Emilia ?? NOW PUBLISHED!

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT ON MY INSTAGRAM TODAY! @HardinsGirl1 at 12 PM EST USA. I'll announce it here on Sunday!

Chapter song: The Kill - Bury me

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7.

Emilia.

I take one last look at my phone before turning it off and sliding it into the bedroom drawer. A text was sent, a picture of my mom, passed out with dried blood on her cheek. My heart races as I shakily jot down the address on a slip of paper that Aiden normally writes me love notes on every single morning, I fold the end of my life and slide it into my bra.

I have three hours to make Aiden hate me enough to let me go and figure out a way to get to this address, it's about forty minutes away.

I know what I'm walking into. I know what Aiden's about to do... he's about to get down on one knee and ask me to be his bride. I want nothing more in this world than to be his wife, to support and cherish him, as long as we both shall live. But that isn't in the cards for me anymore. As long as we both shall live, ends tonight. For me.

And that's the exact reason I need to break his heart. I need him to let me go, to let me leave. I trace the walls with my fingertips as I head towards him. Trying to remember every smell and feel of our home before I never return.

It's a suicide mission. I know this. But I can't and won't risk his or Howard's life. When I arrive at the location of my mom's kidnapping, I don't know what will happen but I've been backed into a corner.

My life for hers, I will gladly trade my soul for my mom. Aiden says he's damned and I'll be the one going to heaven, but I know him. The real him. And if anyone has a perfect spot in heaven, it's him. And we will meet again.

My heart squeezes in my chest as I walk into the living room. Aiden stands on the rug in the middle of the area, the fireplace is roaring. Classical music sweeps through the space as he holds his comforting hand out for me.

My eyes trail to the red roses around the room. Blood. All they remind me of is blood. Aiden's blood. On the rooftop. I can't. I can't see anything happen to him again.

"Did I tell you how stunning you look tonight?" He asks, his baritone warming my chilled insides. I give a nervous chuckle as I grab his hand.

We stare into each other's eyes. Him, admiring me. Me, memorizing every outline of his face and the bright emerald of his irises. "Emilia, I-" I cut him off, I can't let him do this.

He doesn't let me. I've never seen him look at me so intently, so purely before. "I want to be with you, every day... like this." he gestures around the room, I can't speak.

He grabs a black velvet box from his pocket and bends down on one knee, the moment I've been waiting for my entire life. To be a wife, a wife to him. My entire life started with him, and it will end with him still owning my heart. "Emilia Achelois Banks. Would you do me the honor of bec-." He can't finish his proposal over my heavy sobs, I knew he was going to propose but my gut reaction knowing I'm about to deny him is ripping me apart.

Tears streak my face; he smiles thinking I'm overwhelmed with love. I am, but the fear is overriding any emotion.

"Aiden I can't do this."

He shakes his head as if he's heard me wrong. "Because I'm proposing?" He stands, looking confused.

I nod, "I'm just too young."

He places the closed box back in his pocket; I didn't even get to see the ring he got for me. I bet it's perfect.

With his cool demeanor, he gives me a crooked smile. "No biggie, we can wait." Always patient. He pulls me in for a hug, I quickly scoot back.