Chapter 269

Emmalie slipped away from the Rowland family members, seeking refuge in the hospital bathroom. Thea had long since recovered from her car accident, yet Emmalie continued to play the part of a fragile patient, lying weakly on the hospital bed. Emmalie dialed a familiar number, and as the call went unanswered for a painfully long time, reality settled in. Amelia was probably a lost piece in her game now.

"Where am I going to find another lovesick fool to work for me?" she thought, frowning.

As Emmalie sat dejectedly on the toilet, the quiet click of the door lock startled her. Max was busy with work, and Ivy was preoccupied with preparing for a press conference. That left Duncan as her only caretaker in the hospital.

"What's wrong? I'm feeling a bit unwell," Emmalie spoke softly, her tone deliberately frail. Before she could finish, Duncan forced the door open, exposing her lie. His gaze was intense, layered with an emotion Emmalie dared not interpret. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Emmalie, ever since you returned to the Rowland family, you've been closest to me, haven't you?" Duncan's lips held a lingering curve. Duncan was cruel to others, but with Emmalie, he was extremely gentle.

Emmalie had sensed Duncan's feelings before. She'd even given subtle encouragement, knowing full well that Duncan, bold as he was, wouldn't dare act on them. Emmalie was no fool like Stephanie. She was determined to save her first night for Nicolas. When did Duncan's looks start becoming so brazen, so open? she thought.

In the tight confines of the bathroom, she found herself backed against the wall, unable to retreat. "You're my brother. How could I not care about you?" It was the first time Emmalie faced him directly like this. But Duncan was clearly unsatisfied with her answer. "Only brother? Emmalie, you know that's far from all I want."

For days, he had kept his feelings in check. But now, with Ivy and Max both out, Duncan could finally let his true intentions show. Unable to contain the fire burning within, he reached to pull Emmalie into his arms. When his first attempt failed, he tried again, more determined.

"What are you doing?" Emmalie's eyes widened in shock as his hot breath swept over her, overwhelming her and making her forget, if only for a second, her carefully crafted facade. "Think about Teri!" Emmalie had always enjoyed Ivy's favor, but she feared to imagine what Ivy might do if she walked in on them now.

"She has nothing to do with me," Duncan said, ignoring Emmalie's words. His grip tightened as if he wouldn't be satisfied until Emmalie was absorbed into him. "Emmalie, I know everything."

For a heartbeat, she felt as if her heart had stopped. How could Duncan know? How could he possibly know? she wondered, a chill creeping through her blood.

Duncan's voice echoed in her ear. "This is good for both of us, Emmalie. I don't believe you feel nothing for me. Your eyes say otherwise."

That was all an act, you fool, Emmalie cursed him inwardly, maintaining her fragile appearance. "Who told you my identity was false?"

Duncan ignored her question, repeating instead, "Emmalie, do you love me?"

Not a chance, she thought with scorn.

Seeing his emotions running high, Emmalie dared not deny him directly. She feared that a single misplaced word could expose the secrets she had buried for years. She forced herself to soften her body, leaning into him. "How could I not love you? If it weren't for you, why would I willingly stay with the Rowland family for ten whole years? Why would I endure all this, knowing I might hardly ever get to see you? Whatever my role, as long as I'm by your side, I'm content."

In the cramped bathroom, the air grew warmer and thick with tension. Duncan held Emmalie tightly, his strength almost reckless, eyes alight with uncontrollable excitement as though he wished he could consume her fragile form whole. Out of his sight, Emmalie's eyes revealed a glimmer of despair as she pleaded in a soft voice. "Please, don't touch me. I'm afraid if we cross this line, there'll be no going back. I just want to stay close to you."

Duncan had never been able to refuse Emmalie's pleas, especially now. He buried his head deeper into the delicate curve of her neck, his actions restrained despite his burning desire. "Anything you want, Emmalie. I can't live without you."

Neither of them noticed Teri's gift fall to the ground with a crash just outside the door. Her face was drained of color. She had only come at Mason's insistence to mend relations between the two families, but she never expected to witness such a shocking scene. Despite her fading feelings for Duncan, a pang of pain shot through her heart.

As Teri left, she didn't bother to pick up the fallen gift. Her first call went straight to Thea. "Miss Rowland, is it normal for Rowland family members to play games this twisted? My eyes hurt."

Thea was bewildered. Hearing Teri's account, Thea's feelings were a mix of disbelief and disgust. "Good thing I distanced myself from them early on. Whatever nasty things they get up to now have nothing to do with me."

The two agreed to meet at a cafe. As she looked at Thea, still wrapped in pristine white bandages from her accident, Teri's mind replayed the intertwined figures she'd seen in the hospital bathroom, making her stomach churn.

"For someone as cold and detached as Duncan, it's strange he'd treat Emmalie so differently," Teri said, slumping into her seat. "I even tried so hard to win Emmalie's approval just to please him. Turns out it was all one big joke." A wave of bitterness and pain swept over Teri. Her body went limp. She had never felt so helpless before.

Thea, too, was appalled at how quickly Duncan and Emmalie had crossed that line. Their behavior was shameless.

"Miss Rowland, Emmalie has tried time and again to put you in harm's way. Surely you're not planning to let her off easily?"

"I have a video I just recorded. If this goes online, they'll be ruined together," said Teri.

Having left Duncan, Teri's mind was clear. Though she hadn't bothered to collect the gift, she'd had time to film the compromising scene. Anyone who knew the Rowland family could easily recognize the figures and voices in the video.

Seeing the footage, Thea shared Teri's intrusion. She nearly gagged. "That's disgusting!" Her face twisted in visible disdain as she snapped the screen shut. "But we can't release this video just yet."

"Why not?" Teri asked, confused. "After everything the Rowland family has done to you, are you still trying to protect their reputation? I'm not as patient as you. I want these two to pay."

Teri didn't want to dwell on how long Duncan and Emmalie had been involved. Could it have been while Duncan and I were still together? she wondered bitterly.