Julian's POV
Emily Greene ruined Valentine's Day.
She ruined the proposal.
She ruined everything.
And yet—I still wanted her.
Even as she stood there, tears glistening in her green eyes, shaking her head at the three of us like we were strangers, even as she whispered that brutal, soul-crushing "No"—
I couldn't bring myself to hate her.
Because deep down?
I knew.
I knew she wasn't rejecting us because she didn't love us.
She was rejecting us because she thought she had to.
And I let her go.
For one week.
And in that week?
Emily went completely off the rails.
The day Radnor's mangled body was discovered, I didn't ask questions.
Because I already knew.
Emily wasn't just spiraling—she was tying up loose ends.
And for that?
I was grateful.
Because if she hadn't?
I would ha
