CHAPTER 11

But her emotions were still boiling over. In her frustration and impulsiveness, she grabbed a nearby match from one of the garden's storage sheds. Maybe a little chaos will get their attention, she thought, trying to release some of the anger she felt. She found a pile of dry leaves and twigs and lit them, not thinking about the consequences.

Within minutes, the small fire grew larger than she had anticipated. The flames spread quickly, consuming a portion of the garden as they licked higher into the sky. Panic surged through Emily as she realized the gravity of her actions. What have I done?

Her heart raced as she watched helplessly, the fire growing beyond her control. She hadn't meant for this to happen—it was just supposed to be a small act of rebellion, not something destructive. Guilt washed over her as she stood frozen, watching the flames.

She wanted to fix it, to undo what she had started, but it was too late. The damage had already been done. Ethan and the bodyguards would arrive soon, and she'd have to face the consequences of her impulsiveness. Tears welled up in her eyes as the weight of her actions sank in.

Margaret, seeing the chaos unfolding in the garden, immediately grabbed her phone and dialed Ethan. Her voice was frantic as she urged him to return home right away. The fire had spread quickly, and the situation was escalating.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Ethan was still fixated on finding out who the man was that he suspected had been involved with Emily. He had instructed David to investigate thoroughly, but deep down, part of him was uncertain.

When Margaret's call came through, telling him about the garden fire, Ethan wasn't surprised. A small smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. This little girl has some nerve, he thought, both frustrated and impressed by her boldness.

Just as Ethan was preparing to leave, David returned from his investigation. "There's no man," David reported. "I couldn't trace anyone connected to Emily. It's possible she was telling the truth about the mark being nothing more than a mosquito bite."

Ethan let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. He felt an unexpected sense of relief washing over him. Maybe he had been too hard on her, doubting her when she was just caught in the middle of his protectiveness and overreactions. She was right all along, he thought, guilt now creeping in for not believing her sooner.

David, who had known Ethan for years, looked at him knowingly and added, "You know, Emily's a lot like you, Ethan. She's stubborn, bold, and independent. If she was involved with someone, she wouldn't hide it. She wouldn't sneak around. And if she were dating anyone, trust me, it wouldn't be something we'd uncover this easily."