Andrew said nothing, but that was exactly what he meant.
Tears welled up in Emily's eyes and rolled down her cheeks. "Andrew, what if… I mean, if I were willing to take everything off and sleep with you? I'm willing to give myself to you. Would that change how you see me?"
Andrew looked straight at her. "Ms. Emily, is this really worth it to you?"
Without hesitation, Emily replied, "It is. I think it's completely worth it. I know Hannah and Freya have already confessed to you, haven't they? You probably turned down Hannah already, didn't you?"
She pleaded, "So, Andrew, why not give me a chance? If you have me, it's like having half of the Keller family in your corner. With that kind of support, you'd be unstoppable in Blumedale. Moving up would be a walk in the park!"
Andrew smiled faintly. "That's a tempting offer, but unfortunately, I've never cared much for status or power. Mainly because… I'm already doing fine on my own. Now, get dressed. It's freezing out. Oh, and don't worry. I won't tell a soul about what happened today. I'll keep your secret. Goodbye."
With that, Andrew turned and walked out of Emily's room, leaving the Keller estate without a second glance. It was not until the cold air hit his face outside that he finally felt like he could breathe again.
Damn it. Those three Keller sisters really were a handful.
If he were a little more of a scumbag, none of them would have stood a chance. Andrew could have easily taken advantage of the family's trust in him and slept with all three, one after another.
Hell, he could have gone even further and had them serve him together. Few men on earth could say they lived that kind of life. He hailed a cab and headed straight for the Peck family estate.
Some thoughts were better left unthought. If he dwelled on it too long, they would just spiral into madness.
…
Back in Emily's bedroom, she listlessly began putting her clothes back on. She had actually sensed Andrew's rejection would come beforehand, but when it actually happened, it still stung.
She had never been so forward in her entire life, never thrown away her dignity like this. Yet, this man had still heartlessly rejected her.
Strangely, Emily could not muster even a trace of anger or hatred toward him. Instead, she felt wronged, dejected, and tinged with self-mockery.
It was clear now that Andrew was no longer someone she could reach for.
"Emily!"
The sudden call made Emily jump, and she quickly fastened her bra. Looking up, she saw Freya standing outside her room, now walking in.
"Freya, you…" Emily felt both embarrassed and annoyed.
Freya really had a knack for showing up unannounced. What was she supposed to do now?
"Emily, you don't need to hide it anymore. I heard everything you and Andrew did just now from outside," Freya said calmly, her eyes full of meaning.
Emily's hands froze while getting dressed. She exhaled deeply and admitted honestly, "Fine, Freya. Since you already know, I won't say much more about it. Hannah probably doesn't have a chance anymore, so I thought maybe we could work together and give it a try."
They were both smart women. Truth be told, most heirs from wealthy families were not exactly geniuses, but they were not idiots either. When it came to protecting their own interests, none of them were pushovers.
The only real tactic was to trap him and lock him down so he could not escape if he tried.
Freya bit her lip. "I don't want to give up. If I get another chance in the future, I still want to have him."
Emily's heart was also stirring restlessly. "I don't know what to do about my situation either. I'll just take it one step at a time. Andrew probably has no interest in me anymore. I can't bring myself to force myself on him because that would look too desperate!"
Freya suggested, "How about this… Andrew should at least end up with one of us three. That way, we'd at least secure him for the Keller family."
Emily nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. Freya, we both need to keep trying!"
…
While the two sisters were pumping each other up and plotting, Andrew had already arrived at the Peck residence.
As soon as they met, Victoria frowned. "Andrew, you reek of alcohol. Plus, I can smell three different perfumes on you. You were up to no good before coming here, weren't you?"
Meeting Victoria's knowing smile, Andrew immediately protested his innocence.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: Rising from the Ashes (Andrew)
no update? :-(...
Why there is no update for last two days??...
Brilliant piece of work. I am enjoying the novel. The only problem is that it is taking longer to update more chapters....