Love Jason

Chapter 42

Emily's POV

Despite my best efforts to maintain composure, each attempt crumbled under the weight of mounting dread. With a shiver of fear coursing through me, I bolted out of the room, his malicious laughter reverberating like a sinister symphony in my ears.

"Does he know?" I whispered, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on me like a leaden blanket.

"I knew he suspected my connection to the Marinos," I confessed to the silent walls, my voice barely a breath against the mounting tension.

Had he finally pieced it together? The thought hung in the air like a storm cloud, casting a shadow over my every move.

"I need to find a way out of here," I whispered to myself, urgency pulsing through every beat of my heart. "I'm not waiting around to find out the answers to that question."

"But how will I get myself out of this mess?" I mused, the gravity of my situation sinking in. I knew I had to get through to Marco, no matter what. After all, he was the one who got me into this mess, so he was the only one who could get me out.

As days slipped by without a word from Marco, my desperation grew. Each unanswered call to his number felt like a dagger in my heart, deepening the chasm of uncertainty and fear within me. Night after night, I cried myself to sleep, the weight of my emotions unbearable.

Today was no different. I dialled his number with a glimmer of hope, only to be met with the same deafening silence. The void of his absence consumed me, leaving me adrift in a sea of worry and doubt.

"Emily, why do you look sad?" Aurora's voice pierced through my thoughts, her concern palpable.

"I'm not sad, Koala," I replied, my voice strained with forced cheerfulness.

"No, you do look sad. You don't want to be here. You're not happy taking care of me," she observed, her eyes searching mine for the truth.

"Aurora, listen to me. You are not the problem, you can never be," I assured her, my voice cracking with emotion.

"If I'm not the problem, then why are you sad?" she pressed, her worry mirroring my own.

As I looked into Aurora's eyes, I knew I had to give her an answer that would satisfy her curiosity.

"Boyfriend trouble," I confessed, hoping to deflect her concern, and her eyes widened in intrigue, sensing the depth of the story untold.

"Tell me everything," she urged her voice a mix of excitement and empathy, ready to dive into the drama of my life.

I hesitated for a moment, knowing I shouldn't burden a little girl with my troubles. But the weight of my emotions was too much to bear alone. I needed to release this pent-up turmoil festering inside me, even if it meant confiding in someone unexpected.

"He stopped picking up my calls, I don't know what to think," I confessed, offering Aurora a glimpse into the complexities of my situation with Marco.

"Then he doesn't deserve you," she declared, her words carrying a surprising depth of wisdom for her age, and she looked at me with a reassuring smile.

"Such wisdom, for a little girl," I remarked, touched by her insight, and she blushed modestly.

"But do you love him though?" she pressed, her gaze unwavering, and I nodded in acknowledgement. It was then that Aurora reached out and took my hand in hers.

"My dad told me that you don't get to choose who you fall in love with, but you can choose how much power you allow them to have over you," she recited, her voice resonating with a maturity far beyond her years.

″ Thank you Aurora, you made me feel a lot better,″ I said, and soon she pulled me into a hug.

As Aurora and I spent the day together, our bond growing stronger with each passing moment, I couldn't help but cherish the joy she brought into my life. Taking care of her had become a source of comfort and purpose amidst the chaos of my struggles.

A sense of determination washed over me after tucking Aurora into bed for the night. I made my way to Jason's study, resignation letter in hand. It was time to take control of this mess I had gotten myself into.

I stood firm, refusing to allow nervousness or fear to dominate me as I approached Jason's door. With each knock, I felt a surge of determination coursing through my veins, propelling me into the unknown. All I could do now was wait for him to answer, ready to face whatever lay ahead with courage and resolve.

The moment I heard his invitation to enter, my resolve faltered. All the courage I had gathered dissipated like mist in the wind. A knot formed in my stomach, and my palms grew clammy with nervousness.

With a trembling hand, I pushed open the heavy oak door, its creaking hinges echoing in the silence of Jason's dimly lit study. A sense of foreboding gripped me as I crossed the threshold, uncertainty swirling around me like a cloak of shadows. 

Inside, the room was shrouded in darkness, illuminated only by the soft glow of a desk lamp. There, amidst the sea of papers and scattered documents, stood Jason, a formidable figure bathed in the amber light. His piercing gaze was fixed on his phone, fingers tapping with controlled urgency, while a glass of amber liquid rested in his other hand, casting dancing reflections across the room.

Dressed in sleek black attire, his shirt strained against his muscular frame, highlighting the power and authority he exuded. Every movement was deliberate, every gesture commanding attention. As I stood frozen in the doorway, I couldn't help but feel small and insignificant in his presence.