I went to the Grayson's that night planning on picking a fight and asking Daniel if we could take a break but when I got there and saw Daniel standing there in his suit my heart yearned for him and for a moment I thought that I could find another way to work it all out. "You look beautiful" Daniel said taking my hand and leading me into the dining room. We enjoyed a semi-tense dinner with his parents (who were fighting) and his sister who was rebelling.
After dinner we went for a walk on the beach. "Do you want to tell me why you were pushing me away this morning?" Daniel asked stopping and pulling me so that we were standing face to face. "Nothing… It's just… I'm scared" I said promptly looking down to stare at the sand. Daniel placed his finger under my chin and guided my face back up to look at him. "Scared of what?" he asked.
"I'm scared because I'm falling in love with you, and I never expected to come here and feel like this." I answered tears prickling my eyes. "Other than when I was a young girl I've never really been in love or felt love from another person. And I'm afraid of letting myself fall completely in love with you and then have you ripped away from me" I continued as the tears started to spill from my eyes. "I couldn't bare it if you ever left me or were taken away from me." I finished before running off back to my house. I got as far as my porch swing before falling to my knees and completely breaking down.
Not long after I fell to my knees Daniel pulled me up, wrapped me up in a warm embrace, and whispered in my ear "I'm falling in love with you too." I pulled back to look at him and he continued "I can't promise that I won't be ripped away from you tragically like your parents but I can promise that I won't leave you." "You can't promise me that! Not when you don't know who I really am!" I cried pulling out of the embrace, unlocking my front door, going inside, slamming the door shut, and locking it behind me.
I ran to my bedroom and threw myself onto my bed. I could hear Daniel knocking on my door but I ignored him. What was I thinking letting my guard down and letting myself fall in love with him!? How am I supposed to fulfill my plan if I'm letting my feelings for Daniel get in the way? I can't tell him the truth he'd never forgive me… unless… no! no! he'd never turn against his own family. I have to end it with him!But how can I exact my revenge from outside the Grayson family. Maybe I should just forget it and pack up and leave in the middle of the night. The thoughts raced through my mind.
Eventually Daniel left and I began packing my enough clothes to last me at least a month I needed to get away to regroup. I booked a flight to Paris and packed my box that held my father's journals, and walked to my car and loaded my bags into my trunk.
"So that's it! You're just going to disappear in the middle of the night without talking this out?" Daniel's voice came from behind me. I shut my trunk took a deep breath and said "I thought you left!" "No I just sat on the porch swing. Hoping you'd come out and talk to me. Ems whatever is it we can work this out" he pleaded coming to stand in front of me. "It's not that simple Daniel. Just let me go. Don't follow me, don't look for me, just let me go and move on with your life." I sighed looking Daniel in the eyes and seeing the pain, anger, and confusion flash through them.
"Were you lying when you said that you're falling in love with me?" he asked. I placed a hand on Daniel's cheek and said "I meant every word, but we can't be together. It's too complicated! I'm leaving because I'm falling in love with you. If I stayed I'd only destroy your life and you don't deserve that. Just promise me that you'll stay true to who you are. That you won't let anyone or anything change you. Promise me that you will be your own man." I said hoping he'd make these promises and mean them. "I don't understand why you're doing this Emily" he said and I got in my car and drove off with tears in my eyes.