Winning Her Heart Back

 Dropping The Pretense

Emelie tightened her grip on her phone. After a few seconds, she spoke up.

"Follow the car behind us," she instructed the driver in a low voice.

With William's car leading the way, Emelie's team cautiously advanced through the heavy snowfall.

The three vehicles slowly exited the highway and drove about five or six hundred meters. Finally, they arrived at a two-story house with front and back yards.

William parked his car in front of the house.

As everyone got out, Emelie noticed that William was alone. He hadn't brought his secretaries or bodyguards.

He was dressed in a black puffer jacket, white mist escaped his mouth and nose as he breathed. Under the freezing weather, his features looked even sharper.

William went to check on Emelie first. After he made sure that she was unharmed, he entered the access code at the front door.

Emelie narrowed her eyes. Did that house belong to him? Why would he own a place in such a remote location?

It was as if William could read her thoughts.

"I passed by here the last time I came to check on the station. I saw this house and thought the view was beautiful, so I decided to buy it. I was hoping to bring you here for a vacation someday," he softly explained.

Emelie dismissed his words, her expression was cold.

The station had been built over the past three years when Emelie was believed to be "dead". He couldn't possibly know she was alive after such a near-fatal experience. Was he going to bring her ashes on a vacation with him?

William opened the door and then went to turn on the main power and water valves.

The house was decorated in a Vereios style with a closed-combustion fireplace in the living room. Then, William instructed Emelie's bodyguard to light the fire.

The bodyguard who only took Emelie's orders glanced at her questioningly. As Emelie nodded, the bodyguard headed to the fuel room.

The fireplace quickly burned, radiating a warm sensation. Those caught in the snow instantly felt as if the blood in their veins was flowing again.

William turned to Emelie. "The air flow isn't great with so many people here. Let's go to the living room upstairs."

Emelie pondered for a moment and nodded, following him upstairs with Jodie.

It was clear that the house was regularly maintained as there was little dust. Another fireplace was placed on the second floor as well. The fire there was already lit.

Emelie sat down on the couch and smiled as she looked at William. "Mr. Middleton, what brings you here? Or should I say, how did you know my exact location?"

William opened a bottle of water and poured it into the electric kettle to boil.

"When I arrived at your hotel, I happened to see you driving away. I guessed you were heading to Station 66, so I followed you," he clarified softly.

Emelie came to a sudden realization. "Oh, I get it now. I thought that after a few days apart, you had picked up some new skill I didn't know about. Like a hero appearing out of nowhere."

William looked at Emelie as she gave a polite smile.

After three years, the most notable change in Emelie was her frequent smiles. She had become gracious and kind to everyone. Yet, her eyes bore no genuine emotion upon closer inspection.

"There's no one else here. You don't have to force a smile. You don't even want to smile at me anyway,' William said.

Emelie looked at him, her expression gradually turned blank.

"Are you cold?" William asked as he gazed at Emelie.

Emelie was engrossed in her phone, her demeanor as cold as the icy weather.

"I said you don't have to pretend, and now you don't even bother to talk to me?" William asked.

It was true.

Emelie turned off her phone. She looked out the window, growing irritated at the heavy snowfall.

Suddenly, William stood up and unzipped his puffer jacket. And Emelie glanced at him upon hearing the sound.NôvelD(ram)a.ôrg owns this content.

William removed his coat, revealing a turtleneck sweater underneath. Then, he handed his puffer jacket to Emelie.

"Your jacket is wet. You should take it off for now," he said.

Emelie didn't respond.

William added, "After the snow stops, we'll have to wait for the ice on the roads to melt before we can leave. It could take three to five days. There's no medicine to help if you get sick here."

Emelie's jacket wasn't waterproof, and it was damp from the snow.

Despite that, she held her ground. "Mr. Middleton, your health is worse than mine. There's no need to push yourself. Keep it for yourself."

"I'm in good health. Change out of your wet jacket. I'll help you dry it," William simply replied and held out his jacket again.