Emily’s POV
“I’m done.”
The words tore from my mouth before I could stop them, echoing in the tense silence of the room. My hands were shaking, not from fear, but from fury and heartbreak. I backed away as Adam tried to step closer.
"Emily, please, let me explain. It wasn’t what it looked like.
I stared at him, my heart thudding painfully. "And the bet? What about that? You were betting on me too, right? Just like you did with Susan?"
He blinked, taken aback. "What? No! That’s not true. That bet wasn’t about you. Susan—"
"Don’t," I snapped. "Don’t even bring her up.
"I didn’t say anything because I was shocked. I thought it was over. I didn’t think Steve would ever..."
"You didn’t think Steve would blurt it out? Why? Because you knew it would ruin your little game?"
"It wasn’t a game!" Adam shouted. "I love you!"
The room went silent.
I felt the tears burn behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. Not yet. "Then why does everything feel like a lie?"
He looked at me, helpless, like a child caught in the middle of a storm. And then, he did something I didn’t expect.
He locked the door behind me.
Luca immediately tensed. "Adam, open the door."
Adam ignored him and took out his phone.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
He dialed a number. I heard it ring once, then a woman picked up.
"Mom, are you coming already?"
Mom?
Why was he calling his mother?
I frowned, confused, but I didn’t interrupt.
He ended the call and turned to me. "You wanted answers. She’s coming."
"What?"
"You said you wanted the truth. My mom knows everything. She’s the only one who can tell you what really happened with Susan."
"This is ridiculous," I muttered. "I should call my dad. Have him come get me."
"Emily, please don’t. Just wait."
The doorbell rang.
Adam unlocked the door and opened it to reveal a tall, elegant woman with warm eyes and an even warmer smile.
"Hi, sweetheart. You must be Emily."
I didn’t know what to say. She opened her arms, and despite everything, I walked into them.
Her embrace felt genuine. Like she already knew me.
She stepped back and looked me in the eyes. "Let’s sit. There’s something I need to tell you."
We sat on the couch, Adam and Luca watching from a short distance.
She took a breath. "Adam was sixteen when he had his first girlfriend. Her name was Susan. She was beautiful, clever... and manipulative. I warned him he was too young, but his father encouraged it."
I leaned in slightly. I wasn’t ready to trust anyone, but something about her tone pulled me in.
"A few weeks into the relationship," she continued, "Adam found out Susan had only dated him because of a bet with her friends. It broke him. Susan laughed about it. Told her friends. Even bragged about how easy it had been."
Adam dropped his head, shame clouding his face.
His mom sighed. "Two months later, she came crawling back, asking for forgiveness. Steve was the one who suggested Adam get his revenge."
"Revenge?" I echoed.
"Yes. Steve told him to date her again, and when she got comfortable, to dump her. To make her feel what she made him feel. Adam didn’t want to. But he did it anyway. He was angry, hurt, and stupidly in love. He took her back. Two months later, he broke up with her and told her the truth—that it was a bet."
My mouth opened slightly. I didn’t know what to say.
"She left the school after that," Adam muttered, finally looking up. "Everyone turned on her. I didn’t even feel better. I felt worse. I swore I’d never do that to anyone again. And I haven’t. Not until you. You were the first person I actually felt something for again."
His mom turned to him. "Call Steve. Put him on speaker."
Adam obeyed.
"Yo, Adam," Steve answered.
"You're on speaker. My mom and Emily are here."
A pause. "Oh. Um... okay."
"Steve," his mom said. "Tell Emily what you told me. About Susan."
"Oh. Yeah. Look, Emily. That whole thing with Susan... it was my idea. Adam didn’t want to do it. I practically begged him. He never dated anyone after that. I thought he was broken. Until you came along."
I didn’t know when the tears began to fall, but I couldn’t stop them.
Adam's mom gave me a soft smile. "Emily, this boy loves you. That much is obvious. But you need to decide for yourself. Do you believe him? Do you trust him enough to go on with this thing between you two?"
I didn’t answer.
Instead, I burst into tears.
She stood, patted my shoulder gently, and left the room.
I didn’t know how long I cried. But eventually, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me.
Adam.
He was crying too.
"I’m sorry," I whispered.
"Me too. So damn sorry."
He kissed me then. Slowly, tenderly, like I was something precious.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself fall. I let the pain melt into something softer. Into love.
And he worshipped me like I was his salvation.