Winning Her Heart Back

 Give My Life To You

"It's just an allergy, or maybe it's a change in weather. I'm still getting used to it. It'll be fine after I use a face mask tonight," Emelie said.

Emelie tried to brush it off but Samuel wasn't buying it. "You're a Coastalburg native. Born and raised here. You've lived in this city for over twenty years, and you're telling me that you suddenly can't handle the climate here?'

Emelie fell silent, realizing she was running out of excuses. She quickly changed the subject.

"Your train's about to leave. You should go,' she urged.

Samuel remained in his wheelchair, staying put. "I'm not going anywhere. How can I leave knowing that things are like this between you two?"

Emelie smiled gently. "And you staying would fix everything?'

Samuel was puzzled. "How could Wesley ever lay a hand on you? He loves you so much...

Emelie explained softly, "We just got heated and said some things that we didn't mean. But it's over now. I'm not upset anymore. In a few days, when we've both cooled down, it'll be fine."

Samuel pressed his lips together. 'I'm sorry."

He knew that his request of Emelie had sparked the tension between her and Wesley.

"There's no need for apologies between us." Emelie waved it off.

After she finally saw Samuel off, Emelie was about to leave. She turned around, only to find William waiting for her.

He stared at the faint red mark on her cheek and asked the same thing Samuel did. "Did he really hit you?"

Emelie's expression remained blank as she brushed past him. "There's no need for your concern, Mr. Middleton."

William's face darkened, and he grabbed Emelie's hand. Without giving her a chance to resist, he pulled her out of the train station.

Emelie gave up struggling after knowing she couldn't break free from his grasp.

Once outside, William tried to steer her toward his car.

Suddenly, Emelie suddenly drew a small knife from her waist and thrust it at him.

William swiftly leaned back just and avoided the blade. In a flash, he grabbed her wrist, twisted it, and hid the knife under their sleeves to avoid drawing attention.

He scanned the surroundings quickly, making sure that no one had noticed.

"If the security sees you with a weapon, you'll be spending the night at the police station," he said.

"How many times do I have to tell you to keep your hands off me, Mr. Middleton?" Emelie replied with a blank expression.This content provided by N(o)velDrama].[Org.

William's gaze dropped to meet hers. "I thought that was in the past and things are different between us now." "Don't flatter yourself. If you've got something to say, say it." Emelie shook off his grip, pushed him away, and tucked the knife back into its sheath.

Still, William got Emelie into his car.

"I need to see your face," he said.

With that, he hit the gas and drove straight to Sunnington Hill.

Once there, he pulled her out of the car, led her inside, and took her to the master bedroom.

He pushed open the bathroom door and grabbed a towel from the counter. He pressed it into a bottle of liquid

and began wiping her face. The chemical scent of makeup remover filled the air.

William remained silent as he carefully removed her makeup. His touch was surprisingly gentle as if he was afraid of adding pain to her bruise

Emelie turned her head away, but William firmly guided it back, unyielding.

Finally, her skin was bare, clean, and free of any marks

William furrowed his brows and leaned in to take a closer look.

Emelie flashed a smile. 'What's wrong? Disappointed to see nothing there, Mr. Middleton?" William pressed his lips together. "So, has the bruise already healed, or did he not hit you?" Emelie pushed him away. "Why do I need to explain anything to you, Mr. Middleton?"

With her makeup already ruined, she grabbed another towel and wiped the rest of her face.

"You do. If he really did hit you, I'd bring the entire Filo family down and make them apologize to you," William said calmly.

William wasn't one to make empty threats, and Emelie knew that.

She glanced at him in the mirror. "Then you better start with killing yourself. It was just a slap, but you left me with a scar on my chest that will never fade."

William had seen that scar. On the night when she was drugged, he kissed it over and over. He could

remember the rough and uneven skin that made it hard to breathe for him.

Even now, as he thought about it, it made his chest ache deeply.

He replied, "I told you before, once I finish what I need to do, I'll give my life to you in return.'

Emelie lowered her head and splashed some water from the faucet onto her face. Then, she took a paper towel and patted her cheeks dry. She started walking out without looking at him

"I'm leaving," she said.

William abruptly caught her by the arm. "You're going to Alderbrook to visit your adoptive parents, aren't you?

Emelie eyed him suspiciously. "How do you know?"

"Just a guess. Now that the Swansons are dealt with, I figured you'd buy a couple of lilies and visit them. I'll drive you there," William said.

He remembered Emelie's warning. She had told him that he wasn't allowed to enter the Hoven family home and that he didn't have the right to.

He let out a sigh and said softly, 'I won't go inside. I'll just drop you at the gate. Is that okay?"