The Photo That Ruined Everything
1463 Words
Chapter 7
Emily couldn’t breathe properly after the kiss.
The moment Michael’s lips touched hers, every painful memory came rushing back all at once.
The love.
The heartbreak.
The promises.
And the feelings she spent two years trying to bury.
Michael slowly pulled away, his forehead resting gently against hers while both of them struggled to breathe normally.
The cold night air surrounded them, but Emily’s entire body felt warm.
Dangerously warm.
Michael stared into her eyes quietly.
“I missed you,” he whispered again.
Emily’s heart hurt painfully.
Because she missed him too.
And that was the problem.
Emily slowly stepped back.
“What did we just do?”
Michael looked confused by the question.
“We kissed.”
“I know that.”
Michael’s expression softened slightly.
“Then why do you sound scared?”
Emily laughed weakly.
“Because every time I let myself get close to you… I end up hurt.”
Pain flashed across Michael’s face instantly.
“I’ll spend the rest of my life making up for that.”
Emily looked away quickly.
“You can’t fix everything with words, Michael.”
Michael moved closer again.
“Then let me prove it.”
Emily’s heart started racing again.
Why did he always know exactly how to weaken her?
Before she could answer, the mansion doors suddenly opened behind them.
Jessica stepped outside.
Her face looked calm.
Too calm.
But her eyes…
Her eyes burned with jealousy.
Emily immediately stepped away from Michael.
Jessica smiled coldly.
“Am I interrupting?”
Michael looked irritated instantly.
“What do you want?”
Jessica crossed her arms elegantly.
“Mrs. Anderson is asking for you.”
Michael sighed angrily.
“I’m busy.”
Jessica’s gaze slowly moved toward Emily.
“I can see that.”
The tension immediately became uncomfortable.
Emily suddenly felt guilty.
Like she had done something wrong.
Jessica noticed it instantly.
And secretly enjoyed it.
Michael looked at Emily softly.
“I’ll take you home.”
Emily hesitated briefly before nodding.
She didn’t trust herself enough to argue with him anymore.
—
During the drive, silence filled the car.
Emily stared outside the window nervously while her thoughts spiraled wildly.
She kissed him back.
God.
What was wrong with her?
After everything Michael did…
Why did her heart still melt around him?
Michael suddenly spoke quietly.
“Do you regret it?”
Emily froze.
The kiss.
He was talking about the kiss.
Emily swallowed hard.
“I don’t know.”
Michael’s jaw tightened slightly.
“But you regret me.”
Emily looked at him quickly.
“That’s not what I said.”
Michael laughed bitterly.
“You didn’t need to.”
Emily’s chest tightened painfully.
Why did every conversation between them become emotional?
Michael parked outside her apartment building before turning toward her fully.
“Emily.”
She looked at him quietly.
“I meant everything I said tonight.”
Emily’s heart betrayed her again.
Michael’s voice softened.
“I still love you.”
Emily closed her eyes briefly.
“Please stop saying that.”
“Why?”
“Because I want to believe you.”
Michael looked stunned by her honesty.
Emily looked away.
“And that scares me.”
For a moment neither of them moved.
Then Michael gently reached for her hand.
And Emily let him.
Dangerous.
So dangerously dangerous.
Michael slowly kissed the back of her hand softly.
The simple action nearly destroyed her emotionally.
“Goodnight, Emily.”
She quickly exited the car before she lost control again.
But even after entering her apartment…
She could still feel his lips against her skin.
—
Meanwhile…
Jessica sat alone inside her bedroom staring at the photo on her phone.
The photo she secretly took from the balcony.
Michael kissing Emily in the garden.
Her hands trembled angrily.
Tears filled her eyes.
“How can you still choose her…” she whispered painfully.
After everything.
After all her loyalty.
After years of waiting.
Michael still looked at Emily like she was his entire universe.
Jessica’s expression slowly hardened.
Fine.
If Michael refused to let Emily go willingly…
Then Jessica would force her out of his life.
Permanently.
—
The next morning…
Emily walked into work exhausted again.
Her coworker immediately noticed.
“Oh my God.”
Emily frowned.
“What?”
“You look like someone kissed you and ruined your life afterward.”
Emily nearly choked.
“What?!”
Her coworker gasped dramatically.
“I KNEW IT!”
Emily covered her face instantly.
“Keep your voice down!”
Her coworker leaned closer excitedly.
“It was the rich guy, wasn’t it?”
Emily stayed silent.
Which basically confirmed everything.
Her coworker screamed quietly.
“I’m obsessed with your life.”
Emily groaned.
“My life is a disaster.”
Before her coworker could reply, Emily’s phone suddenly vibrated.
Unknown Number.
Emily frowned before answering.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then—
“You should stay away from Michael Anderson.”
Emily froze.
The female voice sounded distorted.
Cold.
Threatening.
Emily’s heartbeat quickened.
“Who is this?”
“You don’t belong in his world.”
Emily’s stomach dropped instantly.
The call ended.
Emily stared at her phone nervously.
Her coworker noticed her expression immediately.
“What happened?”
Emily forced a weak smile.
“Nothing.”
But deep down…
She knew it wasn’t nothing.
—
Later that afternoon…
Michael sat inside his office while angrily reviewing documents.
But he couldn’t focus.
Not after last night.
Not after kissing Emily again.
For the first time in years, he felt alive.
And terrified.
Because loving Emily always made him vulnerable.
A knock interrupted his thoughts.
“Come in.”
Samuel entered.
Michael’s expression immediately darkened.
“What do you want?”
Samuel looked serious.
“We need to talk.”
Michael leaned back coldly.
“I’m not interested.”
Samuel ignored the hostility completely.
“Emily received a threatening call today.”
Michael froze instantly.
“What?”
Samuel crossed his arms.
“She told Daniel.”
Michael’s face hardened dangerously.
“Who called her?”
“She doesn’t know.”
Michael immediately stood up.
His protective instincts exploded instantly.
Samuel watched him carefully.
“You really do still love her.”
Michael looked irritated.
“Did you come here to discuss my feelings?”
“No.”
Samuel’s voice became sharp.
“I came because someone is targeting Emily.”
That changed everything.
Michael grabbed his coat instantly.
Samuel frowned.
“Where are you going?”
“To her.”
—
That evening…
Emily finally finished work and stepped outside carefully.
The threatening phone call still disturbed her deeply.
She looked around nervously.
Nothing unusual.
Still…
Something felt wrong.
A black car suddenly stopped beside her.
Emily’s heart jumped instantly.
Michael stepped out quickly.
“Get in.”
Emily blinked in confusion.
“What?”
Michael looked furious.
“Now, Emily.”
She immediately noticed the tension in his face.
“What happened?”
Michael opened the passenger door.
“We’ll talk inside.”
Emily entered nervously.
The moment Michael sat down beside her, he locked the doors immediately.
Emily frowned.
“You’re scaring me.”
Michael looked at her seriously.
“Did someone threaten you today?”
Emily froze.
“How did you know?”
Michael cursed quietly under his breath.
Emily’s anxiety grew instantly.
“Michael…”
His jaw tightened dangerously.
“You’re not safe.”
Emily stared at him.
“What is happening?”
Michael hesitated briefly before finally saying something that terrified her completely.
“My family has enemies, Emily.”
Her heart dropped.
Michael looked genuinely worried now.
“And if someone realizes how much you matter to me…”
Emily’s breathing became uneven.
“They could use you against me.”
Silence filled the car.
Emily suddenly understood why he looked afraid before.
Why he pushed her away years ago.
Michael slowly looked at her.
“This is why I left.”
Emily’s chest tightened painfully.
“For two years I convinced myself staying away would protect you.”
Emily stared at him speechlessly.
“And now?” she whispered.
Michael’s eyes darkened emotionally.
“Now I’m terrified I was right.”
Before Emily could respond—
Her phone suddenly vibrated again.
Unknown Number.
Both of them stared at the screen silently.
Then another message appeared.
A photo.
Emily opened it slowly.
And her blood ran cold instantly.
It was the photo from last night.
The kiss.
Someone had been watching them.
And beneath the photo was a message:
Stay away from Michael Anderson… or next time, you’ll lose more than your heart.
Emily’s hands started trembling immediately.
Michael’s face became terrifyingly cold.
Because suddenly…
This was no longer just about love.
Someone was coming after Emily.
- Writer
