After that conversation with Chloe, Gray didn’t bring the topic up again with Mara. However, fearing that Chloe might do sothing reckless, he decided to contact Emily instead.
Just like what he and Mara talked about, talking to Jonathan alone was not really possible. And so, he wanted to try to talk to Emily. Not to persuade her to talk to his father, but instead, talk to her about Chloe’s well-being.
To Gray’s surprise, she agreed almost imdiately.
After talking it out, they settled to et in a small cafe just a few ters away from ofice. Emily said that with the quietness and the atmosphere of the cafe, they will be able to talk casually and say words that they really wanted to say.
3 days after, and it was the ti.
Gray arrived at the cafe and was surprised to see that Emily was already there.
She was seated by the window with a cup of coffee in front of her. She was looking outside the window, with her phone resting on the table. She was wearing a simple dress, while her hair was neatly tied back.
’She arrived early, hasn’t she?’ His brows rose as he stayed in the doorway for a mont.
For so reason, sothing about looking at her current state reminded him of the first ti they t.
Back then, he didn’t realize how big his life would change in that one eting. eting her for the first ti, he was wearing his old clothes. And now, he was wearing an expensive coat that cost thousands.
’But it’s funny how she hasn’t changed at all.’ The corner of Gray’s lips curved in a smile.
It was not just in an appearance but also in presence. Just by looking at her now, you could tell that she’s calm and composed.
’I guess, so things really don’t change,’ Gray thought as he was hit by nostalgia.
With that, he finally stepped forward and walked toward her.
"Emily," he called her na to pull her attention away from the window.
"Oh," Emily quickly turned her head to the side, her eyes widening slightly in surprise. At the sight of Gay, a small smile appeared on his lips.
"Gray. You’re already here."
"Yeah," he replied before taking the seat across from her. "Sorry if I kept you waiting."
"It’s fine," she said, shaking her head. "I just got here early. You just arrived on ti."
For so reason, Gray wanted to laugh at that answer. It reminded him of the old tis.
"Anyway, thank you for agreeing."
"It’s fine."
"Yeah..."
An awkward silence followed them.
Gray cleared his throat lightly and leaned back against his chair.
"So..." he didn’t know how to start at all. He sounded hesitant as if weighing his words. "I wanted to talk to you about Chloe."
Emily’s expression didn’t change much. If anything, the smile on her lips beca a little more knowing, a little softer.
"I figured," she said gently. "I was already expecting it. I heard that Chloe went to see you."
"You heard about it?"
Emily slowly nodded. She lifted her coffee and took a slow sip from it before placing it back down.
"Yeah, and now only that. The mont you ssaged , I had a feeling this was about her. You wouldn’t have reached out to otherwise."
"You’re probably right." Gray rubbed the back of his head.
Emily tilted her head slightly, studying his expression for a mont. There was no defensiveness in her eyes.
"Go on, Gray," she said. "Tell what’s on your mind."
"Right..." Gray sighed before saying what he had been aning to say.
"Chloe’s not taking things well," he revealed honestly. "I know that’s probably not news to you, but she’s really hurt and confused. And she feels like she was pushed aside by you and Jonathan."
Hearing those words, Emily’s smile faded. She pressed her lips together and looked at Gray more intently.
"I know...." she said in a low voice.
"I’m not here to bla you. Or ask you to take sides. I just... I’m worried about her and also you." Gray exhaled.
Emily was quiet for a mont after that. Her fingers tightened slightly around the cup. When she looked back up at him, there was a sincerity in his eyes.
It ward her heart.
"Thank you," she said softly. "For worrying about her. And for worrying about too."
"A lot of people would have gone straight to judging," Emily continued. "Or they would have assud things without asking. So... I appreciate this."
She sighed.
"I know Chloe feels betrayed," she said after a mont. "And honestly, I don’t bla her for that. If I were in her place, I’d probably feel the sa way."
Gray listened closely to her.
"I never ant to hide anything from her," Emily went on. "But things happened so fast. Dad didn’t even tell at first. One day, he just ntioned he was seeing soone, and the next thing I knew, she was being brought into the company."
"By the ti Chloe found out, it already looked like everyone else knew before her. That’s on us... and on too."
"She felt like you chose his side." Gray’s eyes softened at that.
Emily winced slightly. "I figured."
She muttered bus she shook her head.
"But that’s not true. I just... didn’t know how to stand in the middle without making things worse."
"Dad doesn’t listen when it cos to this. The more you push him, the more stubborn he gets. I know that confronting him directly would only hurt us."
"So you stayed quiet," he said.
Emily nodded slowly.
"And to be honest," she said quietly, "I don’t like her either."
"I really don’t," Emily continued, her tone getting more serious. "From the very beginning, sothing about her felt off to ."
"I hate saying that, because it makes sound bitter. But it’s the truth. Emily muttered as her jaw clenched.
"She knows exactly what she’s doing."
Gray’s eyes were all on her now.
"She has Dad completely wrapped around her finger," Emily said. "Every suggestion she makes, he treats like it’s gold, and every concern we say, he dismisses it as jealousy or overthinking."
"So you an—"
"Yes, Gray. I’m being careful. Don’t worry. I’ll get her out of my family."
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