Chapter 40
Conrad received excellent care at the hospital, and after only a few days he was cleared to go home. Emma was there everyday to visit with him and care for him. He told her more stories of Will’s childhood. He encouraged her to pursue her dreams of architecture. She felt as though he was her own grandfather. But he was under a false impression. The guilt gnawed away at her. He would hate her when he found out what her true arrangement with his grandson was.
If Will was resentful about the amount of time Emma spent with his grandfather, he never said anything. But Emma imagined he couldn’t be happy about it. He hadn’t spoken much to her while Conrad while in the hospital. But she preferred it that way.
After they got him settled back at home, they prepared to leave.
“Before you go,” he said. “Emma, come to my study for a moment.”
“Haven’t you spent enough time with her?” Will asked.
“Jealous, my boy?” Conrad laughed. “Please dear. Just for a moment.” He extended his hand for Emma. She put her hand in his and he led her off.
“I have a gift for you,” he said once they were alone in his study. “As a thank you for coming to see me and keeping me company every day.”
“No,” Emma said. “I don’t need a gift for that. I was happy to do it.”
“I insist,” he said, handing her an ornate jewelry box. “Open it.”
Emma opened the box and saw a beautiful ring. The band was gold with emerald leaves climbing up the sides. In the center sat a beautiful ruby, like a rosebud ready to bloom. Emma gasped.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“It’s gorgeous. But this can’t be for me.”
“It was my wife’s favorite ring. I had it designed for her. I want to have it.”
“Conrad, it’s exquisite,” Emma breathed, unable to take her eyes off of the stunning piece of jewelry.
“We fell in love when we were young. We were together for close to 50 years when I lost her. I loved her so very much. She was my whole world. Not a day passes that I don’t miss her. I always hoped that Will would find a love like that. And now I see that he has.”
Emma’s eyes welled up. She hated that they were lying to him. This man had been nothing but kind and gracious to her. They were going to break his already fragile heart.
“Conrad, I…”
“Please take it. You don’t want to hurt a recently ill man, do you?” he chuckled.
“T…thank you. It’s lovely. I will treasure it.”
“Thank you, my dear. For being good to my grandson. Send him to me, will you? I’d like to speak to him.”
“Yes, of course.” Emma walked out of the study, the ring heavy in her hand. The weight of the guilt that came with it slowed her down. Conrad didn’t deserve this. How could she allow this to happen? When they got back to Will’s apartment, she would give the ring to him. He could return it to his grandfather when their time was up.
“What did Pop want with you?” Will asked.
“To thank me. He’d like to speak with you,” Emma responded. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him.
“Is something wrong?”
“No. Nothing.”
Emma sat in the living room while she waited for Will to speak with his grandfather. It was a grand room. As grand as she remembered when she first saw it so long ago. That day she believed she would never see Will again. How much simpler her life would have been if that was the case. A life without William Stewart.
She stared at the striking ring, marveling at its beauty. Could ever be worthy of something so priceless? Was there a man out there that would love her so to think her suitable enough for such splendor? There’s only one man I want. The though came unbidden and she quickly dismissed it. Those feelings had no place in their agreement.
She fantasized about a life where that could happen. Had Will and her met under different circumstances, could he have loved her?
Shouts came from the study and Emma stood in alarm. Had Conrad fainted again? She moved towards the study, but the doors flew open and Will marched out.
“I’ve had enough of this William! You will do as I say or you will be allowed back in this house.”
Will stomped passed her, and she followed.
“What’s going on?” she asked, but Will did not answer. He rushed to his car with Emma close behind. He still didn’t speak, but his expression spoke volumes on his levels of anger. He was livid. Emma assumed that it must have had something to do with his grandfather’s health. What else could cause such an explosive reaction?
The car flew through the streets, everything was a blur around them. Emma clutched her seatbelt in fear. He would kill them both at the rate he was going.
“What’s going on?” Emma asked. Panic rang in her voice.
“What trick have you played on my grandfather?” His voice was grave and deadly.
“Trick? What are you talking about?”
“What trick?” he yelled. Emma flinched.
“I’ve done no such thing. I did nothing to trick him. I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Nothing?” Will laughed, but the sound was dark and chilling. “You’re really good at this, huh? You play innocent and then you earn all the money you want for sex. You worm your way into people lives and use them for your own gains.”
“What?” Emma was outraged. “I would never…”
“But that’s not enough for you, isn’t it? Oh no. You took advantage of a defenseless old man! You made him care for you!”
“I didn’t make him do anything!” she yelled back.
“So how long have you dreaming of being my wife then?”
Emma choked on her words from shock. Where was this coming from? She had finally believed that they were passed all this mess now. Things had calmed down between them, but there they were in a heated battle.
“Dream of marrying a narcissistic, egotistical, self-absorbed, asshole like you? That sounds more like a nightmare to me! If I do get ever married, it would never be to someone like you!”
“Someone like who then? Your precious ex-boyfriend, Matt?” he taunted.
Emma was irate. How dare he insult her like that? Why was he being so vicious?
“Where is this coming from?”
“You have no idea?”
“None!”
“You didn’t pull any tricks on my grandfather?”
“None!” Emma repeated.
“Then why is he forcing me to marry you?”
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