently.
Lauren had chosen independence over comfort. She chose to work and earn instead of taking family money.
"Here." Lauren handed her tea. "Drink this. I've called a doctor to treat you privately."
Emma held the mug but didn't drink. She only stared at the steam.
"The video's everywhere," Lauren said quietly, scrolling on her phone. "People are arguing if you actually tried to step in front of the car or if you were just distracted."
Emma said nothing.
"No one felt bad for you." Lauren set her phone down. "Emma, look at me."
Emma didn't want to. But she did.
"I warned you," Lauren's face was stern. "Last year. Do you remember? I told you what Mom was doing. That she was pushing you toward Ryan. That Alex was a good man who didn't deserve what we were doing to him."
Emma's throat tightened. "I remember." She looked down at the floor.
"And you told me I didn't understand. That Alex was holding you back. That Ryan was what you needed." Lauren's voice stayed level. "You made your choices, Emma. Multiple choices. And now you're living with them."
"I know."
"Do you? Because sitting outside his building begging isn't accepting consequences. That's trying to manipulate him into saving you again."
Lauren leaned forward. "You destroyed him."
"I loved him—"
"No. You loved the idea of him when he suited you. When he was your rebellion against Mom. But the second it got hard? The second Mom pressured you? You folded." Lauren's voice cracked. "You're my sister and I love you. But you were cruel, Emma. And you don't get to escape that just because it hurts now."
Emma started crying again. Quiet tears that just rolled down her cheeks.
"So what... do... I do?"
"You accept it. You sit with it. You carry it." Lauren handed her a tissue. "And you never, EVER use death as an escape again. You hear me? That's not fair to me. It's not fair to anyone who actually cares about you."
Emma nodded. Wiped her face.
They sat in silence for a long time.
Emma's phone buzzed.
Calendar notification.
KANE INDUSTRIES PRESS CONFERENCE
Tomorrow, 2:00 PM
Location: Kane Tower, Main Auditorium
She frowned. She hadn't added that.
Another notification appeared.
Front row seat reserved: Emma Williams
Attendance mandatory per marriage contract clause 14-C
Car will arrive at 1:00 PM
Formal attire required
Her hands twisted in her laps. “Lauren." She whimpered. “Look… take a look at this."
Lauren read over her shoulder and gasped. "Oh god. He's summoning you.”
Emma's phone buzzed again. Text from an unknown number.
You will attend tomorrow's conference. If you refuse, I release everything tonight. At least this way you can maintain some dignity. Your choice. - A.K.
"What does he mean, everything?" Emma whispered.
Her phone buzzed a third time. Another text.
P.S. Make sure Ryan attends too. He'll want to hear what I have to say about Fletcher Enterprises. And about his previous employment history. - A.K.
Emma stared at the message. "Previous employment history? What does that mean?"
Lauren was already searching on her phone. Her face went pale. "Emma... there are rumors online. People saying Ryan Fletcher has done this before. That he targets wealthy women and—"
"That's not true." Emma's voice was automatic.
"Ryan loves me. He—"
"Does he?" Lauren looked up. "How much do you actually know about him? I mean, really know?"
Emma opened her mouth to answer and realized she couldn't.
She knew Ryan was successful and charming.
But did she know where he'd worked before his company? Where he went to school? His family? His history?
She knew nothing.
Her phone buzzed. Ryan's calling.
She answered. "Ryan…"
"Did you get a summons too?" His voice was tight. Like he was panicking. "For tomorrow's press conference?"
"Yes, but—"
"Emma, listen to me. Don't go. Whatever Alex is planning, it's—" He stopped. "I need to leave town. Tonight. You should come with me, I can't leave you alone with my child."
"Leave town? Ryan, what are you talking about?"
"Just trust me. We can go to…"
The line went dead.
Emma tried calling back, but it went straight to voicemail.
She looked at Lauren, her breath hitching. "He hung up. He said we should leave town. Why would he say that?"
Lauren's expression was grim. "Because whatever Alex knows about Ryan... it's bad enough to run from."
Emma looked at her phone. At the calendar notification. At the reserved seat with her name on it.
Tomorrow, Alex would tell the world who Ryan Fletcher really was.
And Emma would be sitting in the front row, watching the man she'd chosen over Alex get destroyed.
The man she'd thought loved her. The man who was now trying to run.
"What have I done?" Emma whispered.
But she already knew the answer.
She'd thrown away everything for a lie.
And tomorrow, the whole world would watch her realize it.
- Writer
