Too Far for Longing

Chapter 3 k********g mastermind

　　Emily held her cheek, eyes wide in disbelief as she stared at William.

　　Luna jumped in right then, stepping in front of Emily and facing William head-on, standing between them like a wall.

　　"William! You shouldn't treat her like this. Back then, she just liked you too much and made a mistake. It's been three years already—no matter how awful you are to her, she's never walked away. Don't you think it's time to let the past go and stop punishing her?"

　　Emily was stunned, her heart almost leaping out of her chest.

　　How did Luna know she liked William?

　　That was supposed to be her deepest secret—buried so far down nobody ever saw it!

　　She never said anything because he loved someone else. Now, she still kept quiet because she didn't want to come off as pathetic.

　　William saw her face change and felt a twinge of guilt deep down, but his voice stayed cold. "Who'd want someone like her liking them? These last three years, I've felt sick every time I looked at her."

　　Tears welled up in Emily's eyes before she could stop them. So... he knew. He'd known all along.

　　That's why he chose to believe Luna. That's why he never gave her the benefit of the doubt.

　　She wiped away her tears quickly, refusing to let them see her fall apart again. "So, you think I killed Grace on purpose just because I liked you?"

　　William didn't even hesitate. "What else would it be?"

　　Emily let out a dry laugh, her voice full of sarcasm.

　　"So all the crap you've put me through these years is because I liked you? Just because I had feelings for you, you assumed I could be that evil? Just because I liked you, Luna says it and you believe it, but when it comes from me, it's all lies?!"

　　Her voice rose with each word, until in the end, she was practically shouting.

　　"If that's how you see it, then whatever. Believe what you want." Her eyes were dead calm now, the last shred of hope in them gone.

　　With that, she spun around and walked off, steps heavy and fast.

　　William stood frozen, watching her back as she left.

　　Luna saw his expression shift, something uneasy flickering through her eyes.

　　She had only told Emily the truth to create more tension between them—but the reaction wasn't what she expected.

　　If William really looked into the past now... Luna felt a chill down her spine.

　　She had to act fast. She couldn't give Emily any room for a comeback.

　　Outside, the skies had turned gray, and soon, rain poured down like someone flipped a switch.

　　Emily wandered aimlessly until she ended up outside a bar.

　　She muttered to herself, "Maybe if I get drunk, it won't hurt so much."

　　It was early afternoon, the bar almost empty. She found a dark corner and started drinking. She lost count pretty quickly.

　　Eventually, she stumbled up to head to the restroom, and as she passed one of the private rooms, a familiar male voice stopped her in her tracks.

　　"Luna! I've still got the evidence of you planning Grace's k********g. You're the mastermind! Unless you want William to see it, you better wire me a million. Or I swear, we're both going down."

　　Luna? Kidnap Grace? She was behind it?

　　Emily's eyes widened. She held her breath.

　　The fog in her brain cleared instantly.

　　She backed up in a panic, accidentally bumping into a flower pot at the door.

　　The crash echoed like thunder in the quiet bar.

　　"Who's there?" The man inside sounded alarmed.

　　Crap.

　　Emily turned to run, but her foot caught the pot, and she went sprawling on the floor.

　　Hearing footsteps quickly approaching, her heart raced like a drumbeat. She scrambled up, trying to bolt.