Seventy three

After that altercation with Rowan, Emma practically barged into Eric’s room, knocking on the door profusely as she cried hard.

The door quickly opened to Eric, whose confused gaze immediately turned to a concerned one as he pulled Emma to his chest, hugging her.

She let herself cry until she could speak. “What about Ryan?"

"Asleep in the room,” he whispered to Emma. She looked up at him, wiping her eyes, but Eric's embrace comforted her.

"I did it. I talked to him," she confessed.

"He didn’t do or say anything harmful to you, because I swear I’ll go kill that bastard right now.”

"No, Eric, I told him what I wanted to, or what I thought I wanted to; I knew he wanted to apologize for what he did, but I didn’t want to give him the chance because I could have forgiven him right there,” she sniffled.

"God, I’m so stupid, aren’t I?"

"No, you are brave and strong, carrying everything on your shoulders, from your mother to Ryan; hell, you even helped my mom and me; you are a beautifu