Jeff Sterling stared down at Emily Harper kneeling before him, a storm of conflicting emotions churning in his chest.
This was the woman he had loved—truly, deeply—for three long years.
She was also the woman who had hurt him more than anyone else ever could.
Just days ago, she had sneered that she would never apologize to him. She had sworn she would make him regret divorcing her. She had even demanded that *he* kneel and beg *her* forgiveness.
Jeff had waited for this moment far longer than he cared to admit.
Those three little words—"I'm sorry"—were the sweetest victory he could imagine.
"Emily," he said, voice low and edged with dark satisfaction, "these three words… I've been waiting to hear them for years. Last time we spoke, you laughed in my face and said you'd never say them. Look at you now."
He had won.
"I'm so sorry, Jeff. So sorry. Honey, it's all my fault. Please… please forgive me."
Emily clutched at his trouser leg, tears streaming down her flawless face, her voice breaking with desperation. Who could have imagined that Riverforge's undisputed number-one beauty—the untouchable heiress who had never bowed to anyone—would one day kneel like this?
Jeff's expression remained cold. "You wronged me. Deeply. And now you think a few tears and an apology fix everything? How am I supposed to forgive you?"
Emily wiped her eyes frantically. "Honey, you've misunderstood. I never betrayed you—not really."
Jeff's eyes narrowed, anger flaring. "I saw it with my own eyes. You still want to deny it?"
"No! Listen to me," she pleaded. "I was confused. Ryan tricked me. He lured me to the hotel, but nothing happened. You showed up with the delivery, and after you left, I felt so guilty I walked out right away. I went straight home and tried to cook for you."
She swallowed hard. "My cooking's terrible, and I was scared you wouldn't like it, so I ordered takeout instead. There are security cameras at the front gate. The footage will show exactly when I got back that night. You can check it yourself—or… or you can verify everything else if you want."
Her cheeks flushed with shy embarrassment on the last words.
Jeff hesitated. He couldn't tell if this was the truth or a desperate lie crafted to worm her way back into his life.
And honestly? He didn't want to know.
Even if it was true—even if she had walked away before anything happened—the mere thought of betrayal had been enough. The damage was done.
He spoke coldly. "Even if I believe you, Emily, you still entertained the idea. That's betrayal enough. I can't forgive that."
Emily's tears fell harder. "Husband, I had reasons. The person I've always loved is you. Ryan fooled me because I was under so much pressure from my family."
"You know how it is—my dad and uncle fighting over the inheritance. Dad has no son, so everything's going to Brandon eventually. My parents kept pushing me to win Grandma's favor however I could. I felt trapped. I had no choice."
Jeff already knew all of this. He had lived it.
He cut her off. "Let's say you had no choice. You still claim you love me? Then why, for three entire years, did you never let me touch you? Not once?"
Emily sobbed openly. "That was my mother's rule. She said I had to stay 'pure' to keep my value. I wanted to be a real wife to you—I swear I did—but she wouldn't allow it."
She lifted her tear-streaked face. "Believe me, Jeff. I'm still untouched. Tonight… I can be your real wife. Right now."
As she spoke, her hands reached for his suit jacket again, tugging gently.
Jeff shoved her hands away. "Don't."
His voice was steel. "You know the truth, Emily. If I were still the broke, useless takeout guy—the live-in son-in-law you despised—you would never be on your knees saying these things. You're only here because you know I'm rich. Because my name is on the Horizon Group letterhead."
"I don't want a woman who only loves money. We're done. We can't get back together."
Emily shook her head wildly. "I don't love money—I love *you*!"
But no matter what she said, Jeff turned away, refusing to look at her.
Desperation overtook her. She threw herself into his arms, pressing close, trying to force a kiss.
Jeff dodged easily. "Stop. Let go."
He tried to pry her off, but Emily clung like glue—arms locked around him, body pressed tight. Short of using real force, he couldn't shake her.
"I won't let go!" she cried, voice turning childish and stubborn. "I won't!"
This tactic—playing the clingy, spoiled rogue—was straight out of Sophia's playbook.
Still wrapped around him, she whispered sweetly, "You bought the villa in Phuket for me, didn't you? You know how much I love that place. I want to stay there with you—drink wine, watch the sea…"
"And this house… I love it too. Can I move in? Please?"
"I want to give you a son… and then a daughter. Okay?"
Her soft, pleading tone cracked something in Jeff's resolve for just a moment.
But he wasn't that easily swayed.
He hardened his heart, pushed her firmly onto the bed—the mattress so soft she barely bounced—and stepped back.
"Emily," he said, voice ice-cold, "if you had knelt and apologized *before* I revealed who I really am—back when I was still 'nothing'—we might have had a chance."
"But doing it now? After you know I'm the Chairman of Horizon Group? It just makes me sick."
Without another word, Jeff turned and walked out of the bedroom, shutting the door behind him.
Down on the first floor, Sophia was still pretending to talk on her phone. She looked up as Jeff appeared, his face thunderous.
"Sophia," he said flatly, "take Emily and leave. I need to rest."
Sophia dropped the act immediately. "Oh—right. I'll go check on her…"
She hurried up to the third floor and pushed open the bedroom door. Emily was curled under Jeff's blanket, sobbing into the pillow.
Sophia rushed over, pulling tissues from her purse. "Sweetie, what happened? You're crying like the world ended. How's Jeff supposed to sleep with all this?"
Emily threw her arms around Sophia, voice muffled against her shoulder. "He won't forgive me. I even knelt—I've never knelt for anyone in my life. Sob… sob…"
Sophia patted her back soothingly. "Don't panic. This is just round one. You think he's going to forgive you that easily? It'll take a few more times. Trust me."
"What do I do now?" Emily whimpered.
A low rumble of thunder rolled outside. The sky was darkening fast.
Sophia's eyes lit up with sudden inspiration. "Go to the courtyard. Kneel there. Tell him you won't get up until he forgives you. Stay in the rain if it starts pouring. Don't move."
Emily's eyes widened, then hardened with determination. "Okay. I'm all in. I just want to be Mrs. Sterling again—the one everyone envies."
Sophia helped her up, wiped her face, and led her downstairs.
At the front door, Sophia called out politely, "Mr. Sterling, thank you for having us. We're leaving now. Sorry for the disturbance."
Jeff didn't come out. His voice drifted from the living room. "I've called the driver. He'll take you."
The car waited at the gate.
But the moment Emily stepped into the courtyard, she dropped to her knees on the stone path.
"Jeff!" she cried into the gathering storm. "I won't get up until you forgive me. Not tonight—not ever!"
Thunder cracked overhead as the first raindrops began to fall.