Chapter 41: It Hurts

The next morning, Alexander stood in front of Emma, holding up a mirror. Emma, groggy from sleep, blinked her eyes open and was startled by her own reflection. Alexander couldn’t contain his laughter. "Very funny, Alex, very funny," Emma muttered, rolling her eyes. "I’m sorry," Alexander said, still chuckling, but his expression quickly turned serious. "Emma, what I did was to show you something important. I wanted you to see yourself and realize that Olivia doesn’t deserve your tears, okay?" Emma felt the familiar sting of tears welling up again, her heart still raw from the betrayal. But before she could give in, Alexander gently stopped her. "No, no, no. No more tears," he urged, his voice soft but firm. "Freshen up, get dressed. Rachel is on her way." He kissed her on the forehead, offering her the strength she needed. **Rachel’s Visit:** When Rachel arrived, Alexander served her a glass of juice. The atmosphere in the house was tense, the weight of recent events hanging heav