Over her family.
Losing the Fergusons pained him more than he could fathom, but he refused to let Stefanie lose them, too.
How far would Chase take his threats? If Emmett defied him—defied Stef’s entire family—would they cut her out? Would she be left on the outside, like his mother was by her family when she’d married Van?
He couldn’t imagine any of them drawing that line, but Stefanie might.
For him.
Because she loved him.
No.He would never allow her to know a life of loss and heartache. He’d never maroon Stefanie on an island with himself as her only refuge.
Even though he loved her. Especially because he loved her.
That thought filled him with both hope and devastation. Evidently he was far more capable of loving than he’d ever imagined... And yet he couldn’t allow himself to stay. Not when Stefanie could lose everything.
The waiter brought over a double scotch, and with a shaking hand, Emmett downed most of it in one burning swallow. He’d never ask Stefanie to live without her family. To sacrifice her stakes in Ferguson Oil; to give up the life she knew to slum it with a guy from the wrong side of town. No matter how much wealth he’d gained or how hard he’d worked to get to where he was, it didn’t change where he was from.
With that realization came a healthy dose of sad acceptance. As much as he loved her, he wouldn’t ask her to choose—or risk her losing her family for him. This room of richies was a timely reminder of how he didn’t fit in here or at brunch or beside any of them. And Stef didn’t belong with him, either.
She’d see the truth of it after a month or a year. She’d grow tired of his quiet nature and flat sense of style. She’d want someone as vibrant and lively as her and he would never measure up.
She’d miss her family.
She’d told him that marrying a queen made him king, but what if it was the opposite? What if him marrying a queen made her a commoner?
Stefanie was too vibrant to ever be common.
He wouldn’t let her stay and try to change his mind.
But he would minimize her suffering.
He would end this farce with her family around so she’d have shoulders to cry on—people who loved her and could take care of her while the man who loved her the most did what was best for her.
He’d walk away.
She deserved no less and he’d be selfish to expect more.
A flash of blue sparkled toward him and Emmett’s stomach made a quick trip to his toes. There was no better time than the present—and her entire family was already here.