Chapter Twenty-One Emily’s POV

The greenhouse had become our place again.Not every day, but when the weight of the world felt too heavy, when my parents’ packing boxes appeared in the living room or when the fear of leaving became too loud, we found our way back here. Tonight was one of those nights.Rain pattered softly against the cracked glass roof. The air smelled of wet earth and wild jasmine. Dim moonlight filtered through the vines, casting silver patterns across the old wooden bench where we sat.Aiden was quieter than usual. He sat close tonight, closer than he had in weeks, our shoulders brushing. The careful distance we had maintained was slowly dissolving, moment by moment.“I told my parents I want to stay until the end of the year,” I said softly, staring at my hands. “They didn’t say yes… but they didn’t say no either.”Aiden turned toward me. “That’s something.”“It feels like everything is slipping away,” I whispered. “The scholarship. My plans. This… whatever this is between us.”He was silent fo

Chapter Twenty-Two Aiden’s POV

The rain had stopped, but the air still carried that fresh, clean scent as we left the greenhouse. Emily’s hand was warm in mine, fingers loosely intertwined like she was still deciding how much she wanted to hold on. After our first real kiss, everything felt different, lighter, but also more fragile.“I should get you home,” I said quietly, not wanting the night to end. “It’s getting late.”She nodded, but didn’t let go of my hand. “My bus should be coming soon.”I hesitated, then squeezed her fingers gently. “Let me drive you. No big deal. I just… I don’t want you waiting alone in the dark.”Emily looked up at me, searching my face. For a moment I thought she’d say no, her usual careful instinct kicking in. But something in her eyes softened.“Okay,” she whispered. “But just to the corner near my building. My parents…”“I know,” I said quickly. “I won’t make it complicated.”The drive was quiet but comfortable. Emily gave me directions, her voice soft as the city lights passed by.

Chapter Twenty Three - Emily’s POV

The rain had eased into a gentle mist by the time we reached Aiden’s mansion. His parents were away again, Milan and Tokyo this time and the huge house felt even more empty than usual. I had hesitated when he asked me to come over after our greenhouse kiss, but something in me had finally given in.I was tired of fighting what I felt.We barely made it through the front door before he pulled me close. This time, there was no careful distance. No hesitation. His hands framed my face as he kissed me deeply, desperately, like he’d been starving for this moment for weeks.“Emily…” he breathed against my lips, voice rough. “Tell me if you want to stop. Anytime.”“I don’t want to stop,” I whispered, my fingers curling into his shirt. “Not tonight.”He led me upstairs to his bedroom, never breaking the kiss for long. The room was massive, but I barely noticed the luxury. All I saw was him, the way his hands trembled slightly as he helped me out of my damp hoodie, the reverence in his eyes as

Chapter Twenty- Four Aiden’s POV

I knew something was wrong the moment I stepped into the greenhouse.Emily wasn’t there.The rain hammered against the cracked glass roof, but the usual warmth I felt when waiting for her was gone. I checked my phone again. No new messages. The last one I’d sent her, On my way sat unread.I waited twenty minutes, pacing the damp wooden floor, heart already twisting with unease. She had been so happy last night. After we’d finally been together, after she had trusted me with her body and her heart, she had kissed me goodbye with soft eyes and whispered that she couldn’t wait to see me today.So where was she?I pulled out my phone and called her. Straight to voicemail.“Emily, it’s me. I’m at the greenhouse. Are you okay? Call me back.”I tried again. And again. Each time it went to voicemail.Panic started creeping in.I left the greenhouse and ran through the rain toward the main campus, hoping maybe she’d gone to the library instead. But our table was empty. Her usual spot by the w

Chapter Twenty Five - Emily POV

I never went back to Westbridge. Not after that afternoon.Not after standing behind the greenhouse and listening to the boy I loved discuss the bet that had started everything.The memories still haunted me. Every word. Every laugh. Every second. Especially Aiden's silence. God. That silence. I had stood there waiting. Praying. Begging. For him to tell them they were lying. For him to say the bet had never happened. For him to defend us.Instead, all I'd heard was:"Drop it."Not that's not true. Not leave her out of this. Not you're wrong. Just...Drop it.As if our relationship was an embarrassing topic. As if I was an uncomfortable conversation he wanted to avoid.The memory made my chest ache. I blinked away the tears threatening to form and focused on folding another sweater into the open suitcase on my bed. My room looks different now. Empty. Boxes lined the walls. Drawers stood open. The life I'd built here was disappearing piece by piece. Tomorrow morning, I will leave Londo

Chapter Twenty-Four Aiden POV

Three months.Emily had been gone for three months. Ninety-two days. Not that I was counting. I stared at the map pinned to the wall of my bedroom.It was covered in notes. Addresses. Cities. Universities. Job listings. Every possible lead I had managed to find. Every dead end. Every place I thought Emily Kane might be. Every place she wasn't.The map looked ridiculous. Obsessive. Unhealthy. My mother had called it concerning. My father had called it a distraction. I called it hope. Because if I stopped searching, I would have to accept that she was really gone and I wasn't ready for that. Not yet, maybe not ever.A knock sounded on my bedroom door. I didn't answer. The door opened anyway, and my father stepped inside. His gaze immediately landed on the map. The same way it always did, with concern, disappointment and pity. I hated pity, especially from him."You're skipping dinner again."I returned my attention to the map."I'm not hungry.""You haven't been hungry for three mont