BILLIONAIRE'S UNINTENDED BRIDE

Chapter 7: Nightfall's Embrace

Chapter 7: Nightfall's Embrace

The turmoil brewing within me was a relentless tempest, an incessant echo of frustration and loss. It was as if I were suspended between the ghost of the old Emily and the stark reality of the new one, with no memories to bridge the gap. Resolute in my decision to carve out my own path, to etch new memories in this blank canvas of my life, I prepared to step out into the night.

My plans took a dramatic turn when Luke walked into my room, his intention to apologize quickly dissolving as he caught sight of my outfit. "Emily, I just wanted to say—" His words trailed off, his eyes widening. "Where are you going dressed like that?"

With a newfound boldness, I replied, "I'm going out. I'm tired of waiting for memories that might never return. I'm making new ones now."

Luke's face transformed with concern. "And I'm exhausted from everyone clinging to the past. I don't give a damn about what the old Emily did or didn't do. This is me now, and it's time everyone, including you, accepts that."

He took a step closer, his voice tinged with frustration and a hint of desperation. "Emily, I'm not trying to cage you. I just don't think numbing yourself with drinks is the way to cope. And if you're set on going to a club, let me come with you. We can face this together."

I stood firm, my resolve unwavering. "I didn't ask you to come with me, Luke. This is something I need to do alone, without reminders of the past."

His frustration and pain were palpable.

Luke's response was raw and intense, his words laced with hurt. "Jesus, Emily, are you doing this just to punish me? I'm sorry I didn't tell you about how rushed our marriage was, but my love for you is real. And if you think I'm with you just for protection from your father, you're dead wrong. I don't need his protection. You're my wife, and I can't just let you walk into a club alone, a target for every leering eye. No way. I'm coming, whether you like it or not."

My response was laced with a fierce determination to reclaim some semblance of control over my life. "No, you are not coming with me. This is about me rediscovering who I am now, not clinging to the shadows of who I used to be," I asserted, my voice unwavering.

Luke's response was immediate and firm. "I don't care, I'm coming with you," he declared before striding out of the room, leaving no room for argument.

In a flurry of frustration, I rushed to get ready, hoping to slip out before he could follow. But my plan faltered as I stepped out of my room, finding both Luke and Sebastian waiting. They stood there, effortlessly handsome, exuding a magnetic charm that was impossible to ignore.

Luke's intense gaze met mine, his words resolute. "I told you, I'm not letting my wife go to a club alone, to be the target of every wandering eye. No fucking way. Now come on, the car is waiting for us." He grasped my hand, guiding me toward the elevator with a protective firmness.

Turning to Sebastian, I questioned his presence, "Why are you coming along? Luke forcibly invited himself, but what about you?" His smirk was playful. "Emily, you know I love the nightlife. How could I not join, especially when you're going?"

Luke shot Sebastian a lethal look, one that screamed, 'Back off from my wife.' Sebastian, undeterred, chuckled. "Jesus, Luke, relax. I'm just kidding. Emily knows I'm the fun brother, right?" His words were light, but they carried an undercurrent of provocation.

I rolled my eyes but remembered Luke's uninvited intrusion. In a moment of rebellion, I decided to play along. "Yes, Sebastian, you are the fun one. I can't wait to see what the night has in store for us."

The driver navigated the bustling streets, leading us to an exclusive club that Luke seemed to know well. As we arrived, the opulence of the place was unmistakable - it exuded luxury and exclusivity.

The pulsating beats of music and the low hum of sophisticated conversation greeted us as we stepped inside. Luke, with a protective firmness, held my hand, guiding me through the crowd. His grip was reassuring yet assertive, ensuring no one dared make an unwanted advance.

The vibrant atmosphere enveloped us like a sultry embrace, whispering promises of escapism and fleeting freedom. Maybe, just maybe, this night would offer a brief respite from the chains of a past I couldn't recall, a chance to live in the moment, however fleeting it might be.