Lured into Love (Blossom in Winter #2) - Melanie Martins Page 0,120

recognizing that it’s a message from him:

Petra, keep this phone away from your parents. I’ll meet you Friday, 10 p.m., at Emma’s place. Bring this phone with you and pack some summer clothes. Be careful not to get caught!

I love you, A.

Dear Lord! I have to put my palm over my mouth to contain my sobs. Emma pulls me into her arms to soothe me, and I quietly let the tears fall. Oh my… We are finally gonna be together soon.

“Thank you,” I whisper in her ear. “You have no idea how much it means to me.” I knew that Emma would always help me out.

As she releases me, her expression is filled with a seriousness I haven’t seen from her before. She presses her lips against my cheek, and then asks in a low voice, “Did they do anything to you?” Her empathy and concern warm my heart. And I can imagine Alex called her immediately after I left his condo and told her what happened there.

I shake my head in response. For some reason, I don’t feel capable of sharing with her my parents’ threats of a forced injection.

Her fingers start stroking my cheek as she observes my untamable distress. “Everything is gonna be alright,” she says, keeping her voice low. After all, we can never be too prudent. “Do you think you can manage to come over Friday night?”

“Yeah, I… I will talk to Dad and convince him.”

And damn, I don’t know what I did to deserve someone so special and caring like her, but thank God for sending me Emma.

Chapter 30

Manhattan, October 21, 2020

Petra Van Gatt

I didn’t sleep well last night. But this time, it wasn’t because of Alex, as I know it’s only a matter of days until we meet again. This time, it was because of Mom. I totally screwed up yesterday evening when Mom wanted to have dinner with Emma and me. Yes, I should’ve been smarter and more pleasant, but the hate I have for her took over, and after a bloody battle, Mom had left the dining table in tears. Just leave me alone and go back to Rotterdam, I remember shouting at her when she wanted to sit with us. Even Emma asked me to calm down, but I couldn’t. The disgust I have for that woman is too great. Then she asked me to stop, but I was too furious to even care, and that’s when I spit out, What a pity you are still alive. Mom broke down crying and left the table, making me feel like the most horrible person on the planet. I have to admit, I’m not proud I said that. I hate hurting her, as it hurts me just as much, but I can’t accept what she is doing to me either. All I wanted was to be with you, she said before leaving the dining room, carrying her plate, most likely to eat in the kitchen—alone, miserable, and sad. I have to remind myself that Mom is just a manipulative bitch. She knows how to play with my emotions and make me feel remorseful. And damn, it’s working pretty well. The truth is, one day, if I’m a mother myself, I can’t possibly imagine my kids saying to me what I said to her. Maybe I should apologize for yesterday? No, she doesn’t deserve that either. She’s literally trying to destroy my relationship with my fiancé. Instead, maybe I should just please her and have a meal with her… Or at least behave civilly around her, despite everything she has done to me. Reaching the kitchen, I raise my brows seeing her already there.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Mom mutters, sniffling, her hands cupping a mug as she’s sitting on one of the stools. For the first time, I see her without makeup, without her hair brushed, and in a long robe covering her pajamas. She looks barely recognizable without her daily makeup on. Then, Mom takes another sip of her tea and stands up. “I didn’t know you would be up so early.”

“It’s okay,” I mumble. “I couldn’t sleep any longer.” I give her a smile, probably the first one since she came here. “I’ll try to be more polite,” I tell her. “The toxicity in this house has become unbearable.” She just nods, her gaze tired and sleepy. “Are you alright?” I ask her. “You know, Dad could walk in at any moment and see you like this.” Not that I care, but