The Storm Begins

A Heavy Silence

Emma barely slept.

Not that she expected to.

After the phone call—after hearing her mother's voice slither through the speaker like a snake waiting to strike—her body had gone numb.

She sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the floor, fingers clenched around the fabric of her nightshirt.

Alexander stood by the window, phone in hand, typing something. His face was unreadable, but Emma could tell he was furious.

The kind of fury that didn't burn loud—but destroyed silently.

Finally, she broke the silence.

"She's not going to stop, is she?"

Alexander's typing slowed.

Then—

"No."

Emma swallowed.

Her throat felt tight.

Her entire life, she had waited for her mother to change. To leave her alone. To let her breathe.

But that was never going to happen.

Not unless—

"I have to do something," Emma whispered.

Alexander turned.

His sharp, piercing gaze met hers.

"You don't have to do anything."

Emma scoffed.

"She's my problem."

"No," Alexander corrected. "She's mine now."

A shiver ran down Emma's spine.

Because she believed him.

—

A Deal with the Devil

Emma stood, hugging her arms.

"You can't just make my problems disappear."

Alexander's lips curved into a smirk.

"Watch me."

Emma exhaled sharply.

"You can't control everything."

Alexander took a slow step toward her.

"I don't need to control everything."

Another step.

"Just the things that matter."

He stopped in front of her.

Close.

Too close.

Her pulse spiked.

"You matter, Emma."

Her breath hitched.

"You don't even know me."

Alexander's gaze darkened.

"You think that, but you're wrong."

Emma swallowed.

She didn't want to admit how much that affected her.

How much he affected her.

"Let me handle this," Alexander said softly.

A dangerous promise.

Emma hesitated.

She knew letting him get involved would change everything.

But she also knew she wasn't strong enough to fight this battle alone.

Not anymore.

"Fine," she murmured.

Alexander smirked.

But his eyes—

His eyes burned.

"You won't regret it."

Emma wasn't so sure.

Because making a deal with Alexander Kingston?

That felt a lot like signing a contract with the devil.

—

The Morning After

The next morning, Emma woke up to the scent of coffee.

She blinked, groggy.

Alexander was sitting on the couch, reading the news on his phone, a fresh cup of coffee on the table beside him.

Her stomach tightened.

He looked completely at home here.

Too at home.

She sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"You stayed."

Alexander didn't glance up.

"Of course."

Emma bit her lip.

"You didn't have to."

At that, Alexander set his phone down.

Then he met her gaze.

"Yes, I did."

Emma's pulse skipped.

Because the way he said it—

Like it was the most obvious thing in the world—

Made her chest ache.

—

The Knock That Changed Everything

The moment was broken by a knock at the door.

Sharp.

Loud.

Emma frowned.

Alexander's entire expression shifted.

Cold.

Calculating.

Like he already knew who it was.

Emma slid out of bed, smoothing her shirt.

"I'll get it—"

"No."

Alexander was already standing.

Already walking to the door.

Already prepared for whatever was waiting on the other side.

Emma's stomach twisted.

Because when he opened it—

She saw her mother.

—

Face to Face with the Past

Emma's breath caught.

Her mother stood in the doorway, a perfectly practiced smile on her lips.

A smile Emma knew too well.

Manipulative.

Fake.

"Darling," her mother cooed. "Aren't you going to invite me in?"

Emma's body locked.

No.

Not again.

Not this time.

Before she could answer, Alexander stepped forward.

His presence was instant.

Commanding.

Terrifying.

"You're trespassing," he said smoothly.

Her mother blinked at him.

Then she laughed.

"Oh, sweetheart. You must be Alexander."

Alexander didn't blink.

"You have five seconds to leave."

Her mother smiled wider.

"Or what?"

A pause.

Then—

"You'll find out."

—

The Unspoken Warning

Emma's hands trembled.

She clenched them into fists.

Her mother's gaze flickered back to her.

"You're making a mistake, Emma."

Emma lifted her chin.

"No. You made the mistake."

Her mother's smile faltered.

But only for a second.

Then she stepped back.

"You'll regret this," she whispered.

Alexander smirked.

"She won't."

And then—

He shut the door in her face.

—

A Promise in the Dark

Emma stood frozen.

Alexander turned to her.

"She won't bother you again."

Emma's stomach twisted.

"You don't know that."

Alexander stepped closer.

His gaze locked onto hers.

"I know everything, sweetheart."

A shiver ran down her spine.

And for the first time—

She believed him.