Beneath the mistletoe

chapter 6

The evening before had been nothing short of magical. Emily’s family had returned from the fundraiser glowing with pride, recounting how her paintings had been admired and fiercely bid upon. Her mother had beamed, Mama Ruby had clapped her hands in delight, and Xander had thrown his arm around her, declaring her the “star of the night.” For the first time in what felt like forever, Emily had gone to bed with a lightness in her heart. She had feared that no one would like the art but she was wrong and so was Julian.

But the serenity of Christmas morning shattered like fragile glass. A normal Christmas morning would begin with smiles, cocoa in everyone's hand, gifts being exchanged by the Christmas tree.

However this Christmas morning started with a loud, insistent knock on the door. The sound jolted Emily from her dreams, and for a moment, she thought she was still trapped in one of her nightmares. But then the muffled sound of voices broke through her confusion.

“Emily!” a familiar, harsh voice yelled. “Emily, come out here! We need to talk!”

Her heart sank as recognition hit her like a cold wave. It was Julian.

She was still afraid of him this incident confirmed that but she slipped out of bed, her hands trembling as she pulled on a robe. The voices outside grew louder, angrier. Another voice joined Julian’s it was his mother, an equally abrasive woman who had always treated Emily with disdain.

“Emily Gray, don’t think you can hide from us!” Julian’s mother screeched. “You’re still part of this family, whether you like it or not!”

By the time Emily reached the top of the stairs, she could see Xander and Luca standing by the front door. Their postures were tense, their voices low and firm as they spoke to the unwelcome guests.

“You need to leave,” Xander was saying, his tone dangerously calm. “This is our family’s Christmas, and you’re not welcome here, you've never been.”

Julian’s voice cut through like a knife. “I have every right to be here. She’s still my wife. The divorce isn’t finalized and I have no intention on signing the papers.”

Emily gripped the banister, her legs feeling weak beneath her. She had prepared herself for the possibility of running into Julian someday, but not like this not here and especially not now.

“Emily!” Julian shouted again, his eyes scanning the doorway as if he knew she was listening from the stairs. “I just want to talk. Don’t make me come inside.”

“Don’t you dare threaten her,” Luca said, stepping forward. His voice was steady, but the steel in his eyes was unmistakable.

Julian’s mother sneered. “Who are you supposed to be? Another one of her little distractions? Typical. She can’t handle her responsibilities, so she runs to someone else.”

“Get off our property,” Xander growled, his fists clenching at his sides.

Emily swallowed hard and forced herself to take a step forward. She couldn’t let this spiral further out of control.

“Emily, don't let the boys handle it,” her mom said from the living room, worry etched across her face.

But Emily shook her head. “I need to handle this.”

She descended the stairs slowly, each step feeling heavier than the last. When she reached the door, she took a deep breath before stepping into view.

“What are you doing here, Julian? What do you want? ” she asked, her voice steady despite the storm raging inside her.

Julian’s gaze snapped to hers, his face softening into an expression she had once found comforting. “Emily,” he said, his tone shifting to one of feigned warmth. “We need to talk. This isn’t how things are supposed to be.”

“There’s nothing to talk about,” she said firmly.

“Yes, there is,” he insisted, taking a step forward. Luca and Xander immediately moved closer, blocking his path. Julian scowled but didn’t push further. “We’re not divorced, Emily. Legally, you’re still my wife. And that means we should be together. I miss you I haven't been the same since you left , the house is empty without you. I feel lost without you, please come back home. ”

Emily felt a flicker of the old fear creeping up her spine, but she pushed it down. She refused to let him control her anymore.

“I don’t care what the papers say or how you and your mother feel about the situation” she said. “It’s over, Julian. You need to accept that.”

Julian’s jaw tightened, and his mother stepped forward, her voice dripping with condescension. “You’ve always been ungrateful, Emily. My son gave you everything, and this is how you repay him? Running back to your family like a spoiled child? I always knew you were a gold digger.”

Emily’s fingers curled into fists at her sides. “He didn’t give me anything except pain,” she said, her voice rising. “And I have every right to run back to the people who love me. Now both of you need to leave.”

Julian’s expression darkened, the mask of charm slipping. “You think you can just walk away from me?” he hissed. “You don’t get to make that decision, Emily.”

“I already did,” she said, meeting his gaze without flinching. “And you’re not welcome here. So leave.”

For a moment, she thought he might try to force his way inside. But Xander and Luca stepped forward again, their presence a silent warning. Julian’s mother muttered something under her breath, tugging on his arm.

“Let’s go, Julian,” she said sharply. “She’s not worth it.”

Julian’s glare lingered on Emily for a moment longer before he finally turned away. “This isn’t over,” he said, his voice low and menacing.

Xander and Luca followed them to the edge of the property, making sure they got into their car and drove away. Only when the sound of the engine faded did Emily let out a shaky breath, the adrenaline leaving her body in a rush.

Xander returned first, his expression a mix of anger and concern. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice gentle.

Emily nodded, though tears were beginning to well up in her eyes. “I’m fine. I just… I didn’t expect this.”

Luca appeared behind him, his gaze steady. “You handled it well,” he said. “You were strong.”

The words brought a lump to Emily’s throat. She had been strong.....stronger than she ever thought she could be. And for a moment , she felt like she had truly started taking back control of her life.

“Thank you,” she whispered, her voice breaking.

Xander pulled her into a hug, holding her tightly as the tears began to fall. “You don’t have to go through this alone, Em,” he said. “We’re here. Always.”

Luca stood nearby, giving them space but offering a small, reassuring smile when Emily glanced his way. She mouthed a silent “thank you,” and he nodded.

The rest of the morning passed quietly, the family rallying around Emily with love and support. Though the encounter with Julian had been terrifying, it also served as a reminder of how far she had come and how much strength she still had to face whatever came next.

As the snow began to fall again outside, Emily curled up by the fire with her family, feeling a sense of peace she hadn’t known in years.