Emily, taken by surprise, tried to push him away. "This isn’t your house, Nicholas. You can't just show up whenever you feel like it," she snapped, struggling against him. But his hold only tightened, his arms firm around her as though refusing to let go.
"You didn't sound okay on the phone," he replied, his voice softer now, filled with genuine worry. "I was worried. What happened?" He gently pulled away and cupped her face with his hands, his gaze searching her eyes for an explanation.
Emily narrowed her eyes, irritation mixing with the unease swirling inside her. "Nicholas, can you be a bit more reasonable? I'm fine. Just go home," she said, her voice cold as she attempted to push him away once more.
Nicholas stared at her, confused and frustrated. His frown deepened as he tried to understand what had caused this sudden shift in her mood. Everything had been fine just this morning. They had been at peace, or so he thought.