Chapter 121

Andrew held back a smile as he observed Emerald's face, her eyes closed in contemplation. Crossing his arms, he exhaled a deep, shuddering breath. He felt himself being drawn into a trance and had to remind himself that this was not a dream. He needed to be alert, ready to hear her response, though staying focused proved difficult.
Outside of the rare occasions when he managed to send someone to check on her, Andrew had little idea of how she looked in person. The photos sent over the years did no justice to the beauty she had grown into. He tilted his head slightly, taking in her entire face. Her lips twitched as she delved into her thoughts, and her forehead creased into a subtle frown. It hit him anew how selfish it was to suddenly appear and confront her with painful choices—choices that pained his heart as well.
But there was no other way; he hoped earnestly for a chance that Emerald would choose to...