Please listen to the song at the top. I put every media there for a reason. Regardless of your musical preferences, it's a song that can really touch your heart and I feel like the lyrics really capture Emily's state of mind in this chapter. The most important line being "I'm the one I should love..."
Episode 11: Emily's Husband
They both decided to take a seat in the café by the window to have their discussion that was long overdue. In the brilliant light of the day, they couldn't even see the glass. The sun, despite setting soon, streamed in like a flamboyant guest, not waiting for an invitation.
The timorous girl faced her mother. She looked as if she was struggling to find the right words to say as well.
It was hard to accept. A sight that was rare as her mother was behaving so unlike the persona she notably had. That being inclusive of a potent and articulate speaker.
Not too long after, the mood became solemn in its entirety. The slow, 90's music that was playing in the background through the speakers didn't help to appease it either.
Juliet Pinault finally looked up from the black coffee in her hand. She had ordered it but it became more of an object of distraction. For the past five minutes she had been swirling its contents. Her face wore a grave expression, and even though it held no wrinkles, this was the first time her daughter saw a reflection of somewhat "aging" on her face.
A breath— very sharp and deep— was all it took for the long-awaited drama to commence.
"We are so sorry for what we said and did to you that day, Emily..." She started off shakily.
Taking a deep breath in between, she mustered the courage to meet those brown eyes she hadn't seen in years. That is, if one was to exclude her daughter's television appearances. And those hadn't been too frequent over the past years, so she had to settle on re-watching her old movies. Even then, the experience hadn't been as intense as this one.
It made a strong, independent woman like her want to cower in fear.
Unknowingly, her polished fingernails squeezed the cup in her hand tighter— as if it was a stress ball of some sorts.
"Your father deeply regrets his actions. Locking you in your room that day—he was only trying to protect you! Stop you from making a mistake...but he indeed took his safety measures way too far."
"You think?" Emily spat.
Her chest was rising and falling with each deep breath she took.
She was feeling the same way she had two years ago.
Whilst laying on the carpeted bedroom floor, the young girl had no choice but to stare up at the dazzling pink chandelier.
Her face had been void of any emotions.
Empty, cold and alone.
That's what she was.
But most importantly, abandoned.
Her mother sighed before her heavily as she witnessed the internal struggle taking place in her eyes.
She took the opportunity in gathering her daughter's hands in her own.
Emily looked down at them.
It was undoubtedly an unfamiliar sight after so long.
Nonetheless, she knew she didn't hate it.
"Emily, all we have ever wanted was for you and Chelsea to be happy. That's what any real parent would want. I'm sorry we ended up making you feel the opposite. I apologise on your father's behalf as well. However, he misses you...terribly. Sometimes, I even catch him staring at your old photographs. Yes. And he visits your bedroom in the middle of the night---even curses off those nasty reporters who dare to smear your reputation."
Emily held her breath at the ongoing confessions.
She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
Never would have imagined it.
"I know what we did was wrong. I'm even more at fault for allowing it to happen and not doing anything afterwards. I was just so hurt that you would choose that boy over your family that—I know it's no excuse, but I felt replaced. As if you valued someone you had just met over us. Your bloodline. Please forgive us for what we have done. I really don't want us to be avoiding each other for the rest of our lives." She resigned, her voice cracking at the end.
Emily's voice was frail as she addressed her mother.
"Were...were you going to let me out of there if Chelsea hadn't made a surprise visit home that weekend?"
"Emily..." She sighed, feeling her heart break all over again.
The woman was hurting at the doubt shining in her daughter's eyes.
"I was. I planned on stealing the keys from your father the minute he left for work. But it was as if he knew what I was thinking, so he suddenly decided to work from home. I had no choice but to wait for an opportune time. However, it seemed like he would never leave the house for any reason. Almost as if he was ensuring that you remained inside. When I had had enough and started arguing with him about letting you out, that was when Chelsea showed up and overheard us. She didn't need to hear another second of our argument before she ran to get you."
Emily sat there, her head reeling from this piece of information.
At least she didn't feel as scarred by it as much anymore.
To be honest, Emily had already gotten over the incident that occurred two years ago. With time, she came to understand the rash decisions of her parents.
However, that didn't mean she wasn't hurt by what they had done.
There had been better ways of handling the situation, but her father had taken the most cruel route. Threatening her to leave his house and holding her against her will - like a prisoner when she had bit the disgusting bait and decided to leave completely.
Now that she was older and much wiser (hopefully), she saw things from his perspective. Especially after her epiphany that she had about Jake having not loved her, she understood him even more.
Back then, Emily thought there was no way in hell that she would come to agree with the venomous words her father had hissed at her that day.
She was proven wrong though.
That was when the realization that self-love was the most important thing in the world struck her.
Because if you do not love yourself, who do expect to love you?
Jake pretended to be building a life together with Emily.
He wore a smile that outshined the sun, but behind closed doors, he handed her broken bricks to help in its foundation. When Emily had put all her blood, sweat and tears into perfecting the house that was their future, Jake took advantage of the faulty materials used in its construction and with one forceful push—he had it all come crashing down.
That's why she had to make sure that, from this point onwards, her partner will be someone that's as steady in his mindset as he is in the certainty about what he wants from the future.
Of course, a future that will involve Emily and her happiness.
"I've already forgiven you and father," she confessed quietly, "I can't stay mad at you two forever. It wouldn't be fair when I know, deep down, that you guys had my best interest at heart."
