As the bus rumbled through the streets, the familiar weight of Jake's presence by her side seemed to fade into the background. Emma had become accustomed to the easy comfort of his closeness—the way he would always reach out, share a smile, or make a teasing comment. But now… there was an undeniable distance between them.
Emma's fingers brushed the edge of the seat in front of her, and she felt the sudden shift as Jake moved without a word. He didn't take the seat next to her like he usually did. Instead, he went to the one behind her, settling into it without a glance, without any acknowledgment of her presence. The hum of the bus seemed louder in the silence.
Emma tried not to notice. She focused on the window, watching the world blur by. But a part of her couldn't help but wonder what had changed. Why the distance? The questions lingered, but she pushed them away—just as she had before when she tried to ignore her feelings.
The rain began to fall again, soft taps against the windows. She couldn't shake the memory of the last time it had rained like this—the way Jake had held her hand when the mud had made her slip, how he had pulled her toward him to keep her from falling.
What had changed?
The thought echoed in her mind as she stared out, feeling as though the cold glass separated her not only from the outside world, but from the person she had grown so close to. The person who, just a few days ago, would've never let her sit alone.
When they arrived at the mansion, the atmosphere shifted again. The night had fallen, and with it came the usual quiet of the estate. The sound of the rain tapping against the pavement felt like the only noise in the world. Jake stepped off the bus first, moving quickly, hands in his pockets.
Without a word, he turned to leave.
Emma's heart squeezed. The sudden chill in the air wasn't from the weather—it was from him. The same Jake who had been warm, open, and willing to stand by her side now seemed like a stranger. The distance between them felt like an abyss, and she couldn't just stand there, feeling it swallow her whole.
"Jake…" Her voice cracked as she hurried after him, reaching out before she could stop herself.
He stopped, his back stiffening as she caught his arm. "Jake, what's happened? Why—why are you pulling away?"
He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could answer, a voice interrupted.
"Emma."
It was David. He appeared from the shadows, tall and imposing, his eyes sharp and knowing. "Your parents have arrived."
Emma's chest tightened. Her parents.
The car that arrived wasn't like any of the others that came and went through the gates of the mansion. It was sleek, black, and professional. But Emma barely noticed the details as her mother and father stepped out, their expressions unreadable as always.
Her mother's voice, cool and calm, cut through the tension. "Jake, we need to talk."
Jake looked toward Emma as if to say something, but her parents were already moving toward him. Her father's expression was a mask of formality, but there was something cold in his gaze as he addressed Jake.
"You've crossed a line," Alistair Valeria said quietly, his voice measured but firm. "You are trouble. We warned you to keep your distance from our daughter."
Emma's heart dropped. She opened her mouth to speak, but her mother beat her to it.
"Emma," Verona said softly, as though she were speaking to a child. "You will stay away from him. Do you understand? This... connection with Jake has already caused enough problems."
Emma's stomach churned. "No, I—"
"Enough, Emma," her father said. "We've allowed this to go on long enough."
Her mother's eyes softened, but only slightly. "We're not trying to control you, darling. But this is about your future."
Emma's hands clenched into fists. She could feel the anger rising in her chest, but she fought to keep her voice steady. "He's just... Jake."
Her mother's gaze was colder than ever. "This is not just Jake. We've dealt with his kind before."
"Stop," Emma snapped, stepping forward. "Don't talk about him like that. Don't you see? He's not like the others. He's good, he's—"
Alistair stepped between them. "We've made our decision."
The finality in his voice left no room for argument. But Emma didn't care anymore. Her chest heaved, her heart pounding, but she wouldn't back down.
"Let me handle this," she said, meeting her father's eyes. "I promise, nothing will happen. I'll make sure of it. I'll make sure that nothing gets out of hand."
Her father looked at her for a long moment, his eyes narrowing before he nodded. "We trust you to make the right decision."
Dinner at the Valeria mansion was a quiet affair. Emma felt the weight of her parents' expectations hanging heavy in the air as they sat at the table, perfectly aligned in their rigid, rehearsed manner. They asked about the training, about everything she'd learned. She answered them as best as she could, trying to keep her emotions in check.
But the conversation soon shifted to something else entirely.
"We've made progress," Verona said, breaking the silence. "Old friends of ours. Very important people. Ambrose Kaelstrom is one of them."
The name hit Emma like a ton of bricks. She knew who Ambrose Kaelstrom was—he was the epitome of power in the business world, a man who ran the empire of luxury hotels, exclusive resorts, and industries that stretched across continents.
Her father continued, "Ambrose's son will be joining your campus soon. They've been old business partners for decades. Very influential people."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
Alistair leaned back in his chair, his tone shifting slightly. "Yes, his son is… a unique one. He doesn't care for fame, doesn't care for the spotlight. Just like you. In fact, you'll find you two have quite a bit in common. He doesn't follow the usual paths like the others."
Emma couldn't hide the dismay on her face, even though she tried to mask it. What does this have to do with me?
Verona and Alistair exchanged another one of those silent looks that Emma couldn't ignore. They smiled at each other like they had just shared some unspoken bond.
"Do you understand, Emma?" her mother asked, her voice almost too sweet. "You and Ambrose's son… you'll make a great pair."
Emma smiled, though it didn't reach her eyes. "I don't think I get what you mean."
The conversation shifted back to safer topics, but the discomfort settled in her chest. She couldn't shake the unease that lingered like a shadow, a shadow that stretched across everything she had once believed.
The minutes stretched, and Emma found herself staring at the screen of her phone, her heart racing. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she reread the message she had sent to Jake, "I made it home, had dinner. Thank you for the ride. I don't know what to say. I appreciate everything."
The wait felt endless, and just when she thought about putting the phone down, the three dots appeared on the screen. He was typing.
The message that came through was short, clipped, and lacking the warmth Emma had hoped for. "You're welcome."
Emma's heart sank. She had expected more—an invitation to talk, maybe a joke or something to fill the silence they'd shared earlier. But instead, she got this cold, impersonal response.
Before she could dwell on it further, her phone rang. It was Jake.
A flicker of hope ignited within her chest, but she quickly swallowed it down. The tension between them had been building since that morning. Something was off. But still, she answered.
"Hey," she greeted, trying to sound casual. "What's up?"
"Hey," Jake replied, but there was a strange edge to his voice. "How was your evening?"
"It was fine," Emma said, her voice faltering a little as she thought about the day. "Dinner with my parents. Nothing too exciting."
There was a pause on the line, and Emma could feel the distance between them grow. Jake didn't speak immediately, as though weighing his words carefully. "What about the training?" he finally asked, his tone almost distant. "How was your time with Adrian?"
Emma felt a strange flutter in her stomach. Adrian's name felt like a weight in the air, and she couldn't help but feel an unease settle in. She had spent the whole day with him, and though he had been a source of comfort during the drills, she hadn't expected Jake to ask.
"Adrian was fine," Emma said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the truth was, she couldn't help but smile a little as she thought about him. "He's really calm, you know? And funny. He just made everything easier, cracked jokes whenever the tension got too much. He's really chill."
Jake didn't respond right away. Emma could hear him breathing a little heavier, a hint of frustration in his silence. Then, his voice came through, tighter now. "Yeah? He sounds like a great guy."
Something about his words felt off. They were too sharp, too clipped. But Emma pressed on, not thinking it was anything to worry about. "Yeah. He's cool. I think he even helped me more than I expected."
Another long pause.
Then, Jake finally spoke, his words quick and cutting, as if he was trying to hide something underneath the casual tone. "I see."
There was an uncomfortable quiet that followed, and Emma, sensing something was wrong, tried to fill it with her own words. But before she could continue, Jake suddenly cut the call off.
The line went dead, and Emma blinked, staring at the screen in disbelief. Why did he hang up? Her stomach turned. She hadn't said anything wrong. Why did he act like that?
She stood frozen for a moment, her thoughts a blur. Then, her hand moved instinctively to the redial button. She couldn't just let it end like this. Not without an explanation.
The phone rang twice before Jake picked up, but this time, there was no greeting. Just silence on the other end, filled with the sound of deep breathing.
"Jake?" Emma asked softly, her voice laced with confusion. "Why did you hang up?"
He sighed heavily, the sound familiar to her but filled with something else now—something darker. "I just... I needed a minute," he muttered, as if that could explain everything.
"Jake, this is ridiculous," Emma said, frustration slipping into her tone. "You're acting so distant, and I don't even know why. What's going on?"
Another long silence stretched between them, thick with tension. Then, Jake's voice came through again, almost too quiet to hear. "I don't like it, Emma."
Her heart skipped. "Don't like what?"
"I don't like hearing you talk about Adrian like that," he confessed, the words coming out rougher than he probably intended. "You make him sound perfect. Like he's everything. It's like... I don't even know where I fit in anymore."
Emma's throat tightened, a lump forming. "Jake, that's not what I meant."
But Jake didn't seem to hear her. "It's not just that. It's just... hearing you talk about him like that, it just… it makes me feel like I'm nothing."
Emma's chest tightened. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Jake, you are—"
But he cut her off, voice suddenly sharp. "I'm just saying," he continued, "It's not easy to hear, okay?"
There was a tremble in Emma's voice when she asked, "Why? Why is it so hard?"
"Because," Jake almost spat the words, "I'm jealous." his voice thick with emotion. "I'm jealous of Adrian because he's getting close to you. Because he's with the girl I love."
"Yes!" Jake snapped, his words quick and heavy. "I'm jealous! Jealous because he gets to be with you, and I'm stuck here, feeling like I don't even belong. Jealous because every time I see you with him, it feels like I'm losing you."
Emma's breath hitched. She had no idea what to say. Jealous? Of Adrian?
"You're jealous of Adrian?" she repeated softly.
There was a long pause. And then, as though the dam had broken, Jake spoke again. "Yes, okay?" he said, voice raw. "I'm jealous. And it's not just about Adrian. It's about you. About how much I care. I can't stand the thought of losing you, of you getting close to someone else. It's driving me crazy."
Emma's heart thundered in her chest, her pulse quickening. The words hung between them, like a confession they had both been avoiding for so long. She took a slow breath, realizing she had to keep pressing, even though she wasn't sure if she was ready for what came next.
"Jake, you're not going to lose me," she said, her voice soft. "You're not."
"I know," Jake murmured, the rawness of his admission pulling at her heart. "But it feels like I already am. Every time I see you with him, it just... it just feels like I'm invisible."
Emma felt the weight of his words, the truth of them sinking in deep. She could feel the tension crackling in the air, and it only took one more push for the floodgates to open.
"I love you, Emma ..."
[End of Part 19]