Chapter 6

Frank frowned, his lips pressing into a tight line. After a brief silence, he regained his composure and spoke coldly. "Emma, apologize. I won't ask again. Behave." Those words stung Emma, cutting through her like a knife. In front of Lea, he truly didn't trust her. Lea's gaze flickered over Emma before she stepped forward, reaching for her gently. Emma instinctively flinched, and the color drained from Lea's face instantly. Turning to Frank, she said, "Frank, you're being too harsh. Emma's not a kid anymore. Why do you still treat her like one?" Then, she smiled at Emma, her voice softening. "It's alright, Emma. I forgive you. Don't stay mad at Frank, okay?" Emma's head snapped up, her face unreadable. Lea looked gentle and kind. Her voice was soft and her eyes were bright with life. Every inch of her radiated a lethal kind of gentleness and allure. What man could resist her? Emma let out a cold laugh. "I didn't do anything wrong." With that, she turned away with red eyes and left without a backward glance. Lea's gaze followed her, a chilling glint flickering in the depths of her eyes. She knew the game between women all too well. Turning back to Frank, Lea adopted a pitiful air. "Frank, I burned my ankle. Could you take me to get it treated? If it scars, it'll affect my filming later." Frank's brow creased slightly, but he didn't refuse. … Meanwhile, Emma stormed off to the bathroom, biting her lip hard to keep the tears from falling. She turned on the faucet, running cold water over the burn on her wrist as her gaze darkened. She had loved Frank for years. Since that incident, she had tried to suppress her feelings, forcing herself to keep her distance from him. She knew it was pointless. The longer she held on, the deeper the pain would go. Once she left the country, she wouldn't have to witness Frank and Lea's sweet moments ever again. After treating her burn, Emma stepped out of the bathroom. She no longer had the energy to head to the top floor and ask Frank to sign anything. Back at the PR department, she typed her resignation letter and sent it to Frank's email. When the "sent" notification popped up, Emma let out a bitter laugh. Frank was probably too busy worrying about Lea to even notice. … Night quickly fell. Due to Lea's celebrity status, Frank didn't take her out for dinner. Sitting in his car, Frank narrowed his eyes, irritation flickering across his face. Why had Emma looked so wronged earlier, enough to cry? She was the one who made the mistake. Yet the image of her holding back tears made him draw a deep breath. Without hesitation, he drove back to the Castro residence. When he entered the living room, he found Thea dining alone. She looked up, her sharp gaze locking on him. "Did Emma have a rough day at work?" Frank's frown tightened, then eased, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean?" Before Thea could answer, the butler, George Holt, spoke up. "Ms. Dyer went straight to her room after she got home. She didn't have dinner." "She didn't eat?" Frank's expression darkened. Was she still upset about earlier? He had watched Emma grow up, and maybe he had spoiled her too much back then. Even something as simple as apologizing had made her feel like she was being forced into it. Then, remembering how she had been drinking at the bar last night, Frank pressed his lips together, irritation flickering in his eyes. "Then don't bother sending her any food." At that moment, Emma came down the stairs. Hearing his words, her face paled instantly. Her hands clenched at her sides, her nails digging into her palms painfully. So, that was it. Even when he hadn't seen what happened, he still believed Lea without question. To him, she must have been nothing but a disappointment. Emma hesitated, then turned to go back to her room. Frank's gaze landed on her, and his cold voice stopped her. "Emma." Thea sighed, unable to watch anymore. "Why are you being so harsh on her? Didn't you used to call her Emy?" At that, Emma trembled, biting her lip hard. Emy was the nickname Frank had given Lea. All these years, she had just been a stand-in for another woman. Emma had once held onto hope, but now, she saw how foolish it was. Despite all the years she had spent by Frank's side, she meant nothing to him. Frank's voice was like ice. "She burned Lea's wrist this morning out of spite." Thea's expression changed. "Lea again? Frank, have you ever actually listened to anything I've told you?" However, Frank wasn't listening. He was already heading upstairs straight toward Emma's room. Emma clenched her fists, refusing to look back as she hurried inside. Just as she was about to shut the door, a hand shoved it open. She pushed back, but she couldn't match his strength. Frank stepped inside, closing in on her. She felt suffocated, enveloped by the cold air radiating from him. His presence was overwhelming, suffocating. Her heart raced, but she forced her face to stay calm. "Frank, what do you want?" His cold gaze locked on her. "Emma, apologize to Lea tomorrow. There's no negotiating this. You were wrong, and that's that. Since when did you start being so defiant?" Emma's composure shattered. She lifted her tear-streaked eyes to meet his. "I didn't burn her! She told me to help her open the thermos, and before I could even touch it, it spilled!" She rarely lost control, only letting her emotions slip when the grievance was too much to bear. Frank paused for a moment. "So you're saying Lea's lying?" A sharp pain pierced through Emma's chest like someone was squeezing her heart and wouldn't let go. She turned her head away, her gaze landing on the floor-length mirror in her room. It reflected her pale, wounded face. She looked utterly pitiful. She had no strength left to argue. "If you don't believe me, then forget it. I need to rest. Please leave." She started to turn, but Frank grabbed her wrist. Pain flared from her burn, and she couldn't stop herself from flinching. Frank froze, then looked down at her hand. "What happened?" For a brief moment, Emma clung to a shred of hope, trying to see even the smallest trace of concern in his eyes. But she quickly mocked herself for it. How could she expect the same care from Frank that he gave Lea? Her voice steadied as she pulled her wrist free. "I'll apologize to Lea."