Opposite 2_The Rogue King's Surrogate

Chapter 2 

 “Let go of me!”

 H

 Emery’s voice tore through the sleek office hallway, sharp and trembling as the two guards held her down.

 “Let go!” she struggled before she looked at Samuel. “Tell me it’s not true, Sam. Tell me you-

 Then another resounding p followed. A white–hot sting bloomed across her cheek, jerking her head sideways. The scent of strong \perfume hit her nose just before she saw the woman standing inches away–perfect red lips, manicured nails, and eyes full of disgust.

 “Did you really think warming his bed would earn you a seat at our table?” Vanessa hissed.

 Emery blinked, her cheek burning. Her gaze snapped to Samuel. He’d just stepped out of his office, but he didn’t say a word. Didn’t he see his mother p her?

 Why wasn’t he saying anything? Not a single word.

 IN

 Nem

 “Did you think throwing a tantrum here could save you?” Vanessa said. Again, she pped Emery’s face. “I already warned you not to mess with Samuel! I warned you!”

 =

 This time, Samuel finally decided to intervene. He reached for her arm halfheartedly. “Mom, that’s enough-

 Emery barely heard him. Her body froze, trembling from rage, disbelief, and betrayal. Minutes ago, she’d been finalizing the share transfer the very folder now somewhere on the floor with Nina. Five years. Tomorrow is their fifth anniversary. Sh

 was supposed to tell him everything today and introduce him to her father the very next day!

 She looked at Samuel again. “Is it true?” Her voice cracked. She had been with him for five years and received a p or two from his mother and sister, but this was notparable to what she’d heard just now. “Are you really going to marry Talia?”

 His eyes flickered. Guilt. It was there–just for a second. But it was enough.

 He didn’t deny it.

 Vanessa stepped between them like a wall of steel. “Of course he is! Did you honestly think you mattered?” She scoffed. “You were never anything more than a phase. A well–kept secret. And now, it’s over. Get out of this ce, or I’ll have security throw you out.”

 Emery clenched her fists. The words sliced deeper than any p. Her heart raced. “Samuel,” she said. “Say something.” Why wasn’t he saying anything!?

 In response, he shifted ufortably. “Em, let’s not do this now.” He signaled the guards to let her go, and they quicklyplied.

 “No!” she snapped as she struggled. “We’re doing this right now! Tell me it’s not true. Please…”

 She stepped in front of him, grabbing his arm. “Look me in the eyes and tell me this is not true. Please, Sammy.”

 However, he simply yanked his arm free, like her touch was a stain. “I said we’ll talkter,” This time, his tone changed. It was no longer the tone of the man whom she loved for the past five years. “Get out of here. I will call youter!” he added.

 Seeing this, Vanessaughed. “Is this who you’ve been living with for the past year? What a joke.” She rolled her eyes. “No poise, no family, no worth. You’ve embarrassed yourself enough, Emery. Walk out with what little dignity you have left.” She snorted and took her fan from her purse. “Why would someone like you think that we would approve of this rtionship? A mere secretary with no family to back her up? Who gave you the guts?”

 Emery looked at Samuel, who simply rubbed his temple as if this was a mere nuisance from one of his businesses. “Answer me!” Emery’s voice rose. “You’ve been with me for five years. You held me every night. I—I thought there was us!”

 He looked at her. But the loving eyes that he used to stare at her with were no longer there. What reced them was a cold and calcting gaze. “I have responsibilities, Em.”

 The words hit harder than any p. Responsibilities. Five years…. Five years, and he would just drop a bomb like this because of… responsibilities?

 That’s it?

 When she said nothing, Samuel let out a sigh. “Mom, please leave us.”

 12:34 AM Pp.

 “Leave you?” Vanessa scoffed.

 “Talia needs you,” Samuel sighed. That was enough to get his mother’s attention.

 “Fine. But you better fix this mess, Samuel, or I will ask the board to kick you out tomorrow morning!”

 With that, Vanessa gestured for the guards to leave them as well before she red at and marched inside Samuel’s office.

 Once alone, Samuel turned to her. “I’m sorry. But I have to do this.”

 Her heart cracked. “Do what, Sam?”

 “Talia’s family… theirpany’s investing. This marriage–it’s important for the future.”

 She stared at him. “And what about me?” What about thest five years of her life? What about the deal that she made with her father? Tonight was supposed to be the night she would reveal her identity. Tonight was supposed to be their night!

 He hesitated. “Talia can give me children.”

 “What?” Her voice broke. “You said you didn’t want any-

 I changed my mind,” he said tly. “She’s younger and–she can easily give me an heir.”

 Her chest caved. “So that’s it? You’re marrying her for her womb and her money?”

 He looked away.

 “I was going to tell you everything tonight,” she whispered, voice barely holding together. “I made a deal with my father–for you. For

 us.” 

 Her lips trembled. She had walked away from her family, from a life of power and privilege, just to prove that love didn’t need a name, a title, or bloodlines. She wanted to show her father that she could be chosen simply for who she was.

 But now… now the silence from the man she loved cut deeper than any rejection.

 Tears streamed down her cheeks as her chest tightened. “What about us, Sam?” she asked, her voice breaking.

 He didn’t flinch, as if he was already expecting her question. “If you wait,” he said slowly, “If you wait until everything is settled… I’ll divorce her. We can be together again.”

 “You want me to wait?” Her voice came out hollow. “You want me to wait while you marry her? Sleep beside her? Build a family with her?” Her throat tightened, eyes burning. “How can you say that to me?

 How could he stand there and say it like it meant nothing?

 “If you really loved me,” he said. “You’d wait.”

 There wasn’t a trace of hesitation in his voice–no remorse, no guilt.

 She stepped back, eyes wide. Was this really the same man she had loved for the past few years?

 “Please, Em, don’t look at me like that,” he muttered. “You always knew my mother would never-

 “I gave you everything,” she whispered. “Everything.”

 “And now I need more,” he said, his voice colder than ice as he reached out and held her hand. “You can’t be that selfish, right? I need to secure my legacy. You don’t belong in that world, Em. You never did. However– However, my legacy is for us. For our future.”

 Something inside her shattered–something she had guarded through every heartbreak, every betrayal. It splintered like ss hurled against Concrete, sharp and beyond repair.

 She nodded slowly. Somehow the pain didn’t burn anymore. It froze. Solid. Deep.

 “You’re right,” she said, calmly pulling her hand back and using it to wipe her tears away. “I don’t belong here. I—”

 “She’s already pregnant,” Samuel suddenly revealed.

 This time, Emery let out a chuckle.

 12:34 AM P P. 

 “I have to marry her. You should understand this, right?”

 Emery shook her head. She wanted to curse him, p him, but she didn’t. She couldn’t. She swallowed. He tried to hold her hand, but she quickly moved to the side.

 “Please…” she held her hand up and shook her head. “That’s enough.”

 “What do you mean, that’s enough??” Samuel actually looked confused, which only infuriated her further.

 She took a deep breath that she didn’t even realize she needed.

 “Em?” For the second time, he tried to hold her hand.

 This time, Emery took a step back.

 “Don’t Emery gritted her teeth as she met his eyes. There was no warmth left in her gaze. Only ice.

 -W

 It was the kind of cold that didn’t scream or shatter–it froze. Slow and lethal. Her stare didn’t shake, didn’t flicker. It held him there, like! a warning carved into stone. Then she let out a steady breath before she added, “Don’t make me do something we’ll both regret.”

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Opposite 2