The Perfect Emma

Chapter Nineteen

Emma Mabel

Emma's chest felt heavy as she breathed - though this time her breathing was fine. She wasn't having a reaction anymore to peanuts. She merely was struggling to breathe from the realisation of everything.

She was safe... right?

"N-No more police." Emma murmured out, squeezing Grayson's hand that had grabbed her. The touch was comforting - much more comforting and desired than Aaron's touch had ever been.

Grayson nodded his head in understanding at her request and ran his thumb across her knuckles, merely watching her. They remained silent for a few moments before Grayson spoke up. "Emma... why do you trust me?"

Emma blinked tears out of her eyes and turned to look at him. She gave a soft smile and laughed softly - coughing when she started to laugh. Damn lungs. Emma cleared her throat and shook her head slightly. "Because he hates you." Emma murmured out.

Gray raised up his eyebrows slightly. He probably was trying to think in his head who he was... but Emma was scared. She was scared to say who he was despite knowing that she was safe by Grayson.

She couldn't help but picture that if she said something wrong, Aaron would walk in and throw her against the wall - again.

"He hates you, so you have to be good." Emma murmured out quietly while watching Grayson. Gray merely continued to watch her and nodded his head slowly.

"He's not going to hurt you," Gray repeated himself again. Despite it being the third or fourth time he's said that, Emma couldn't help but feel relieved by those words. She smiled and closed her eyes and let out a slow breath.

Emma and Grayson remained quiet for a while. The doctor moved around the room, adding more ointment to Emma's burn before stepping out. Emma stared at the ceiling and eventually murmured quietly. "My name is Emma Mabel."

Gray furrowed his eyebrows together in confusion as he watched her. "I know, Emma." He spoke slowly, noting her reactions.

"I know you do," Emma spoke softly. She pulled her hand away from his slowly and crossed it over her chest. "...but I don't."

It wasn't too hard to tell that curiosity, pain, and anger was bubbling inside of Grayson. He clenched his hand into a fist and pressed it over his mouth, leaning back slightly in the chair he was sitting in. The man let out a slow breath before lowering his hand back to his lap. "Is... there anyone else you want me to call?" Grayson asked quietly, likely not entirely sure what to say himself.

Emma turned her head to stare over at him. She shook her head slightly and gave him a soft smile. "No." She murmured. She didn't want to see anyone right now. For over a year she's been living the life of a woman named Emily Matthews - married to Aaron Matthews. She didn't want to see her family, friends, or husband for that matter. The looks she would get. Pity? Anger? Frustration? Confusion?

She didn't want to see it from her loved ones.

"...Are you sure?" Grayson pressed quietly. His eyes shifted down and eventually landed on her left hand. More specifically - the wedding ring on her finger from Aaron. Gray furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he stared at the ring.

Emma's eyes shifted down to where he was staring and watched the ring as well. It wasn't her ring - and she had a feeling that Grayson knew that. He was the detective for her case, after all. Emma reached her other hand across and yanked the ring off of her finger. She threw it across the room aggressively and let tears build back up into her eyes. Fucking Aaron.

Gray widened his eyes in surprise at the sudden chucking of the ring. He reached out to squeeze her hand softly before eventually leaning down and picking up the ring himself. She had a feeling why he collected it - evidence, more than likely. But she didn't care. She wanted it gone.

Eventually, the doctor entered back into the room and gave a smile towards Emma. She made her way over and glanced down at Emma's arm. "You're looking real good, Emma." The woman spoke, placing her hand soothingly on Emma's shoulder. Grayson merely remained quiet as he listened. "You have a burn on your arm that will likely scar, but no nerve damage we're hoping. At least, nothing that can't recover. You've been here for a few hours with no additional signs from your anaphylactic shock, but we're going to have you stay a few more hours just to be sure that it doesn't come back." The doctor said.

Emma nodded her head in understanding and squeezed her hands together. The doctor gave Emma a reassuring squeeze on her shoulder before making her way out of the room.

Outside of the room, Emma could hear Aaron shouting to the nurse. She stiffened, recognizing his voice, and let fear cross her face. She raised her hands up to her face and covered it slightly.

Grayson merely sighed. "It's okay, Emma. Just my partner." He murmured, pushing himself up to his feet. At his own words, Gray furrowed his eyebrows together slightly and watched Emma. He placed his hand on her knee softly before stepping over to the door. Pulling open the door, Gray began to yell at Aaron to shut up.

It made Emma smile

Take that, Aaron.

Emma covered her smile with her hands and watched as Grayson walked back over to the chair. Aaron was quiet this time, and Emma was thankful. However, knowing that he was just outside the door scared her beyond belief. She watched the door like a hawk now, barely letting her eyes pull away.

Grayson noticed. He reached out his hand and placed it on Emma's again softly, which caused her to turn her head away towards him. She blinked her eyes as she focused on him before looking away back towards the door.

"Emma, you're safe." He assured her for what felt like the hundredth time.

Emma merely nodded her head and hugged the blankets to her chest. Even though she knew that she was safe she couldn't help but keep an eye on where Aaron was.

However, this wasn't healthy. Emma shook her head slightly and raised her hands up to her face. She rubbed at her face and tried to talk herself out of it. 'He isn't in control of you anymore.' She told herself, 'I am not Emily Matthews.'

Despite not being Emily Matthews anymore, Emma did have the sudden urge to return back to Aaron's house and curl up in her bed in the basement.

No. That's not home.

Shaking her head once more, trying to clear her thoughts, Emma sat herself up slightly. She immediately tried to begin to think about something that would clear her mind. Something she could talk about that didn't involve being kidnapped. Something that didn't make her out to be a victim. "Ah, uh..." Emma rubbed her temple and gave a soft smile, turning over to look at Grayson. "Thanks for coming,"

Gray furrowed his eyebrows together and nodded his head. "Of course." He said simply, as if he couldn't picture it any other way.

"Oh. And I'm glad you enjoyed the chicken. Teriyaki is one of my favorites."