From afar, Emma spotted Leon Gray standing on the cruise deck, his back turned and his stance annoyingly calm. 'Wasn't this guy stomping out of the restaurant like a toddler throwing a tantrum just a bit ago?' she thought, narrowing her eyes. And now, he was hosting an engagement event? Her supposed engagement event?
The whole situation screamed nonsense, but avoiding him wouldn't get her any answers. If she wanted to figure out what kind of deal Leon had with Allan Whitmore—or why everyone suddenly decided she was a Whitmore herself—she had to face him. With a deep breath and a little more sass than courage, she marched toward the ship, muttering under her breath, "Let's see what Mr. Gray has to say this time."
"Ahem…" Emma cleared her throat, her voice deliberately loud to announce her presence.
Nothing. No warm smile, no dorky joke, not even his usual playful greeting. Instead, Leon sighed.
Leon Gray sighed.
Emma blinked, caught off guard. Of all the reactions she'd expected, this wasn't it. This man, who'd been all sunshine and charm every time they met, was now exhaling like he carried the weight of the world—or at least the weight of this very confusing evening.
Her brows knitted together as she watched him, unsure if she should say something or just wait for another sigh.
"It's not in my plan. I suddenly ended up here because of you, but yeah, you can pull off this engagement if you want," he muttered, still not bothering to turn and face her.
Emma blinked, then furrowed her brows, confusion swirling with irritation. "'You ended up here because of me?'" she repeated, her voice rising in disbelief.
Her lips pursed, her nostrils flaring slightly as the heat of anger climbed up her spine. "I told you everything—like, everything! Am I not clear enough for you, Mr. CEO? And now you're blaming me?" She threw her hands in the air, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh sure, let's blame the person who definitely didn't ask for any of this. Fun fact… I didn't even want to get engaged to you!"
"Our engagement was set in stone long before either of us realised it," Leon said, his voice low and deliberate. He paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his face as if he'd said too much. "It's… something that's been waiting for you since you turned eighteen."
The furrow on her forehead deepened as her confusion grew. She instinctively raised her hands, gesturing in disbelief, before her lips could form coherent words. Finally, she managed to blurt out, "What?!" she exclaimed, too stunned to form any other words.
Leon stayed quiet for a moment, his gaze distant. Then, in his usual calm but detached tone, he said, "You'll understand eventually." He didn't look at her, his expression unreadable.
Emma felt a rush of frustration, her temper flaring. "You know what? Forget it. Enjoy your cruise, Mr. Gray," she snapped, spinning on her heel to leave.
But just as she turned, Leon's hand shot out, gently grabbing her wrist. "Wait," he said, his voice softer now, almost hesitant. His sudden change in tone made her pause, her heart skipping a beat as she glanced back at him. "Don't go yet."
"What? Don't tell me you've changed your mind and want to proceed with a proposal for engagement?" She smirked, her frustration reaching its limit.
"No…" He glanced at his watch. "I know it might be late, but it's still December 31st," he paused as he noticed the furrow deepening on Emma's forehead. "Come…" He tried to take her hand, intending to show her something he had prepared, but Emma pulled away.
Her expression hardened, a mix of annoyance and disbelief flashing in her eyes. "I don't know what you've prepared or whatever you're planning to do, but let me tell you something… today is no different from any other day for me."
Leon held her gaze, a faint trace of regret flashing in his eyes, but his tone stayed calm. "It's not about the engagement," he said quietly. "I just want to show you something before midnight. That's all."
Emma crossed her arms, her frustration bubbling over. "You're always so vague, Mr. Leon Gray. Do you ever just… say what you mean?"
He gave a slight, self-deprecating smile, glancing away briefly. "Maybe I don't know how to say it. But it's important."
Her scepticism didn't waver. "Important for you, maybe," she muttered, still bristling. "For me? Today is just another reminder that nothing ever changes."
Leon took a step closer, his voice steady but tinged with something that sounded like resolve. "Maybe tonight, it can." He gestured towards the deck with a nod. "Just… trust me for five minutes."
Emma reluctantly followed him, her arms crossed and her expression doubtful as she trailed behind. She didn't like surprises, and Leon's sudden shift in demeanour only made her more suspicious. When they reached the centre of the cruise deck, her eyes widened in disbelief.
There, under the soft glow of fairy lights, stood a table adorned with a small cake, balloons tied to the railing, and a large banner that read: "Happy Birthday, Emma!"
Her surprise quickly turned into fury. She froze, her fists clenching at her sides as her breath quickened. Leon turned to face her, a small smile playing on his lips. "I thought maybe—"
"Thought what?!" Emma's voice cracked as her anger boiled over. She gestured wildly at the decorations, her words sharp and trembling. "For the whole of my life, I've never celebrated my birthday, and I never will! Do you know why? Because I knew—I've always known—I was never meant to exist!"
Leon's smile vanished, replaced with a look of shock and concern. Emma's voice grew louder, her emotions spilling out like a dam breaking. "This day is nothing but a reminder that I'm someone's mistake—a burden they didn't know what to do with! So take your cake, your balloons, and your fake smiles, and shove them right off this deck!"