Chapter 7: The Truth Hidden for Seven Years

Emerald instinctively stepped back as the blonde woman wrapped her arms around Achilles.

For a split second, the ballroom disappeared around her.

It felt exactly like seven years ago.

Another woman.

Another misunderstanding.

Another crack across her heart.

"Achilles!" the woman laughed. "You've been avoiding me all evening."

Without hesitation, Achilles gently removed her hands from his arm.

"Clara, I told you this isn't the time."

"Oh, relax," Clara teased before finally noticing Emerald.

"And who is this beautiful lady?"

Achilles looked directly at Emerald.

"Someone very important."

His answer stunned both women.

Clara raised an eyebrow.

"Really? You never told me about her."

"Because it's none of your business."

His cold tone made Clara roll her eyes.

"Fine. The investors are waiting in the VIP lounge."

"Five minutes."

She walked away after giving Emerald one curious glance.

The moment she disappeared into the crowd, Emerald folded her arms.

"Your girlfriend?"

"No."

"Fiancée?"

"Definitely not."

"Then who is she?"

"She's the daughter of one of our business partners."

"That's all."

Emerald wasn't convinced.

"She seemed very comfortable touching you."

"People assume too much when they're around me."

"Just like someone else once did."

His meaning was obvious.

Emerald's face hardened.

"Don't compare tonight with what happened seven years ago."

"Why not?"

"Because I saw you kissing Tess."

"And you walked away before seeing what happened afterward."

"That doesn't change what I saw."

"No," Achilles admitted quietly.

"But it changes why it happened."

Emerald looked at him silently.

"Come with me."

"Where?"

"Somewhere quieter."

She hesitated before following him through a private hallway that led onto a rooftop garden overlooking the city.

The sounds of the gala faded behind them.

Only the cool night breeze remained.

"This place..." Emerald whispered.

"I built it myself," Achilles replied.

"Whenever business becomes too much... I come here."

Rows of white roses surrounded them.

Emerald gently touched one of the flowers.

"You still remember my favorite."

"I remember everything about you."

Those words made her heart stumble.

"Then explain," she demanded.

"Why were you with Tess that night?"

Achilles took a slow breath.

"Because she asked me to meet her privately."

"She said it was important."

"When I got there... she confessed that she'd liked me for years."

Emerald's eyes widened.

"What?"

"I refused her immediately."

"She didn't accept my answer."

"Then she suddenly kissed me."

"I pushed her away less than five seconds later."

"You saw only those five seconds."

Emerald remained speechless.

"Why would Tess do that?"

"I don't know."

"She apologized to me the following day."

"She admitted she'd acted impulsively."

"But by then..."

"You were already gone."

Emerald slowly shook her head.

"No..."

"This doesn't make sense."

"My sister would've told me."

"Would she?"

His question lingered heavily between them.

"I don't know anymore," Emerald whispered.

"Neither did I."

"For seven years, I wondered why my Rosebud disappeared without a single goodbye."

"Every birthday I came to your house hoping you'd return."

"Every Christmas I left presents your parents promised to keep for you."

"Every year... nothing."

Emerald stared at him in disbelief.

"You... waited?"

"Always."

"But everyone said you became a cold billionaire who cared about nothing except business."

A bitter smile crossed his lips.

"Business became the easiest place to hide."

"Especially after losing my father... and then losing you."

Silence settled between them once more.

For the first time in seven years, Emerald saw pain behind his storm-grey eyes.

Real pain.

Not the coldness she'd imagined.

Suddenly, footsteps echoed behind them.

"There you are!"

Richard Hutton walked onto the rooftop, looking surprised.

"Dad?" Emerald asked.

"I didn't know you were here."

Richard's expression shifted as he noticed both of them standing together.

"Am I interrupting something?"

"No," Emerald answered.

"Actually... yes," Achilles admitted.

Richard sighed heavily.

"I suppose this conversation was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Dad..." Emerald frowned.

"Did Ace really come looking for me after I left?"

Richard remained silent.

"Dad?"

He finally nodded.

"Every month."

Emerald's heartbeat stopped.

"What?"

"He visited this house almost every month for nearly two years."

"He asked where you were."

"He wanted your address."

"I refused to tell him."

"Why?"

Richard looked away.

"Because you were finally smiling again."

"You'd started rebuilding your life."

"I couldn't risk seeing my daughter heartbroken twice."

Emerald couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You... lied to both of us?"

"I thought I was protecting you."

"Dad..."

"I'm sorry, sweetheart."

"But at that time... it felt like the right decision."

Achilles closed his eyes briefly.

"Now you know why I stopped searching."

"Your father made it very clear that you never wanted to see me again."

Emerald's entire world tilted.

For seven years...

She had believed Achilles never cared enough to look for her.

For seven years...

Achilles had believed she'd willingly erased him from her life.

Both of them had lived inside the same lie.

Before either of them could speak again, Emerald's phone suddenly rang.

She answered automatically.

"Hello?"

Beth's frightened voice came through immediately.

"Emerald! Don't leave the hotel!"

"Someone just broke into your room at the Hutton mansion!"

"And..."

Beth's voice trembled.

"They were looking for you."