My Love for You Has Never Withered

My uncle’s rival, Emmett Meyer, saved me twice.

The first time, I was drowning after a shipwreck—until he cut through the waves on a speedboat and dragged me ashore.

The second time was after someone had slipped drugs into my drink.

That night, I seduced him, a hardened man ten years my senior.

In the dim glow of a private room, he guided my hand downward and growled, “I want you so bad, Babe.”

He took me ruthlessly, ignoring my sobs and pleas.

From then on, Emmett—the untamable “Prince of Silverbridge”—abandoned his reckless ways and devoted himself to me. Or so I believed.

Then one day, he coaxed me into his Rolls-Royce and captured our tryst on camera. I flushed with embarrassment and secret delight.

Later, as I hurried after him to return some documents he had left behind, I heard the sneers whispered in the hallway:

“You’re so wild, Emmett. Everyone heard your girl moaning.”

“Damn, the car rocked so hard I thought you’d break it.”

“Hey, if Franklin Reed ever finds out that his precious niece has been your plaything for three years… think he’ll have a heart attack?”

My heart lurched, freezing me in place.

"Hahaha! Franklin's busy playing corporate chess with Emmett, completely unaware that the guy’s already raided his home turf!" one voice crowed.

"Our Emmett even staged that shipwreck rescue—made Franklin's precious niece fall for him right then and there!"

"They’ve dated for years now—how many photos of her has he snapped? When’s Emmett ending this game?

“I’d kill to see her meltdown... but God, Franklin’s face when he finds out his treasure got snatched by Emmett."

Emmett and his friends roared with laughter, oblivious to my presence just beyond the elevator doors.

Their words echoed in my mind, pounding against my sanity.

Emmett Meyer…

Had his heroic rescue been a calculated trap?

Had our entire relationship just been a move in his vendetta against Uncle Franklin?

"Cat got your tongue?" someone jeered at Emmett.

"You only chased Claire because Franklin stole that prime piece of real estate in Brighton Reach, didn’t you? Don’t tell us you’ve actually fallen for this girl?"

"Fallen for her?"

The man who’d murmured "Babe" only moments before now stood silhouetted against the window, his silence louder than any confession.

He flicked the lighter open and shut with careless precision, a mocking smile on his lips.

"Franklin has been my sworn enemy since we were kids. You all know how much he treasures his niece, right?

“So, when do you think would be the best time to release those photos? Maybe... the day of Claire’s graduation ceremony?

“I’d pay to see the look on Franklin’s face when he discovers his treasured girl’s... performances."

"Brilliant as always, Emmett!"

Then they all burst into laughter, voices thick with excitement and anticipation.

My palms turned clammy, and I felt my heart jump to my throat.

I turned and fled, tears streaking silent trails under the neon lights.

So this so-called act of