The words left Jake's lips in a breathless whisper, so raw and real that it startled even him. The phone trembled in his hand as the silence on the other end stretched longer than it should have.
"Emma?" he asked, voice hushed.
But the line was dead.
Jake pulled the phone back and stared at the screen. Call disconnected.
His thumb hovered over the redial button, but something heavy anchored it.
Why did I say it?
What if she didn't feel the same? What if she didn't even hear me?
What if I ruined everything again?
His heart thudded violently as a wave of regret hit him like a crashing tide. The café lights blurred behind his eyes. He let out a breath that shook as it escaped.
"I'm such an idiot," he muttered, leaning his forehead against the table. Who confesses like that? Over the phone? After everything she's been through?
Across town, Emma sat frozen on the edge of her bed.
The moment the knock came at her door, she panicked. She'd ended the call in a rush, not even realizing Jake was still speaking. Her fingers were still curled around the phone when Verona Valeria opened the door, cool and composed in her travel coat.
"Emma," her mother said, stepping in without invitation, "We're leaving now. Get up."
Emma blinked up at her, her voice catching. "You're… really going?"
Verona glanced at her with distant amusement. "Business won't wait. You'll be staying at the Valeria suite until we return. David will check in. I expect no trouble. And stay away from Jake Rolister."
Emma's throat tightened. She nodded wordlessly, masking the sting.
As the front door shut behind her parents and the soft hum of the car pulling away echoed through the gates, Emma finally looked down at her phone. She unlocked it, thumb already moving to call Jake back—but the screen flickered. Black. Battery drained.
"No…" she whispered, dragging herself to her charger. She plugged it in, watching the dead screen stubbornly remain unlit.
The exhaustion from the long, emotionally wrecking day finally pulled her down. Curling into her pillow, she closed her eyes just for a moment… and drifted into a sleep deeper than she intended.
Meanwhile, Jake paced across the quiet sidewalk near the café, the sky now fading into inky twilight.
She didn't respond. She hung up.
She didn't say anything back.
The silence had become louder than any scream.
Was I wrong? Was I just reading into things again?
Jake sat on the park bench across from campus, gripping the edge tightly. His fingers were white at the knuckles.
She made me feel protected. Wanted. I didn't even know I needed that until her.
And yet, he had confessed like a fool. At the wrong time. In the wrong way.
He buried his face in his hands.
"I should've waited. I should've known better."
The next morning came softer than expected, the sun gentle against the windows of the Valeria suite.
Emma stirred awake, blinking against the light. Her phone was lit again—fully charged.
She gasped. "Jake."
Frantically, she checked her call log—incoming, disconnected. Her heart pounded. She dressed quickly, brushing out her hair in a rush, and grabbed her things. There was no time to call now.
Jake stood by the entrance of the campus quad, arms crossed, eyes searching. He hadn't slept much. His jaw tensed the moment he saw her walking up the cobblestone path.
"Emma!"
She turned, eyes lighting up. "Jake!"
He strode toward her, stopping just close enough to study her face.
"I—I didn't mean to hang up last night," she blurted out. "My mom knocked, I panicked—I didn't hear what you said."
Jake's breath caught in his throat. "You didn't hear anything?"
"No," she said gently, "but whatever it was… I hope it wasn't something you regret."
He stared at her, lips parted. Relief hit him like cool rain.
"I thought I messed everything up," he admitted. "I was stupid last night."
Emma smiled playfully. "Stupid? Maybe. But it was kind of funny watching you spiral into jealous rage over Adrian."
Jake groaned, his cheeks warming. "You're never letting me live that down, are you?"
"Absolutely not."
Just then, a squeal erupted behind them.
"EMMA!"
Before she could react, arms wrapped around her from behind. It was Lila.
"You evil, horrible woman!" Lila cried, squeezing her tight. "How could you leave me alone for days with no explanation?"
Emma laughed breathlessly, hugging her back. "I missed you too."
Lila pulled back, pouting. "The silence. The drama. I even had to sit next to that guy who sniffs his pens!"
Jake snorted. "I pity you."
The bell rang sharply, echoing across the quad.
Jake looked up. "Come on. We'll be late."
They hurried into the building, taking their seats side by side. The period was filled with exchanges of glances, soft whispers, and the occasional brush of Jake's hand against Emma's beneath the table. He was calmer now—smiling more, speaking easily, almost like the darkness of the night before had been washed away by the comfort of her presence.
After the sessions ended and the courtyard emptied for the afternoon, the trio wandered through campus together.
Jake walked close to Emma, their shoulders brushing every now and then, neither moving away.
Lila laughed. "I feel like I've been third-wheeled and I don't even mind."
Emma grinned. "You love us."
They found a quiet bench near the west wing garden and unpacked lunch—Lila had brought extra pastries, Jake passed Emma his tea without asking, and the three of them sat beneath the golden light of the sun filtering through the leaves.
Everything felt calm. Normal. Almost too perfect.
Until the air shifted.
The garden gate opened.
And there she was.
Rhea Carson.
The whispers reached them before Rhea did.
As Jake, Emma, and Lila sat in the garden, sunlight slicing through the leaves above, a group of students passed behind them—voices hushed but urgent.
"Didn't the dean officially remove her from campus last week?"
"I heard she was caught doing something illegal... something connected to the Valeria family."
"No, no—my roommate said she disappeared, like she was taken away. Her dorm was cleared out overnight. It was like she never existed."
Emma stiffened. Lila shot a glance over her shoulder. Jake's brows furrowed.
"Then how is she back? And walking into the dean's office like nothing happened?"
"I don't know," another student whispered. "But it gives me chills."
Emma felt her stomach twist. Rhea had vanished in the wake of the incident. And now she was back—
Before they could even react, a heavy silence fell around them.
A shadow loomed.
And when they looked up, Rhea was standing there, her sharp eyes blazing, lips curled in a twisted smirk—like she'd heard everything.
Her hair was tied tighter than usual, her blazer sharp, her eyes darker than they'd ever seen. She walked past stunned students, straight toward them. Toward Emma.
Whispers exploded around the garden.
"Isn't she—"
"Wasn't she gone?"
"Why is she back?"
Jake stiffened as Rhea stopped in front of them.
"Well, well," she sneered, folding her arms. "Looks like the drama club hasn't disbanded yet."
Emma stood slowly. "Rhea…"
"You think this is over?" Rhea's voice was like venom. "You think you're safe just because your family's rich and your boyfriend's a genius?"
Lila stepped forward. "Back off, Rhea."
"No, Lila. You should back off. You're next. You and your golden boy here." Her gaze shifted to Jake, cold and warning. "They're watching all of us. And trust me, Emma's mess won't end with her."
Emma's eyes flared. "What are you talking about?"
Rhea leaned closer, lips curling into a bitter smile. "You'll see soon enough. But I promise you this—when they come for you, don't say I didn't warn you."
Jake moved between them. "You're not scaring her. Not anymore."
Lila's fists were clenched at her side. "Get out of here, Rhea. Before you do something you regret."
Rhea held their gaze for a heartbeat longer, then turned and walked away, her heels echoing against the stone path.
The garden fell silent.
But something cold lingered in the air.
Jake looked at Emma. "We're not letting her touch you. Not again."
Emma nodded, but her eyes didn't leave the spot where Rhea had stood.
Something was coming. They all felt it.
And this time… it wouldn't be quiet.