Chapter 7

• Hearing Sandra's name evoked a flurry of memories for Emerald. She recalled her mom's friend Sandra, who had once taken care of her—although their time together had ended unexpectedly.
• "Dustin, don't," Jocelyn's voice carried a warning, deepening Emerald's suspicions. Her mind raced as she compared the situation to other friends like Dante, who occasionally visited with his family. Sandra, however, had been absent for years, and the shift in her mother's tone made Emerald wonder if Sandra might no longer be alive.
• "I'm sorry," Dustin apologized gruffly. "We must ensure Daisy stays away from Emerald. She could do worse than before."
• "That's exactly what I'm thinking," Jocelyn replied.
• Emerald knew she needed to step in before her father concocted some hasty plan. Within moments, she entered the living room, where her parents were now lost in an affectionate embrace.
• She was speechless.
• Emerald blinked in disbelief, her mind grappling with how they had moved so quickly from discussing her problem to sharing a kiss.
• "Uh... Hey, guys," she finally managed to say.
• "Emerald... hmm." Jocelyn disentangled herself from Dustin and approached her daughter, her lips pressed into a firm line. As she reached Emerald, she placed her hands on her shoulders and asked, "How are you, sweetheart?"
• "I'm fine, Mom." Emerald's mind hesitated, torn between making a remark about the scene she'd just witnessed or dismissing it as the universe's gentle ribbing of her single status. "Dad, you're home," she continued, choosing to let the latter thought go.
• "Emerald..." Dustin looked at her intently. "What did Daisy want from you?"
• "Dustin! Should that really be the first question you ask her?" Jocelyn admonished, and Emerald almost smiled, knowing her father's persistence would lead him to repeat the question.
• "It's alright, Mom. Hey, Dad," Emerald decided to take the initiative, stepping closer to her father. To her surprise, he wrapped her in a gentle hug, placing an affectionate kiss on her forehead, one of his infrequent but cherished gestures of affection.
• Emerald looked up and saw Justin's familiar face, bringing an air of casual concern. "Hey, Emerald, how have you been?" he asked gently.
• "I've been fine," she replied with a nonchalant shrug, though Justin's probing gaze suggested he wasn't entirely convinced. "As for Daisy, she mentioned she's been searching for me, but didn't say why."
• "You must have been quite taken aback by that," Justin said, his voice filled with empathy.
• Emerald reflected briefly on the tangled emotions from that moment, her feelings still fresh. "I'm okay, Dad," she assured him.
• "We need to ensure she doesn't come near you," Dustin asserted, his protectiveness unmistakable.
• "How do you plan to do that?" Emerald inquired, curious yet cautious.
• "I was considering arranging some kind of security for you," her father proposed.
• Emerald's expression immediately hardened, her resolve unwavering. "No, Dad," she stated firmly. It was rare for her to defy him so openly. Dustin frowned, his eyes bridging concern and paternal authority.
• "Emerald..." he began, "you need protection now that people are aware you're my daughter. It's not just Daisy—you could become a target for my rivals who might try to harm you." He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulders. "Having security is for your own safety."
• "No!" she exclaimed, more forcefully than she intended. Dustin was visibly taken aback. "It's already overwhelming having so much attention on me, and now you want to make it worse with someone following me as if I'm a target for terrorists?"
• "Emerald..." Jocelyn interjected with care in her voice. "Are you finding school difficult lately?"
• "No," Emerald replied, frustrated, "it's just that the attention makes me uncomfortable. I wish things would return to normal, and having a bodyguard won't help."
• "But isn't your safety more important than a few stares? Daisy has ignored you for nineteen years, so trust me, she could pose a serious risk now," Dustin argued intently.
• "Dad..." Emerald pleaded, knowing convincing him wouldn't be easy.
• "Dustin, it's alright. We can come up with a different plan, one that ensures Emerald's safety without making her feel pressured," Jocelyn interjected thoughtfully, her support and understanding palpable. "So let's drop the bodyguard idea for now."
• "But—" Dustin started, only to be silenced by Jocelyn's calm, firm gaze. "If things do worsen, we'll revisit this discussion."
• "Okay, Dad," Emerald replied with a relieved smile. "Don't worry, I'll manage. I'll get through this transition."
• "I believe you will," Jocelyn said warmly, softly running her hand along Emerald's back in comfort. "Would you like some milk and cookies?" she asked, her voice playful. Emerald's spirits lifted, and she nodded enthusiastically, donning a playful expression.
• "And what about me?" Dustin chimed in playfully. "Do I get milk and cookies too?"
• "No, you get something else," Jocelyn replied with a flirtatious wink. Sensing the playful banter escalating, Emerald quickly retreated to her room, eager to avoid further teasing.
• After only four and a half hours of sleep, Emerald found herself back at her desk, surrounded by an overwhelming pile of assignments. Feeling uncertain about where to begin, she picked up her phone and decided to message Annie for some support.
• For the next ten minutes, she was mostly inactive, oscillating between watching her phone hopefully and staring blankly at her open Chemistry textbook. Taking the initiative, she dialed Annie's number, but there was no response. Slightly frustrated, she tried reaching out to Justin instead.
• "Hey, you," Justin answered, sounding slightly different, as if he had been exerting himself physically.
• "Hi. I'm feeling pretty bored," Emerald admitted.
• "Do you want to watch me work out?" he suggested quickly. "You could cheer me on while I do my push-ups."
• She chuckled lightly. "Why exactly would you need someone to cheer you on?"
• "I just want to help alleviate your boredom. Anyway, are you doing okay?" he asked warmly.
• "That depends," she replied, mulling over the rapid changes in her life. "Everything has shifted so quickly, hasn't it?" She nodded, acknowledging his concern. "I hope this doesn't mean any danger is lurking. We'd all go insane if something happened to you."
• His words drew a smile across her face. "I'm hoping nothing outlandish occurs. I pray that my real mother's sudden appearance is the peak of it all. My dad mentioned his business rivals might resort to petty tricks and fears they might target me."
• "Let's hope they don't dare," Justin said with determination. "And if they do, they'll regret troubling my girl." His playful reassurance prompted a giggle. "I know how strong you are, Emerald. You'll withstand whatever madness comes your way."
• "Thanks, Justin," she responded sincerely.
• "Are you sure you don't want to watch me work out? I'm quite the spectacle," he teased, shifting the subject.
• "Ew... please, no. Maybe you should ask Annie, though."
• "She'll just kick me off," Justin laughed, and Emerald could vividly picture Annie furiously yelling at a shirtless Justin to get off her screen.
• Laughing to herself, Emerald thought, That girl definitely likes him. It's either she doesn't realize it or she's a master at pretending otherwise. I should watch Justin too and see if his feelings match hers.
• Or... maybe I could subtly pry and ask him outright.
• "Justin?" she began, but a sudden loud noise, sounding like a motorbike, interrupted them. The disruption ended their conversation, leaving Emerald alone with her tasks.
• Well, I might as well get started on them, she concluded.
• Just then, unexpected sounds from the hallway caught Emerald's attention, and her senses heightened at the realization.
• "Oh, Dustin," she heard faintly.
• Her eyes went wide with shock. Her parents... were being intimate.
• Do they not realize we have two kids in the house? And why...?
• "Jocelyn..." echoed through the space.
• Emerald suddenly wanted to either disappear or somehow plug her ears. This was more than she bargained for and she definitely couldn't storm down and tell them to be quiet.
• With her hands covering her ears to block out the noise, she scanned the room in search of her headphones.
• Suddenly, the door opened, and Zack entered the room quietly.
• "Hey, Zack," she greeted him, wondering if he had overheard their parents as well. In a small house like theirs, it was inevitable.
• "Emerald?" he asked, settling gently on the edge of her bed, peering at her with innocent confusion. "Why is Mommy calling Daddy's name so loudly?"