Sex Addiction ✔

27

Emily's POV.

News spreads quickly online.

I put Natalie to sleep and pick up my phone to call from the balcony.

"Emily, did you see it? The misunderstanding is completely cleared up," Hunter says on the other end of the line.

"Yeah, it's great."

I have completely turned the tide of public opinion, along with Sophia's innocent boyfriend. He truly loves Sophia and came to her hometown from the United States. But Sophia was the one who changed her heart first.

"Sophia is done," Hunter continues, "She betrayed those closest to her and was betrayed by them in turn. No one will hire her for films anymore... It's good you weren't dragged down with her..."

The sun outside seems a bit glaring.

I lower my head and ask Hunter to confirm, "Cayden didn't actually go bankrupt, did he?"

"What?"

I take a deep breath, "You always knew, right?"

"Emily... actually..." Hunter starts to say, but then falls silent.

I don't blame Hunter. He grew up with Cayden; their bond is stronger than mine. And with Cayden's assertive personality, if he wanted to force Hunter, he would surely succeed.

I hear the door open behind me.

"Goodbye." I hang up the phone and turn around.

Cayden stands before me. His hair is a bit messy, and there's dust on his shoes, but he has a relaxed smile on his face, "Emily, I'm back."

I smile too. "The act is over, Mr. Cayden. Shouldn't you go back to your mansion now?"

The way he wore a worn T-shirt and jeans in Finland was fake; so was his telling me that he was kicked out of London by his stepmother and had nowhere to go.

"You tricked me for so long. You must have found it amusing, right?"

The air falls silent.

"E-Emily... listen to me..." His eyes suddenly widen.

"The door is there. Get out."

"Emily... I didn't mean to..."

"I don't want to see you."

When Natalie wakes up, it's just me beside her.

She opens her eyes wide, instinctively searching around for Cayden, "Daddy?"

"From today, you'll be with Mommy." I pick her up and kiss her cheek.

I stay home for the next week, ignoring Cayden's daily text messages.

The weekend is sunny, and I take Natalie to the orphanage by taxi.

As the car gets on the highway to the suburbs, the driver glances at the rearview mirror, "Ma'am, do you know the car behind us? It's been following us."

I open my wallet and take out all the cash, "Please get rid of it. Thank you."

The car speeds up, and I close my eyes.

When the headmistress sees me, she's first surprised, then hugs me tightly. "Emily, it's been so long!"

"I'm sorry to have worried you." My eyes are a bit blurry.

This is the place I've lived the longest in my memory, like home; my involvement in a public scandal even brought trouble to the headmistress.

"I know you're a good kid," she replies.