Chapter 2

As soon as Emma left her father's study and was going down the stairs, she bumped into Maya and was met with a scowl from her switched sister who was standing in the hallway.

Maya's arms were crossed, her eyes narrowed in annoyance.

"Watch where you're going!" Maya snapped as Emma stumbled backward, her eyes wide with apology.

"You've been crossing my path ever since you came to this house. I wished I never got to see you again after that day but unfortunately, here you are as the daughter of Mr Lucas. I prayed for them to find evidence that you were some sort of illegitimate child but tsk tsk, you are their child. You should know this still, I am still and will remain their first child."

Emma did not say a word, her eyes fixed on the floor. She knew better than to engage with Maya when she was in a mood. Besides, Maya was always in the mood to pick fights and annoy her and she wasn't one to respond to such.

"Are you deliberately not talking to make me look like a fool? Gosh!" exclaiming, she slapped her palm against her forehead softly.

"Do you think you will ever have him to yourself peacefully? I see you think this is wonderland because you came in three years ago and everything seems perfect and now you are preparing to get wedded to my betrothed husband."

Maya sighted the butler coming downstairs and so she said some words before pushing past Emma.

"Don't keep crossing paths with me because you won't imagine what I would do to you the

next time you do."

The butler came closer and she hissed, "Speaking of the devil. Enjoy your time with my husband for now."

Maya huffed and pushed past Emma, bumping her shoulder in the process. Emma winced, but still said nothing. She knew that responding would only fuel Maya's anger.

The tension between them was strong, the air thick with unspoken words and unresolved conflicts.

Emma's silence was a shield, a way to protect herself from Maya's verbal jabs.

Maya stormed into one of the rooms, slamming the door behind her to avoid Mr Joseph who would preach to her about right and wrong. Emma let out a sigh when she was out of the way and faced the butler who was standing in front of her.

"Is anything the matter, Mr Joseph? Is my dad calling me to come back to his study?"

"No, it's not any of that, dear." he smiled warmly at her, making her relax.

"The young master of the Carlos family, Adriel Carlos wants to meet with you."

"Father already told me I would meet with him."

"He did but he was not so certain of the day. But Mr Adriel just called and said he wants to meet you today and in about an hour from now."

Emma's eyes widened slightly at the news, but she nodded silently, her gaze still fixed on something distant, "Okay, I will get ready quickly," she said softly, her voice steady.

Mr. Joseph smiled kindly at her. "You will be meeting him at Chez Aurélien restaurant. Get ready quickly and don't keep him waiting. The driver will take you there directly."

Emma nodded again and left off to prepare for her first meeting with Mr Adriel, the wealthy young man she was to be married off to.

She knew that Mr. Adriel was an important person, and she didn't want to make a bad impression. She quickly made her way to her room, her heart racing with anticipation.

"I wish Evelyn was here to help me. I feel kinda pressured meeting this big shot in town. I still have to give my best." she thought aloud in her head as she got ready.

As she prepared for the meeting, Emma's mind raced with thoughts of what Mr. Adriel would be like. Would he be kind and understanding, or stern and demanding? She didn't know much about him, except that he was the young master of the Carlos family, a powerful family in not just the city of Eastwell but in the state.

After dressing in a simple yet elegant gown, Emma made her way downstairs and then outside where the driver who was to drive her was waiting.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves, before curling her hands around the car's door and pulling it open.

"Don't be too surprised, he is crippled." Mr Lucas words rang in her head.

"How did he become crippled? Has he always been a cripple from birth?" she muttered underneath her breath as she picked up her phone to check for news about him on the Internet.

A lot of headlines popped up. The second and handsome son of the Carlos family. The heir and hope of Maltox empire.

One caught her attention and she zoomed in, scrolling past the pitiful and well wishes comments.

It read, "Young master Adriel, the heir of Maltox empire involved in a ghastly accident that left him crippled."

"So it was just a few weeks ago." she said to herself, nodding.

The driver came to a stop at a beautiful scenery located at the east part of the town, not far from The Lucas villa.

Emma arrived at the fancy restaurant, her heart racing with anticipation. She had never been to a place like this before, and she felt a little out of her comfort zone.

But she knew that this meeting with Mr. Adriel was important, and so whether she liked it or felt uncomfortable, she had to do this.

As she entered the restaurant, she saw that Mr. Adriel was already seated at a table, sipping a glass of wine. He looked up and caught her eye, smiling warmly.

Emma felt a kind of flutter in her chest as she made her way towards him.

"Emma, it's lovely to finally meet you in person," Mr. Adriel said, stretching his hands out to shake hers. "You look even more beautiful for a replaced bride than I had imagined.

Emma's eyes strolled to his leg as she tried to keep her gaze fixed on him without making it obvious she was staring at something else.

She looked from his legs to him and a smirk spread across her face.

"He looks too happy and confident for someone in a wheelchair."

"Are you okay, Miss Emma? You've been standing since you came in. Please have a seat so we can discuss some things."

"Thank you, Mr. Adriel," she said softly appreciating his comment and took a seat across from him.

"I understand fully well why you look startled. Getting married to a crippled man must be a hassle for you. Isn't it?"

He put her on the spot. Well, was she supposed to answer the question?

Their eyes met and was locked in a gaze.

He saw the familiar smirk he had saw on her face just as she came in, spread again.