Forever Yours

CHAPTER 2

Get away from her!

Emily was jolted awake by the sound of the doorbell ringing insistently. Groggy and still feeling the weight of the previous day's events, she rubbed her eyes and stumbled to the front door. When she opened it, her breath caught in her throat. Standing there was Ryan, her ex-boyfriend, looking more agitated than she had ever seen him.

"What do you want?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.

"I need you to pack my things," he said abruptly, stepping inside without invitation. "Katherine is ignoring me. I don't want her to see you wearing my hoodies and jackets around the neighborhood making things harder for her.

Emily's heart raced, a mix of fury and disbelief surging through her. Just yesterday, Ryan had been trying to explain himself, and now he was acting as if he had the right to dictate her actions. "You've got to be kidding me," she replied, her voice rising. "You come here after everything, and that's what you say?"

"Just do it, Emily. I don't want any trouble," he insisted, a hint of desperation creeping into his tone.

"Trouble?" she echoed, incredulous. "You're the one who caused all of this!"

But Ryan was already turning away, leaving her no choice but to comply. As she packed his things—hoodies, jackets, and the few mementos he had left behind—her anger boiled beneath the surface. With every item she tossed into a box, she felt a sense of power reclaiming a small piece of her life.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she finished packing and stormed back to the door. She opened it wide, shoving the box toward him. "Here! Take your stuff and get out!"

Ryan's expression darkened as he caught sight of the items in the box. "You packed everything? Even the things I bought for you?" His voice was incredulous, laced with disbelief.

"Why would I want to keep anything that reminds me of you?" she shot back, her frustration boiling over.

"Do you hate me that much?" he asked, his tone sharp.

Emily glared at him, refusing to answer. She started to close the door, but he shoved his foot in the way, blocking her.

"Don't walk away from me!" he shouted, his voice rising.

"Get out of my way, Ryan!" she yelled back, her heart pounding.

As the argument escalated, Emily felt the air thickening with tension. In a blind rage, Ryan raised his hand and slapped her across the face. The sting of the blow was shocking, and Emily staggered back, her eyes wide in disbelief.

Just then, Henry pulled up in the driveway. He saw the scene unfolding in front of him and rushed out of Emily's car, adrenaline coursing through him.

"Emily!" he shouted, rushing to her side, concern etched on his face. He turned to Ryan, fists clenched. "Get away from her!"

Ryan sneered, his anger still boiling. "This is none of your business."

In a flash, Henry lunged forward and punched Ryan square in the face, sending him stumbling back. "Piss off," he growled, stepping protectively in front of Emily.

As Ryan staggered away, Henry turned to Emily, his expression softening. "Are you okay?"

She nodded, still reeling from the shock of what had just happened. "I—I think so."

"Let's get you inside," he said gently, taking her arm and guiding her back into the house. Once they were inside, he closed the door behind them and leaned against it, as if to block out the world outside.

"Here, sit down," he urged, leading her to the couch. He grabbed a cloth and dampened it with cold water before pressing it gently against her cheek. "Does it hurt?"

"A little," Emily admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry you had to deal with him," Henry said, his voice low and steady. "You didn't deserve that."

She looked up at him, grateful but still shaken. "I thought I was done with him."

Henry's gaze was unwavering. "You are done with him. No one gets to treat you like that."

Emily felt tears welling in her eyes, a mixture of relief and sadness. "I just wanted to move on, to find myself again."

"And you will," Henry promised, his hand reassuring on her shoulder. "I'm here to help you through this."

As she sat there, surrounded by Henry's unwavering support, Emily realized that maybe, just maybe, she could start to heal.

Hey readers!

Thanks for reading Forever Yours!
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I usually update new chapters on Weekend. Stay tuned for next chapter!

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