Chapter 888

Emily Blair watched him. Albert Rivera’s expression grew a touch uneasy as he pressed his lips together. “Is that all right?” he asked.
Emily hesitated. “You
Albert looked at her, hope flickering in his eyes. “Is it?”
“I Emily started, then shook her head. “Of course not. I can’t say yes.”
It wasn’t a gift from a suitor—it was from Elizabeth Wilson. There was no way she could agree.
Albert’s eyes brightened a little. “Emily, I still have something I want to talk to you about.”
Emily took a steadying breath, keeping her tone gentle and patient. “Go ahead.”
Albert’s hands fidgeted slightly, his discomfort growing more evident. His gaze darted away, then returned, steadier than before.
“I wanted to ask you—after all this time we’ve spent together, do you feel anything… more for me?”
Emily faltered. “Um
Albert pressed on, his voice earnest. “I just wanted to say that I really do have feelings for you—not just as friends. From now on, maybe we could try being like a real couple, not just going through the motions for our families. We could get to know each other properly, and if it feels right, maybe we could really be together.”
“Would that be okay?”
Emily met his gaze, her breathing quieting.
She pressed her lips together, her eyes clear, free of any complicated emotion.
In that moment, all she could think was how Elizabeth Wilson had called this-she’d been right.
Albert’s voice was gentle. “Emily, I’d really like to know what you think. Just be honest-no pressure.”
In the evening shadows, the man before her—always so calm and considerate— now looked at her with a barely concealed, hopeful longing. His eyes were brighter than she’d ever seen them, and no one could doubt his sincerity.
Albert really was a catch: great family, respected background, a stable, well-paying job, good looks, and a genuinely good person. Most women would fall for someone like him.
But Emily Blair just didn’t. And that was that.
She cleared her throat. “Albert, I hear you, but I’m sorry. I just don’t feel that way about you.”
The hope in Albert’s eyes faded, retreating like the tide.
But even in rejection, he remained gracious and kind.
“It’s all right. You don’t have to apologize. I get it.”
Emily managed a small smile. “Let’s head back. It’s getting late.”
The conversation shifted abruptly, but Albert flashed her a gentle smile. “You really are something else, you know.”
No fluster at a confession, no awkwardness, no unnecessary drama-she said no, and that was it. She didn’t pull away or overreact; she just handled it.
Albert might have felt disappointed, but he wasn’t about to give up.
He turned to her and said softly, “Guess I’ll just have to start courting you properly, then.”
Emily blinked. “What?”
She didn’t quite process what he said, watching as Albert waved to her and climbed into his car.
The taillights disappeared down the street. And just then, Elizabeth Wilson popped out from the shadows, grinning like she’d been waiting for this moment.
“Ha! I knew it—I called it! Give him a little push and he finally confessed.”
Emily shot her a glare. “You’ve got some nerve. Good thing the company partnership didn’t get messed up, or you’d be in real trouble.”
Elizabeth waved a hand dismissively. “Relax. With Albert’s character, he’d never let personal stuff mess up business.”
Emily clicked her tongue. “Still, don’t mess around like that again. If something actually went wrong, you’d regret it.”