The Rogue King's Surrogate novel Chapter 16

Chapter 16

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“I can’t believe it,” Nina said after she finished drinking her champagne. “How did you even endure something like that? Emery, that family’s rotten from the core. And you actually wasted five years of your life slaving away just to attract their approval.”

The club lights flickered above them, pulsing with the beat that shook the floors. Emery sat at a high–top table near the bar, her untouched glass of juice sweating beside her. She didn’t even remember ordering it. Her usual drink was something with more of a kick. But tonight, something in her gut told her not to. Nina didn’t question it. Instead, she raised her flute of champagne and downed the last sip before setting it aside.

“You’re doing the smart thing,” Nina said, nodding at the juice. “I mean, we still don’t know the result. Best not to mess with it.”

Emery didn’t respond. Her fingers wrapped around the cold glass, but she didn’t lift it. She didn’t really want to drink. Not tonight. Her thoughts were too loud.

Nina leaned closer. “But seriously. You were so damn dumb for staying with Samuel that long. I told you. I always told you. But what’s the point of blaming you now?”

Emery gave a half–shrug. She wasn’t going to argue. Nina had warned her–repeatedly.

mean, five years, Em. Five! That’s like a master’s degree in humiliation,” Nina muttered, shaking her head before letting out a dramatic sigh. “Anyway. You saw that guy again.”

Emery blinked. “What guy?”

“Will you stop pretending? I’m talking about the one who keeps stalking you.”

Emery sat back. “Logan’s not stalking me.”

“Logan?” Nina raised an eyebrow. “So his name’s Logan?”

Emery’s lips parted. “That’s not the point.”

–nt or – -IT

“Oh, it’s not?” Nina crossed her arms, smirking. “You’re on a first–name basis now. You sure that’s not the point?”

“He told me he had business at the mall,” Emery said.

“And you believed him?” Nina asked.

Emery didn’t answer. Of course, she didn’t. Logan’s explanation was thin, at best. But he had been there when she needed someone. She remembered the moment he caught her. The way he didn’t flinch. How he stood between her and Samuel like it was nothing.

She let out a breath. Earlier, Logan simply told her that he had some business to attend to and he needed to go. Then he left without waiting for her response! The least she could do was pretend she believed him.

Nina watched her for a moment, then smiled. “Look, I’m not saying marry the guy, but can you at least live a little? You don’t have work tomorrow. You don’t have to wake up early. You don’t even have a schedule anymore. Come on. Let’s enjoy the night for once.”

Emery hesitated.

“I mean, you haven’t been to a club in, what, a year? Two?” Nina added, already standing.

Emery slowly nodded. “Alright.”

That was all Nina needed. She grabbed Emery’s wrist and pulled her out of the chair without giving her time to think twice. Emery barely had time to set her juice down before Nina dragged her into the thick of the crowd on the dance floor.

The lights were din but colorful. The music was loud enough to make her forget how quiet her thoughts had been moments ago. People were already moving to the beat, bodies pressed close, laughter echoing in bursts.

Nina spun around and held Emery’s hand. “Just dance.”

So she did. Awkward at first. Then slowly, her body started to move with the rhythm. Fler heels didn’t bother her. Her head didn’t ache. For the first time in weeks, she let her mind go quiet.

After what felt like forever, the two finally decided to go back home.

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Nina leaned against a metal pole and kicked off her heels, barefoot now, holding the shoes in one hand. “God, my feet. Why do I wear these things?”

Nina barely turned.

“Nina!”

Emery shoved her hard toward the side, just as the sound of screeching tires burst through the stillness. A horn blared. Rubber burned against the asphalt.

She felt the heat of the headlights on her skin.

Then her body tensed just as strong arms grabbed her and pulied—hard,

The world tilted, the sidewalk vanished beneath her feet, and her heels scraped against the curb.

The car missed her by inches, but it didn’t stop or swerve; it just kept going, speeding down the road, past the bar, and around the corner—until it slammed into a building with a loud, cracking thud that shook the pavement.

Meanwhile, Emery landed hard against something solid, her back hitting a chest as the air left her lungs in one sharp exhale.

Nina screamed her name as people nearby shouted, a few cursing as they stumbled back in shock.

Emery didn’t move. Her body was still frozen, her heart pounding too fast, eyes wide as she tried to process what just happened.

Then she looked up.

She

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AD