BROKEN PROMISES

Dangerous Hearts

Chapter 5

Emily couldn’t sleep after Samuel’s confession.

His words replayed repeatedly inside her mind.

"I love you."

She sat quietly near her apartment window while the city lights reflected across her tired eyes.

Everything in her life suddenly felt complicated again.

Michael still loved her.

Samuel loved her too.

And somehow…

Her heart still hurt for the same man who destroyed it.

Emily closed her eyes painfully.

Why was love so cruel?

A soft knock interrupted her thoughts.

Daniel entered holding snacks and two cups of coffee.

“You’re still awake?”

Emily forced a small smile.

“So are you.”

Daniel sat beside her carefully.

“You’ve been quiet since yesterday.”

Emily sighed deeply.

“Samuel confessed to me.”

Daniel nearly choked on his coffee.

“He WHAT?!”

Emily rubbed her forehead tiredly.

“Please don’t start yelling.”

Daniel stared at her in shock.

“I knew he liked you, but I didn’t think— wow.”

Emily looked down quietly.

“I don’t know what to do.”

Daniel’s expression softened slightly.

“Do you love him?”

Emily answered immediately.

“No.”

The answer came too fast.

Too honestly.

Daniel sighed because he already understood the problem.

“You still love Michael.”

Emily stayed silent.

Daniel leaned back against the couch.

“That guy really messed you up.”

Emily laughed weakly.

“Yeah.”

Her phone suddenly vibrated.

Michael calling.

Again.

Emily stared at the screen silently.

Daniel noticed instantly.

“Are you going to answer?”

Emily hesitated before declining the call.

One second later…

Another message appeared.

Michael: Please talk to me.

Emily’s chest tightened painfully.

She locked her phone immediately.

“I can’t.”

Daniel nodded slowly.

“Maybe that’s for the best.”

But deep down…

Emily wasn’t sure anymore.

—

Meanwhile…

At Anderson Group headquarters, tension filled the massive conference room.

Executives sat nervously around the table while Michael stood near the window coldly.

Mrs. Anderson entered gracefully.

The entire room immediately became silent.

She looked at Michael sharply.

“You embarrassed this family yesterday.”

Michael didn’t even turn around.

“Is that why you called this meeting?”

Mrs. Anderson’s expression hardened.

“You were seen fighting in public.”

Michael finally faced her.

“Then tell your reporters to mind their business.”

Several executives looked terrified instantly.

Nobody spoke to Mrs. Anderson like that.

Nobody except Michael.

Mrs. Anderson walked closer slowly.

“All this chaos because of that girl again.”

Michael’s eyes darkened dangerously.

“Don’t talk about Emily.”

“She’s becoming a distraction.”

“She’s not a business deal, Mother.”

Mrs. Anderson crossed her arms elegantly.

“No. She’s a weakness.”

Michael laughed bitterly.

“And what exactly are you afraid of?”

Mrs. Anderson’s voice became colder.

“She makes you emotional. Emotional men make reckless decisions.”

Michael stared at her silently.

Then quietly said:

“You mean like Father?”

The atmosphere instantly changed.

Mrs. Anderson’s face hardened painfully.

“Watch your tone.”

Michael grabbed his suit jacket.

“This conversation is over.”

But before he could leave—

Mrs. Anderson dropped a bombshell.

“If you continue seeing Emily Carter…”

Michael stopped walking.

“…I’ll make sure her life becomes difficult.”

The room became completely silent.

Michael slowly turned around.

And for the first time…

Even the executives looked frightened by the rage in his eyes.

“You touch her,” he said quietly, “and I’ll destroy everything you built.”

Mrs. Anderson froze slightly.

Because Michael had never threatened her before.

Not seriously.

But now?

Now he looked deadly calm.

Michael walked out immediately afterward.

Jessica, who had been silently watching everything nearby, quickly followed him.

“Michael!”

He ignored her.

Jessica grabbed his arm outside the office.

“You’re making things worse.”

Michael pulled away instantly.

“What do you want?”

Jessica looked frustrated.

“I’m trying to help you.”

Michael laughed coldly.

“By constantly interfering in my life?”

Jessica’s expression softened slightly.

“You know why I do it.”

Michael stared at her silently.

Jessica stepped closer.

“I’ve loved you for years.”

Michael looked emotionless.

“But I don’t love you.”

Pain flashed across Jessica’s face.

“You loved her after one year together more than you ever cared about me.”

Michael’s voice became colder.

“Because Emily never tried controlling me.”

Jessica looked hurt instantly.

Michael sighed tiredly.

“Jessica…”

But she suddenly snapped.

“What does she even have that I don’t?!”

People nearby turned to stare.

Jessica’s eyes filled with frustrated tears.

“I was always there for you!”

Michael looked exhausted now.

“And I never asked you to wait.”

Jessica froze.

That sentence shattered the little hope she still carried.

Michael walked away again.

Leaving Jessica standing there alone.

Completely humiliated.

And deep inside…

Something dark started growing inside her heart.

—

That evening…

Emily finished work later than usual.

The streets were quieter tonight.

For once, no rain.

She walked slowly toward the bus stop while listening to music quietly through her headphones.

Then suddenly—

A black car stopped beside her.

Emily’s heart jumped instantly.

Michael stepped out.

She immediately looked away.

“I’m not doing this again.”

Michael walked closer carefully.

“Just five minutes.”

Emily crossed her arms.

“You already had two years.”

Pain flashed across his face again.

Emily hated how guilty he always looked now.

It made hating him harder.

Michael spoke softly.

“My mother threatened you today.”

Emily frowned.

“What?”

Michael looked serious.

“She knows about us meeting again.”

Emily laughed bitterly.

“There is no ‘us,’ Michael.”

His jaw tightened slightly.

“You know what I mean.”

Emily stayed silent.

Michael moved closer.

“I need you to stay away from my family.”

Emily blinked slowly.

Her chest hurt unexpectedly.

“So that’s why you’re here?”

Michael frowned immediately.

“No.”

“It’s okay,” she whispered painfully. “You don’t have to pretend anymore.”

Michael grabbed her wrist gently before she could walk away.

“Emily, listen to me.”

The warmth of his hand instantly affected her again.

Dangerously.

Michael’s voice softened.

“My mother is capable of horrible things.”

Emily looked into his eyes carefully.

And for the first time…

She saw genuine fear there.

Not for himself.

For her.

Emily’s anger slowly weakened.

“She really hates me that much?”

Michael stayed quiet.

That silence answered everything.

Emily laughed sadly.

“I must be special.”

Michael’s expression softened painfully.

“You are.”

Their eyes locked.

And suddenly the world around them disappeared again.

Just like before.

Emily hated how easy it still felt.

How natural.

Michael slowly stepped closer.

Close enough for her to smell his cologne again.

Close enough for her heart to betray her completely.

“I missed you,” he whispered.

Emily’s breathing became uneven instantly.

“No…”

Michael gently touched her cheek.

And that simple touch nearly destroyed her defenses.

“You still feel it too,” he said softly.

Emily looked away quickly.

“This is wrong.”

“Why?”

“Because you hurt me.”

Michael’s eyes filled with regret.

“I know.”

“Then stop making this harder.”

Michael moved even closer.

“I can’t.”

Emily’s heart pounded wildly now.

She should push him away.

She should leave.

But instead…

She stayed frozen there while he stared at her like she still meant everything.

Michael’s voice dropped lower.

“Tell me you don’t love me anymore.”

Emily opened her mouth—

But no words came out.

Because she couldn’t lie.

Michael noticed immediately.

And slowly…

He leaned closer.

Emily’s eyes widened slightly.

Her heart screamed at her to stop this.

But another dangerous part of her wanted it.

Wanted him.

Michael’s lips were inches away now.

Then suddenly—

“Emily!”

Both of them turned quickly.

Samuel.

Standing across the street.

Watching everything.

The moment shattered instantly.

Emily stepped away from Michael quickly.

Samuel’s expression darkened the second he saw how close they were.

Michael looked irritated immediately.

Samuel walked toward them slowly.

“I see I interrupted something.”

Emily looked uncomfortable.

“Samuel…”

But Samuel’s eyes stayed fixed on Michael.

“You really never give up, huh?”

Michael laughed coldly.

“And you never learn boundaries.”

Tension exploded between them again instantly.

Emily groaned softly.

“Please don’t start.”

Samuel ignored her completely.

“He already broke your heart once.”

Michael stepped forward.

“And I’ll spend the rest of my life fixing it.”

Samuel’s jaw tightened.

Emily’s chest betrayed her again at Michael’s words.

Why did he always know exactly what to say?

Samuel noticed her reaction instantly.

And the sadness in his eyes became obvious.

Because deep down…

He already knew who Emily’s heart truly belonged to.