No Strings Attached

Chapter Thirty Three

Norma's grip on the steering wheel tightened as she pulled into the hospital parking lot, her heart racing as she rehearsed what she might say. She hadn't seen Emma since before her surgery, and now, after weeks of worry, the girl was finally awake and aware enough for visitors.
She stepped out of the car, clutching the bouquet of sunflowers she'd picked up on the way, and made her way through the sliding glass doors of the hospital. The sharp scent of antiseptic filled the air, and her heels echoed softly against the tiled floor as she followed the signs to Emma's room.
When she reached the door, she hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
Emma was sitting up in bed, her cheeks no longer pale and sunken, though she still looked small and fragile in the oversized hospital gown. Dylan sat beside her, his posture stiff, but his face softened when he saw Norma.
"Norma!" Emma's voice was a little hoarse, but the warmth in it was unmistakable.
Norma smiled, her relief washing over her as she crossed the room. "Hey, sweetheart," she said, leaning down to hug Emma gently. She handed her the flowers. "You look beautiful. I can't believe how much better you're doing."
Her eyes flicked to Emma's face, noticing the absence of the oxygen tubes that had once been a constant.
"Thanks," Emma said with a small smile, glancing down at the bouquet. "These are so pretty."
Norma took the chair next to Dylan, her knees suddenly weak as the tension of the past few weeks began to ease.
Emma's eyes flicked between Dylan and Norma, a hint of mischief in her gaze. "So...now that I'm out of the woods...will you tell us what really happened between you and Alex?"
Norma froze, her smile faltering.
"Emma..." Dylan began, his tone warning, but Emma shook her head.
"No, Dylan. I've been stuck in this bed for weeks, not knowing what's going on. I'm awake now, and I want answers." she says Dylan firmly before her gaze flicked to Norma.
"I know you told us you broke things off with him but you never told us why." Her gaze softened. "You don't have to spare me anymore. I can handle it."
Norma bit her lip, her eyes darting between the two of them. "Fine. But you can't tell anyone," she said finally, her voice low and firm. "Either of you. No one can know what I'm about to tell you."
Dylan and Emma exchanged a glance before nodding.
"Okay," Emma said softly. "We promise."
Norma exhaled slowly, steeling herself. "It started with the flash drive," she began. "I—I used it as leverage against Bob."
Dylan frowned. "Are you insane? You can't threaten Bob-"
"I know that now," Norma snapped before taking a moment to calm herself. "I knew it then, too. Alex tried to tell me, begged me not to, but I...I thought I could handle it, that I could outsmart Bob. But I didn't realize what I was walking into."
Emma's expression darkened, but she stayed silent as Norma continued.
"Bob figured out everything. He figured out that Alex and I... that we were together. He used it against us, zeroed in on our relationship. And then, as a warning, he..." Norma's voice cracked, but she forced herself to go on. "He had Alex shot."
Emma gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God."
"That's why we've been trying to hide it," Norma said, her voice shaking now. "To keep him safe. To keep all of us safe."
Emma's eyes were wide, glistening with unshed tears. "That's terrible, Norma. I'm so sorry."
Norma's gaze dropped to the floor, and she shook her head. "That's not even the worst part."
Dylan and Emma both froze, their shock giving way to a tense silence as they waited for her to continue.
Norma sat back in the chair, her hands gripping the armrests so tightly her knuckles turned white. Dylan and Emma leaned forward, their faces a mix of concern and anticipation as they hung on her every word.
"Alex doesn't even know about this part," Norma said quietly, her voice trembling. She looked up, her eyes darting between them.
Dylan's brows furrowed, and Emma clasped her hands together in her lap, her expression tight with worry.
"One night, Bob showed up at the motel," Norma continued. Her gaze grew distant, as if she were reliving it. "He had pictures. Everything Alex and I had tried to hide, it was all there. We'd been followed."
Emma gasped softly, and Dylan's jaw clenched, but neither of them spoke, waiting for her to go on.
Norma shook her head, her voice barely above a whisper. "Bob told me I needed to make Alex work for him. He wanted Alex under his thumb, said if I didn't convince him, he'd ruin both of us."
"That's crazy," Emma said, her voice rising in disbelief. "Alex would never work for someone like Bob."
Dylan frowned, leaning forward. "Ruin you? How could he ruin you guys?"
Norma hesitated, her chest tightening as she looked at Dylan. The words caught in her throat, her mind racing. How could she say it? How could she tell him the truth without breaking him?
Finally, she forced herself to speak. "Because... Bob knows about... about Caleb."
The room went still.
Dylan froze, his face shifting from confusion to shock in an instant. His lips parted, but no sound came out. Emma's reaction was immediate, her eyes widened in horror, her hand flying to her mouth.
"What?" Dylan finally said, his voice low, trembling with anger and disbelief.
Norma's breath hitched, but she couldn't stop now. The words spilled out of her, weeks of fear and shame pouring from her like a dam breaking.
"Bob told me he'd publish it. Everything. In the paper, on the news. He had a whole story planned out, with Alex's face right next to mine. He wanted to humiliate us, make Alex look like he'd been protecting someone...like me." Her voice cracked. "I couldn't let that happen to him. I couldn't bear the thought of dragging him down with me."
Emma's voice was barely a whisper. "Why not just tell Alex? Surely he would've figured something out-"
"I...I don't want him to know," Norma said, her voice trembling. "If he knew who he really fell in love with-"
"He would still love you," Dylan tells her firmly, glancing back to Emma who nodded eagerly in agreement.
"Of course he would, Norma. You know he would-" Emma says before Norma cuts her off again.
"And then what? He would stay with me and lose his job, everything he's worked for," Norma said, her voice rising slightly.
She takes a moment to take a deep breath, her voice softer now as she speaks slowly. "I can't do that. This is what's best. This way I can at least spare him. Spare his reputation, his career... everything. This way if Bob does go through with it, Alex won't have to go down with me."
The silence in the room was deafening. Dylan leaned back in his chair, his face pale, his hands clenched into fists. Emma blinked rapidly, her expression stricken, as if she were struggling to process everything.
Norma's gaze dropped to her lap, her shoulders slumping. "I didn't know what else to do," she murmured. "I was trying to protect him. I just...I don't want him to hate me."
Dylan finally found his voice, low and tight with emotion. "Norma... this is-" He stopped, shaking his head. "This is a lot."
Emma reached out, her hand trembling as she rested it on Norma's arm. "You were trying to protect him," she said softly, tears glistening in her eyes. "But you can't do this alone anymore. We have to figure this out. All of us."
Norma shook her head, her eyes distant and tired. "There's no other way," she said softly. "I have to convince Bob we're not together. As long as Alex is safe, as long as he's happy...I can live with that."
Emma's brow furrowed, her voice trembling. "Happy? Alex won't be happy without you. You know that."
Norma's lips quivered for a moment, but she steeled herself. "Maybe he can move on," she said, her voice calm but hollow. "If he sees that I have. If I move on, Bob will believe we're really done. He'll leave Alex alone."
Dylan leaned forward, his eyes narrowing in disbelief. "And who exactly are you planning on moving on with?"
Norma hesitated, her fingers brushing the hem of her sleeve. "I...I went on a date with George."
The room fell silent, Emma's mouth parting in shock as Dylan stared at Norma, his jaw tightening. "Already?" Dylan asked, his voice sharp.
"It's not easy for me," Norma snapped, her voice breaking. She looked away, her shoulders trembling as she fought to stay composed. "It killed me. Every second of it. But the sooner Alex moves on, the sooner he can find happiness again."
Emma just shook her head, biting her lip to hold back her emotions. Dylan sighed heavily, running a hand down his face. "Norma," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "We could've figured something out. Together. You didn't have to do this."
Norma's eyes snapped to him, her tone sharp and full of pain. "You think I didn't try to think of another way? You think I wanted to lose the only man I've ever truly loved?" Her voice cracked, and she took a shaky breath, her expression softening just slightly as she tried to pull herself together.
"No," she continued, her voice quieter now but just as resolute. "I didn't want this. But it's not about what I want. It's about keeping Alex safe. And this is the only way."
She took another deep breath, her gaze steady as she looked between them. "My mind is made up. This is the best option. The only option."
Emma stared at her, her expression a mix of heartbreak and frustration. Dylan leaned back in his chair, shaking his head slowly but saying nothing more.
The room fell into an uneasy silence, Norma's words hanging heavy in the air. After a moment, Norma sighed softly as she stood, her purse clutched tightly in her hands.
"I should get going," she says, moving to give Emma one last hug, forcing a smile despite the storm of emotions threatening to spill over. "I'll come back to visit," she said softly as she pulled back, her voice trembling just enough for Dylan and Emma to notice.
Emma looked at her, concern etched into her pale face. "You promise?"
Norma nodded, her throat tightening. "I promise. Take care of yourself, sweetheart." She lingered for just a moment before looking at Dylan. "Call me if you need anything."
Dylan gave her a stiff nod, his jaw tight.
With one last glance at Emma, Norma turned and walked out, her heels clicking softly against the floor as the door swung closed behind her.
The room was silent for a long moment, the air heavy with the weight of what had just been said.
Emma broke the silence first, her voice low but filled with frustration. "She's making a mistake."
Dylan sighed heavily, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah, well, try telling her that. When Norma makes up her mind..."
Emma shook her head, tears welling in her eyes. "She's miserable. I don't care what she says, Dylan. She's not okay with this."
Dylan looked away, his jaw tightening. "I know. But you heard her. She thinks this is the only way to keep Alex safe."
Emma sniffled, wiping at her eyes. "It's not fair. She shouldn't have to do this. And Alex..." She trailed off, her voice cracking. "He'll never move on. He loves her too much."
Dylan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, and looked at her firmly. "That's on her to figure out. And she will. Right now, you need to focus on yourself. Get better, Emma. That's what Norma and Alex would want for you."
Emma nodded slowly, her shoulders sinking as she leaned back against the pillows. "Yeah," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.
The room fell silent again, and this time neither of them broke it.

Sorry for the long wait between updates! Just finished moving and had some health issues. Still waiting on some important results so updates might still be sporadic. I'll give you guys an extra chapter today, so please enjoy! I promise, it will get better for them.