Edward hadn't even released me from his arms when the knock came loud, furious, shaking the door like the person on the other side wanted to break it down.
We both froze.
Edward's jaw tightened. "That's him."
My heart dropped to my feet.
Frank.
Again.
Edward moved toward the door, but I grabbed his wrist. "Don't open it."
"He's not leaving," Edward said, voice low. "He came back angry."
"Edward"
Too late.
Frank's voice roared through the wood.
"Open this door now! Leah, open it!"
I felt my stomach twist. This was the man I once married… now sounding like a storm about to destroy everything in its path.
Edward didn't hesitate. He opened the door.
Frank barged in, not even pretending to be civilized. His tie was crooked, his hair messed up, his face flushed with rage.
He pointed at me immediately.
"You. I'm done talking politely."
Edward stepped between us before I could even blink. "Keep your voice down."
"Don't you dare tell me what to do," Frank snapped. "Do you have any idea what you've done? What this will do to my reputation? To my family? To everything I built?"
Edward let out a short, humorless laugh.
"Family? You? That's funny."
Frank shoved a finger at him. "I swear to God, Edward, if you don't walk away from this woman right now"
Edward took a slow step forward. "Try finishing that sentence."
Frank's nostrils flared, but his voice turned sharp. Calculated.
"Do you want to know what your little romance with my ex-wife will do to you?" he demanded. "To your life? Your career? Your name?"
I stiffened.
He sounded too confident.
Too sure.
Edward didn't react. "I don't care."
"Oh, you will," Frank said, eyes glittering. "Because I'm going to expose you both."
My entire body froze.
Frank continued, savoring the moment. "You think the world won't care? You think they won't be disgusted? Headlines everywhere: Young man involved with his father's ex-wife. You think people won't talk? Won't laugh? Won't judge?"
My breath caught painfully.
No.
No no no.
He wouldn't dare.
Frank smirked like he could read my thoughts. "You've always underestimated me, Leah. But this?" His voice rose. "This is the scandal of the century. People will eat it up."
Edward's fists curled.
"Dad don't."
"Don't? DON'T?" Frank exploded. "She humiliated me! Both of you did! And you expect me to keep quiet?"
Vivian must've gotten in his head.
Of course she did.
I swallowed hard. "Frank, please don't drag Edward into this"
"Why not?" Frank barked. "He dragged himself into it when he decided to crawl into your bed like"
Edward moved so fast Frank flinched.
"That's the last time you speak about her like that," Edward growled.
Frank backed up a step only one but enough to show he wasn't as fearless as he pretended.
Still, he straightened his shirt and scoffed. "You two think you're in love. You think this is romantic. Let me guess 'love conquers all'? Save it for Hollywood, not the real world."
Edward crossed his arms. "The real world is exactly where we are. And I'm not hiding anything."
Frank's eyes narrowed. "Then you won't mind when it becomes public."
My chest tightened.
If this got out…
My job, my reputation, everything I rebuilt after the divorce would be destroyed.
Edward must've felt my panic he turned, quickly, gently, grabbing my hand.
"Leah," he whispered. "Look at me."
I did.
His eyes were steady. Sure. Unshakeable.
"I won't let him hurt you."
But Frank laughed. A cold, triumphant sound.
"Oh, sweetheart," he mocked. "You think he can protect you? Protect himself? He's just a kid compared to what I can do."
Edward took one step toward him.
Frank shut up instantly.
Then Edward spoke calm, but deadly.
"You expose us," he said, "and I expose everything you've been doing behind Vivian's back."
Frank went pale.
Edward continued. "You think I didn't know? You think I didn't see the texts? You think I didn't hear the phone calls you made to that married woman? You think I don't know about the money you're hiding from Vivian's account?"
Frank's jaw dropped.
"You wouldn't," Frank whispered.
Edward raised a brow. "Try me."
Frank swallowed, breathing harder than before.
But he wasn't done.
His pride wouldn't let him stop.
"Even if you say nothing," Frank said, forcing confidence he clearly didn't have anymore, "people will still talk. Everyone will still know what you are, Leah."
I lifted my chin.
"What am I?" I asked quietly.
Frank sneered. "A woman who can't keep a man her own age."
Before I could react, Edward grabbed Frank's shirt and shoved him back against the wall so fast the picture frame rattled.
"You don't talk to her like that," Edward snarled. "Not ever."
Frank choked on the shock. "E-Edward let go "
"Say another word about her," Edward said, tightening his grip, "and I'll show you exactly how much I don't care that you're my father."
I'd never seen Edward like this.
Protective.
Furious.
Ready to tear down heaven and hell for me.
Frank tried to push him away. "Let go"
Edward did. But only because he wanted to not because Frank fought back.
Frank stumbled forward, breath uneven.
Edward stood tall, unwavering.
"If you expose us," he said, "you lose everything. Vivian will leave. The board will question your decisions. Your reputation will crumble about three minutes after your marriage does."
Frank shook his head. "You're bluffing…"
But he wasn't.
And Frank knew it.
He could see it in Edward's eyes.
Frank swallowed. "You're choosing her over me."
Edward didn't hesitate.
Not even a fraction of a second.
"Yes," he said.
Frank inhaled like he'd been stabbed.
I felt tears pool in my eyes not from pain, but from the weight of Edward's loyalty. His love. His decision.
Frank pointed at me, shaking with rage he couldn't control.
"This isn't over," he growled. "One way or another, the world will find out what you two are."
He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the walls shook.
Silence settled.
Heavy.
Cold.
Uncertain.
I stared at the closed door, breath trembling. "Edward… if he does it, if he exposes us my life is over."
Edward turned to me slowly. He cupped my cheeks with both hands, bringing my face up to his.
"Then we'll face it together," he whispered. "No more running. No more fear. You're not alone in this, Leah. Not ever again."
And for the first time since Frank walked into that restaurant…
I believed him.