The Rogue King's Surrogate novel Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Talia capped her lipstick and turned toward her. “For a mistress, you’re really brave.” She took you’re nothing without Samuel.”

“To be honest, I never thought that you would know Mr. Bennet too,” Talia said as she adjusted her lipstick in front of the mirror. “I mean… I knew you and Samuel used to be close, so I never expected you to be close with his rival as well.”

Emery leaned against the sink, arms crossed. “Why am I not surprised you followed me in here?” Earlier, James didn’t let Talia and Samuel join them, telling her that he had something private to discuss with her. While Talia and Samuel moved to a different table, Talia had been glaring at her ever since.

She wasn’t surprised that the woman followed her to the restroom the moment she left to retouch her makeup.

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step forward. “Surprising, considering

Emery tilted her head. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Talia stepped back, then reached for the lock. The click echoed in the tiled restroom. “If I tell my fans that you’ve been trying to seduce my fiancé, do you think they’ll care what your story is?” She turned to face her again. “Let’s be honest. One post, one headline, and your name is done. No company will want to deal with the scandal.”

Emery gave a short smile. “Samuel and I were college classmates. That’s it. We’re not even close.”

“Stop lying,” Talia snapped, stepping closer. “I know you’re his mistress. I know he’s been hiding you in one of his houses like some dirty little secret.” Her finger pointed at Emery’s chest. “But that stops now.”

Emery’s smile didn’t fade. “I didn’t know the great Talia Arden was like this in private. Are you sure no one’s recording this?” She paused. “And you say all that like we’ve met before. But I’m pretty sure this is the first time. So why do you talk like you know me so well? Are you stalking me… Miss Arden?”

Talia’s hand flew up, aiming for her face.

But Emery caught her wrist mid–swing. Her grip was firm, her hand tight around Talia’s arm.

Talia let out a sharp breath as her body tensed. “Let go.”

Emery didn’t move. “Try that again,” she said. “See what happens.”

“I said let go!”

“Did you really think I would let you do whatever you want, Miss Arden?”

“You-”

Emery stepped forward, closing the distance between them. Talia instinctively moved back, her spine brushing against the restroom wall.

“I was with him for five years,” Emery said. “And I have proof. Photos. Videos. Messages. Everything.”

Talia’s eyes widened. She didn’t speak.

Emery let out a quiet laugh. “But you.” Her gaze dropped pointedly to Talia’s stomach. “You’re pregnant.”

She paused just long enough for the words to settle before looking her straight in the eye.

“So tell me, Miss Arden–what do you think your fans will say when they find out you were sleeping with my boyfriend while we were still together?”

Talia’s face lost its color. She didn’t say a word.

Einery took a slow step back, her eyes never leaving hers. “I was with him for five danm years, Miss Arden”

Her voice didn’t shake. Her shoulders didn’t drop

“I was slapped. Humiliated. Dragged through every kind of insult has family could throw at me. And I took it. I took it because I thought if I endured enough, they’d finally see me as enough.”

She let out a short breath, then straightened. “But don’t mistake that for weakness.”

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12:34 AM P p.

Chapter 8

She pointed to herself. “I’m not some pushover you can corner in a bathroom and scare into silence.”

She muttered under her breath. “Useless. He knew Samuel was here and still couldn’t wait five minutes.”

“What’s your relationship with James Bennet?” Samuel asked, ignoring the look she gave him.

From a few feet behind, Talia stood still, eyes locked on Samuel. She didn’t speak, but Emery could feel the tension from her stare.

Emery pulled her arm back. “That’s none of your business.”

“You are my business,” Samuel said.

Emery scoffed. “Mr. Dwight, I don’t see how that’s possible. You’re about to marry someone else.”

“Stop it,” he snapped. “Whatever this is, stop it. It’s making me angry, and you know how I am when I’m angry.”

Emery tilted her head, a smile creeping up her lips. Of course, she knows how he is when he’s angry. She knew very well what this man is capable of. “Then maybe you should focus on your wedding instead of sticking your nose in other people’s lives.”

Samuel stepped closer. “Stop playing games. Go back to the apartment. We’ll talk there. Like adults.”

“That’s not possible,” Emery said flatly.

“Why not?” he demanded.

Emery’s eyes shifted past him. “Because I’m already with someone else.”

Samuel’s head turned.

And there he was..

The same man who had punched him the day before, walking inside the restaurant–calm and composed, hands in his pockets

Without hesitation, Emery moved. She walked straight toward him and slipped her arm around his like it belonged there. Then she looked up and met his beautiful brown eyes that almost looked like gems.

“Isn’t that right, honey?” she asked

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