Chapter 153: Leave Me Alone
Emma sat at her desk in her and Alex's room, completely absorbed in the delicate lines of her latest dress design.
The tip of her pencil moved gracefully over the sketchpad, shaping a flowing evening gown with intricate lace details. Designing had always been her escape and her own way of expressing herself without words.
She was just about to add the finishing touches when the door burst open. She jolted, her pencil slipping and leaving an unintended mark on the paper.
Alex rushed in, his face tense, his breathing uneven like he had run all the way there even though he had only been downstairs bringing water to Emma when Chris called him.
Emma frowned, lowering her pencil. "Alex? What's going on?" She took in his expression, concern immediately replacing the irritation of being interrupted. "Why do you look so tense?"
Alex ran a hand through his hair, pacing for a second before stopping in front of her. "Claire... she didn't have dinner with Chris's mother like she was supposed to," he said and Emma could feel the tension in his voice.
Emma's frown deepened. "What? Why?"
Alex let out a frustrated breath. "Because Chris's aunt—she knows about Claire's secret," he said making Emma brows draw together in confusion.
Emma sat up straighter. "Secret?" she asked with a confused frown and Alex nodded, his jaw tightening.
Emma searched his face. "What secret, Alex?"
Alex looked away for a moment, his hands clenched into fists. "It's the past I told you about concerning Claire. Her dark past and everything that happened twenty-nine years ago," he said with a sigh.