chapter 1
“Do I really have to come, mom?” She asked with a hesitant tone.
“Yes Emily, you do. You know very well how your father is. He already disagreed with you leaving the country in the first place. He's been complaining about it for months. He will be furious if you don’t show up at Alexander’s wedding.” Her mother said sternly.
“But mother! you know how inconvenient it will be for me.”
“I know it hurts my sweet but there is no choice. You have been in France for the past seven months. It is about time you came home. This wedding is a very important event for both families. Your presence is crucial.”
“Coming back home does not have to be at the same time as his wedding does it? I can come back. a few days after and make sure to show my congratulations and all” She said in a desperate attempt. However, deep down inside she knew she had no choice but to come back.
"I will make a plane ticket reservation today. However, don't expect me to attend ANY of the events the Braxtons planned for their son's wedding."
"The wedding is next month Emily. Take your time. You should know however that you have to at least attend the rehearsal dinner and the actual wedding." Her mother said with a heavy sigh at the end.
After the phone call with her mother ended, she decided to call her baby sister. She was the only one who understood her and related to her.
After a few rings, she heard her sister's groggy voice over the phone:" It's two a.m Emmy. What the hell?"
"Sorry, Anna. I was talking with mom just now. The time difference and the fact that's she's a complete night owl slipped my mind."
"What did she want with you in the middle of the night?" She heard her sister's voice getting clearer, she completely got her attention.
"She told me that I had to go back to attend Alexander's wedding."
"What the f**k? Has she lost her mind? Our mother knows about everything you went through. How can she possibly do that to you?"
"She said dad would be too upset if I didn't attend the damned wedding. I really don't want to anger him. I know he was somehow disappointed in me when I asked to leave for Paris."
"You were in so much pain! Staying in New York would've done you no good. Besides, you are handling the Paris branch quite well."
"Dad does not know about any of that Anna. Do you remember how surprised he was when I told him I'd like to leave? He didn't ask questions but I know for sure that he had his doubts."
"That still not an excuse Emily! You should not have to go through the pain of attending the wedding of the bastard you loved for 13 years."
"I should move on and this is probably the first step to it sweety. I can't dwell in the past when he clearly never cared. He is getting hitched for f**k's sake."
"If you're positive that you will be fine then okay. I will kick him in his Braxton family jewels if he even hurts you the slightest bit."
"I will be fine Anna."
"Do not talk to him for the period you're home."
"Of course I won't. I have no reason to start up a conversation with him."
"I am telling you, sister, you and I are both cursed."
"Yeah the Braxton curse. It's been a while since we talked about that." Emily added with a slight giggle.
"Anyway, how's you cold Emmy?"
"I am fully cured. I stayed home over the weekend and took my meds. I feel a lot better than last week."
"I should really go back to sleep now Emily. I have an early lecture tomorrow. Text me your flight details. I'll meet you at the airport on the day you arrive."
" Have a good night's sleep. I'll text you soon since I'll make the reservation now."
She hung up and stared at her bedroom wall for a few minutes. She really had to come back? it hasn't been even that long.
She made the reservation and quickly tried to go back to sleep. Her flight was in two days and she had a lot to prepare for tomorrow. She however couldn't shake the uneasy feeling of what's to come.
All that she was feeling was probably her fault since that Braxton boy never considered her more than a family friend. Why did her father have to be best friends with his? Why did they have to be partners in the company? And why of all the people in the world did she have to fall for the Braxton's eldest child, The Alexander Braxton?
Thoughts kept jumbling in her mind until she drifted to sleep.