Dying to Love You

Chapter 2 Disgraced and Ruined

　　Emily was jolted awake by a burst of chaotic noise. Every muscle in her body felt torn apart. She sat up numbly, and footsteps had already entered the mourning hall.

　　Her aunt's eyes widened when she saw Emily disheveled. “You… you actually hooked up with someone in front of your parents' shrine?”

　　“I…” She barely got a word out before a vicious slap landed across her face.

　　“You filthy slut! Shameless! I'll beat you to death, you disgrace!”

　　Slaps and punches rained down on Emily as she curled up, shielding her head, silently kneeling on the floor.

　　The funeral wasn't even over, yet rumors about Emily “messing around” in front of her parents' shrine had already started to spread like wildfire.

　　“What kind of monster does that kind of thing during her parents' funeral? Absolutely heartless!”

　　“Did you hear? She's always been trashy. One man's not enough—she's into all kinds of random flings.”

　　The chattering hit Emily like background noise. She held her parents' urns in her arms, walking like a lifeless shell.

　　After a whole night kneeling and then being beaten senseless by her aunt, Emily passed out before the funeral ended.

　　When she came to, it was already afternoon. Her body screamed in pain, throat dry like sandpaper. She forced herself off the bed, dragging her feet to find some water downstairs.

　　But just as she cracked open her door, she heard footsteps coming from the stairs—and there was James.

　　Emily froze, instinctively shutting the door.

　　She used to light up when she saw James. Now, she only wanted to disappear.

　　Worried he'd come looking for trouble, she slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.

　　James, stepping upstairs, caught sight of her dodging into the room. The way she ran from him made anger flare in his chest.

　　She dared to avoid him? Scoffing, he marched straight to her door and kicked it open.

　　Inside, Emily pressed her ear to the bathroom door, trying to make out what was happening. The sudden bang made her body jolt.

　　A split second later, the bathroom door slammed open, and Emily, who had been right behind it, stumbled backwards into the sink with a loud thud.A sharp pain shot through her back, making Emily frown, her face twisting in agony. James stepped into the bathroom, towering over her.

　　“You hiding from me?” he asked coldly.

　　“No... no,” Emily mumbled, eyes cast down. “Mr. Mitchell... I just needed to use the restroom. This isn't the place for a man, could you please leave?”

　　She used to call him "James", soft and sweet. Now it was all formal titles and polite distance.

　　James let out a cold laugh and grabbed her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Last night, you were all over me. And now you're acting like I'm some stranger. What, playing hard to get now?”

　　“It wasn't me, I swear!” her voice trembled. “I know I messed up before, I really do… I was young and reckless. I didn't mean to disrespect you. Please, let it go. Don't hold it against me…”

　　The more she shrank back like this, the angrier James got. “Let it go?” he snapped. “We're talking about a life, Emily. Not everything can be forgiven and forgotten!”

　　“I know,” she choked out, her voice nearly gone. “If it makes you feel better, just kill me. Just stop tormenting me, I'm begging you.”

　　She was terrified—utterly broken by everything she'd endured over the past six months. That fear had carved itself deep inside her.

　　He stared down at her, sneering. “Kill you? You're not worth the mess. I let you come to your parents' funeral, sure. But no one said I'd let you off the hook.”

　　His gaze darkened, falling on her tear-streaked face. “Grace is still unconscious in bed. Our child is gone. What do you think I'm going to do?”

　　She stared at him, crushed. Of course he wasn't going to show her mercy—she'd known that all along. “Then do it,” she whispered. “Just end it.”

　　He snorted. “Trying to play noble now? Please.” His hand tightened, and she felt her jaw about to c***k.

　　It hurt like hell, but she bit her lip and didn't make a sound.

　　Watching her stubborn silence, he gave a twisted smirk—and then, without warning, leaned in and kissed her.