Chapter 10 - THE MAN WHO FINALLY APOLOGIZED
Daniel found Emma outside the council building.
She was waiting for Nathaniel.
“Emma.”
She turned.
Daniel looked tired.
“Can we talk?”
Emma considered.
Then nodded.
“Briefly.”
He swallowed.
“I owe you an apology.”
She crossed her arms.
“For what?”
He looked down.
“For leading you on.”
Emma waited.
“I knew my family wanted me to choose Madeline.”
“Then why did you keep seeing me?”
Daniel's eyes filled.
“Because I liked you.”
Emma laughed bitterly.
“That wasn't enough.”
“I know.”
He looked at her.
“I thought I could keep both possibilities open until the ceremony.”
Emma stared.
“And when you chose Madeline, you expected me to smile?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
She looked away.
For a moment, she remembered the coffee.
The midnight texts.
The kiss beneath the fire escape.
Then she looked back.
“I loved you.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I know.”
“And you knew.”
He nodded.
Emma swallowed.
“That's what I need you to understand. You didn't just reject me. You let me build a future you never intended to share.”
Tears slipped down Daniel's face.
“I'm sorry.”
Emma nodded slowly.
“I believe you.”
He looked up.
“But I don't want you back.”
Daniel's expression crumpled.
Emma continued.
“I hope you learn to be honest with people before they have to recover from you.”
Then she walked away.
Nathaniel waited beside his car.
He didn't ask what happened.
He simply opened the passenger door.
May you like
Emma smiled.
And for the first time, the memory of Daniel no longer felt like an open wound.
