Winning Her Heart Back

 Torn Apart

At Eastbay, William had actually invited Emelie to eat there.

Emelie, who held a fork in one hand and a knife in the other, cut into the steak in front of her with a blank expression.

She didn't like eating raw meat and didn't care about the taste. The steak had been cooked to a medium well, with the crispy edges making a satisfying crunch when the knife sliced through them.

Jodie was also uncomfortable with William's choice of meeting place. "I'll come with you." Emelie chewed slowly. "Don't tell Wesley. I don't want him to overthink things."

After a moment of hesitation, Jodie decided to follow her orders. "Understood."

The next evening, Emelie went to Eastbay with Jodie and two bodyguards.

Three years had passed since she had last set foot in this place. Emelie still remembered the days before she left Capebatt City when William had kept her here.

During that time, William had been acting strangely.

He had insisted on playing the role of a devoted lover. They didn't just go to the hospital together, they went to work together. He even made up a story that she was pregnant and hired several cooks and nannies to wait on her at home.

Pregnant? A sarcastic smile played around the corner of Emelie's mouth.

Jodie stepped forward and rang the doorbell. The door opened before she finished ringing it twice. William had answered the door himself. The coldness in his dark eyes softened as his gaze fell on Emelie.

He stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. "You're here."

He wasn't wearing a suit but a black turtleneck and black trousers. The fitted sweater accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist.

"Mr. Middleton, how could I not come when you've extended such a gracious invitation?" Emelie entered, with Jodie following close behind.

William said indifferently, "You know I don't like strangers in my house."

What he said clearly implied that Jodie and the bodyguards weren't welcome inside.

Emelie turned to face him, she didn't think he would dare to hurt her. "Jodie, wait outside."

Jodie gave William a wary look before nodding. "If you need anything, just call for me."

William held the door open without closing it so that Jodie could have a view of Emelie from the outside.Belongs © to NôvelDrama.Org.

He said, in a calm tone, "No need to be so tense. When have I ever really hurt you?"

Emelie found the comment so ridiculous that she didn't even bother to reply.

She started to look around the villa. "Mr. Middleton, I heard you don't live here anymore, but it still looks exactly the same."

She wasn't shy about mentioning the past.

William was watching her from behind. "I've had the place cleaned regularly. It's just as it was when you

left."

Their conversation flowed so naturally that it was as if Emelie had simply gone abroad for a few years, not that she had almost drowned in the ocean, never to return.

William led her into the dining room and pulled out a chair for her. "Come, see if these dishes are to your liking."

"They're fine," she replied.

In truth, Emelie hadn't really looked at them. She sat down and went straight to the point. "Mr. Middleton, what price do you want for the old house of the Pierce family?"

William picked up a bowl and a ladle, poured out a bowl of creamy white soup, and handed it to her. "It's cold outside. Have some lamb soup to warm you up. I've added pepper. It should taste good."

Emelie took the bowl but put it on the table. "Dinner can wait. Let's talk business first. The house is a historic building from the past. Obviously, it's not going to be valued according to the market price.

"I've had a professional estimate a fair market value, and I'm prepared to add 30 percent to that price. Now, Mr. Middleton, is that satisfactory to you?"

William didn't answer her question. Instead, he concentrated on her calm face and repeated, "Drink it while it's hot."

Emelie's expression remained unchanged, though a trace of displeasure appeared at the corners of her lips.

William met her gaze and said in a low voice, "My main concern is food. As for the house, I can give it to you as a gift if you want it."

"That's not a gift." Emelie sneered. "It's called returning stolen property."

"You can call it whatever you like. I only invited you here for dinner," he said.

William noticed that, even though she was wearing a sweater and coat, she still looked thin and frail.

He couldn't help but frown. "Has he not taken good care of you these last few years? How did you lose so much weight?"

Emelie suddenly burst into laughter.

She had always maintained a peaceful and natural demeanor towards William and the other three families from the minute she appeared at Henry's memorial.

As the media had "clarified", it was as if there was no deep-rooted enmity between them, no talk of murder and body dumping. Until now, that was.

His worried tone of questioning shattered the facade that she had maintained for so long.

How could he have the nerve to blame other people for not looking after her? No, how could he have the nerve to care about her at all?

Emelie stared at him in disbelief as she leaned back in her chair.

As the seconds ticked by, her gaze grew colder and colder, until it felt like the entire world had frozen over. It was the kind of reaction one would have when they meet their enemies.