Divorcing My Cold Hearted Celebrity Husband.-Chapter 151 -- . (Time Isn’t Waiting).

And in that moment, it hit me that I would have to say it out loud.

The thought had been circling my mind for hours. It was like a restless shadow I could not shake off, but saying it would make it real.

I took in a deep breath, my palms damp, my throat dry.

"I want you and Edward to pretend to be Emma’s parents." I spilled it out, my voice trembling slightly.

The words hung in the air like a sharp echo that refused to fade.

"What?" they both said in unison, eyes wide, voices overlapping in shock.

Sophie’s tone was half-shocked, half-confused. Edward’s had a deep note of confusion and authority. The sound startled me enough that I almost jumped.

I glanced instinctively toward Matteo. He did not look surprised.

Of course, he didn’t.

He just leaned back in his chair. His expressions were unreadable, as he gave me that look.

That silent "What did you think would happen?" kind of look that somehow managed to make me feel both ridiculous and stupid.

I fidgeted with my fingers, my eyes darting everywhere but at them. "Please, just let me explain," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

Edward’s voice cut through the air like a blade. "Explain? Elena, you’d better start from the beginning. Did Matteo force you into this?"

His tone was hard, protective, every word coated with steel.

His gaze shifted sharply toward Matteo, glaring like he was ready to throw a punch.

Matteo didn’t react. Not even a flinch.

He just sat there, perfectly still, calm in a way that only made him seem more dangerous.

The silence pressed on me until it became unbearable. I could feel my pulse in my ears.

"No," I said quickly, shaking my head. "No, it’s not like that."

But even as I said it, my voice wavered. I could see that Edward did not believe me. Sophie’s arms were crossed.

Her brows furrowed, as her whole body got tensed.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to speak again. "Matteo helped me. He... he helped me with things I could not handle on my own." I started, choosing each word carefully.

I could feel all their eyes on me. The weight of it made my shoulders heavy.

I took another deep breath and continued, slowly. "He helped me uncover the truth about Dave’s past scandal. He also helped me find the hidden will my grandparents left for me. The one no one else wanted me to see."

Sophie’s eyes softened slightly. Edward’s jaw clenched, but he stayed quiet.

"And..." I exhaled shakily, "he also helped evacuate my parents safely when everything fell apart."

For a second, no one said anything. I could feel the tension in the room shift...less hostile, more confused.

Edward finally asked, still guarded, "And in return, what did he want?"

That question. The one I had been dreading.

I hesitated, staring down at my hands. My voice came out barely audible. "As you both already know that he wanted Emma to be his heir."

Sophie’s head snapped up, her expression twisting in disbelief. "Yes, you did, but I thought it was already solved"

My throat went dry again. "No, it just got delayed...but now. We have to make a decision," I said finally, forcing the words out before I could stop myself.

The moment I said it, the room froze.

Sophie’s eyes darkened, her jaw tightening. Edward’s whole body tensed, his gaze snapping toward Matteo again with open hostility.

I saw the muscle in his cheek twitch...the kind of reaction that meant he was seconds away from standing up.

Matteo, meanwhile, looked unbothered.

Calm.

Silent.

The only movement came from the slow tap of his finger against the armrest, rhythmic and deliberate, like he was waiting for everyone to process it.

"Elena, please tell me you did not agree to it. You didn’t, did you?" Sophie said, her voice sharp now.

"I didn’t. I refused, and I also told him no, but—" I said quickly, shaking my head.

"But what?" Edward demanded.

I met their eyes, feeling the weight of what I was about to say. "But I had an idea. A way that could work without... giving Emma away."

Sophie stared at me, her expression a mix of suspicion and confusion. "What?" Though I already shared with them, but it was time to explain it clearly, leaving no room for confusion.

I inhaled slowly. "If you both pretend to be her parents... Matteo still gets what he wants which is a public image of an heir connected to him. And I...I will know she’s safe. With you." My voice faltered for a second.

Sophie blinked, processing. "You want us to pretend to be Emma’s parents?"

"Yes."

A long silence followed. Even Matteo seemed to pause, watching them both closely.

Sophie’s brows knitted together. "Why now? Why does he even need an heir all of a sudden?"

Before I could speak, Matteo finally broke his silence. His voice was smooth and low, but there was a weight behind it.

"Because the old members of my family are growing restless. They want stability. An heir. A future they can trust." he said.

Sophie frowned. "And you think giving Emma to you is the solution?"

"Yes, sort of." He leaned forward slightly. "They are forcing the issue. Either I marry one of their daughters and produce an heir, or they will start choosing someone else to take my place."

Sophie still looked unconvinced. "You’re the head, aren’t you? The capo. Why can’t you just refuse them?"

Edward exhaled, rubbing his jaw.

"It’s not that simple, Sophie," he said quietly. "Those old members have power, alliances. They have been part of the family longer than Matteo or I have been alive. If he defies them too openly, it’ll be seen as weakness. And weakness in their world means rebellion."

Her expression shifted. It was still defiant, but with a flicker of understanding. "So if they rebel..."

"It could open doors for enemies to strike. If Matteo loses control, it won’t just be politics...it will be blood," Edward finished for her.

The air felt heavier now.

Matteo looked at me, his eyes softer than before. "This arrangement could buy us time. If Emma is seen as my heir, at least temporarily, it will silence them long enough for me to find another way." he said.

I could see the hesitation still clouding Sophie’s face, the instinctive protectiveness warring with logic.

Edward’s expression, meanwhile, had turned thoughtful, measured. He understood the stakes...even if he did not like them.

Elena finally spoke again, her voice quiet but steady. "So... will you accept?" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Sophie stayed silent for a moment. Edward turned to her, waiting. "Whatever she decides is my decision too." he said softly.

I looked at Sophie, my heart pounding. I already knew what she would say. She would not abandon me, but she would not just agree blindly either.

And then she spoke.

Her voice was calm. Firm. Final.

"No."

The word hit harder than I expected.

My breath caught as I stared at her. "What do you mean, no?"

Sophie looked straight into my eyes. "Elena, this isn’t something we can fake. It’s dangerous. And not just for us...especially for Emma. You can’t drag her into their world just to fix his problem."

Her words stung, but I understood. Of course I did. She was protecting Emma. That was what made her Sophie.

Before I could respond, Matteo spoke again, his tone smooth but carrying a subtle warning.

"You misunderstand," he said. "No one’s dragging Emma into anything. This is about protection...for all of us."

This time Edward turned to him sharply. "You don’t get to define protection, Matteo. Not when you’re the one putting her at risk. Sophie is right."

The silence that followed was heavy, electric.

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice through the tension. "Please. Just think about it. If this works, Emma stays safe. We all stay safe."

But he shook his head slowly, her eyes softening even as her voice stayed firm. "No, Elena. There has to be another way. If Sophia did not want it then it would a no."

My chest ached. I didn’t know what to say anymore.

Matteo, meanwhile, simply leaned back again, his expression unreadable. "Then find one quickly," he said quietly. "Because time isn’t waiting for any of us."

The meeting was interrupted in uneasy silence as everyone retreating into their own thoughts. I excused to have a some air and walked out.

Outside, I found Linda standing near the doorway, pretending to dust a vase but clearly eavesdropping. When she saw me, she straightened quickly, her eyes narrowing just a bit.

"So," she said, her tone teasing but edged with curiosity, "how many wars did you start this time, hmm?"

I sighed, rubbing my forehead. "Don’t start, Linda."

"Oh, I won’t start, but maybe finish, if you keep getting yourself in these mafia meetings." she said, crossing her arms.

I gave her a small smile despite everything. "I wasn’t planning to."

"Good, because next time I see one of his guards in my kitchen, I am hitting him with a ladle." she said, tilting her chin.

That pulled a laugh out of me...a small, unexpected one. "You would do it too."

"You bet I would."

And for a brief moment, despite the chaos that surrounded me, it felt a little lighter. Just enough to breathe again.

But as I looked back toward the study doors, I knew this wasn’t over. Not even close. The real battle was only beginning.