“Hmph! Who is this Kylie Logan?”“What are you talking about, talking to yourself alone again?”“You should see this, Maya.” Maya's colleague and friend at work, said.“What is that? You always see everything and that's why you know even little gossips I don't know about.”“What do you expect me to show you?” She asked with a smirk on her face.“It's gossip of course. Latest gists. You should know I am a channel now that carries and distributed news.” She said, laughing at herself.“How is that even funny to you?”“It's funny and that's it.”“You should stop being too nosy in people's affairs. You are also a role model and what would you do if the paparazzi gets a hold your little dirty secrets and expose them to the world world and then…”“I would be laughing stock. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I k ow that's one of your favorite lines.”“But you know what baby girl, I can never get caught. I have my ways.”Maya rolled her eyes at her, shaking her head, “You hand better be careful.”“Oh please s
"I will be right back." She tapped Adriel softly and stood up from the chair.Harper came back in with a nurse and Emma used the opportunity to excuse herself."Where are you going, girl?"Harper asked when she saw her leaving."I need to use the restroom.""Okay." Harper nodded and turned to concentrate on Adriel."What is Maya trying to do? I have been avoiding her at all cost. I don't know why she would not let me be." Emma muttered to herself as she walked outside the ward and to the linking pathways.Maya had sent her a message that she knew something about that Emma had been hiding from everyone.She decided to put a call through to Maya. No matter how she tried to ignore it, she could not help but reach out to Maya in case she really knew something.Her mind also kept telling her that something could be fishy Emma's fingers drummed against her phone, her mind racing with indecision.She hesitated, her thumb hovering over the screen as she weighed her options. Call or don't cal
Emma's eyes widened, her gaze fixed on the figure who had tapped her from behind. Her breath caught in her throat as her mind raced with worst-case scenarios of who it could be. But then, a gentle voice cut through the tension as she screamed, snapping her back to reality."Emma."Harper's calm tone was like a soothing balm, slowing Emma's racing heart. She spun around, her phone down on the floor, and saw Harper's concerned expression."Hey, are you okay? You look like you have seen a ghost," Harper said, her eyes scanning Emma's face."I did not see you come back inside after a while and thought to come look for you. Adriel has been asking of you. He thinks you have gone home."Emma's lips parted, but no words came out. She felt like she was frozen in time, her mind still reeling from the shock.She had thought someone had been eavesdropping on her conversation and tapped her at the moment to increase her fear.She purposely went outside the hospital, to the open where there were a
“Where are we going, Harper?” “Let's just get you out of here. You can't face Adriel looking like that. He would suspect that something is wrong and don't you think he will find out later? You wouldn't want to get him involved, would you?” “No, I don't want him involved.” Emma shook her head in negative. Harper got to her car where her driver was waiting for them. “Get out, I will drive.” She snatched the key from him and took the driver's seat while Emma sat in the passenger's seat on the front. Harper navigated the winding and busy roads. Emma gazed out the window, her mind reeling with thoughts of Adriel and the danger that lurked in every shadow. As they crossed a steel bridge, Harper pulled over, the tires crunching on gravel. The river below sparkled and reflected in the fading light. "Let's take a break," Harper said, turning off the engine. Emma nodded, her eyes fixed on the view. Harper got out, phone in hand, and walked a short distance away. "Hey, Ryder," H
Maya's eyes widened in horror as she stared at her phone. A picture of her naked self, entwined with the popular actor, stared back at her. Her mind reeled as she read the attached message: "Leave Emma alone, or this will be all over the internet."Maya's face burned with shame and anger. Who could have taken this picture? And how did they get it? She thought back to the night she and the actor had spent together, but she could not remember anyone else being there.Panic set in as she realized the implications. If this picture got out, her reputation would be ruined. Her career would be over. She would never be able to show her face in public again. And now she did not have the Lucas family solidly supportung her. They were all about Emma and not her anymore. After all, she was not their biological daughter, just a girl they thought was their daughter for almost two decades.Maya's eyes narrowed as she thought of Emma. This had to be her doing. She was the only one who would stoop
“No! You can't get rid of me so easily. You have been using me and I have been the best I can be for you.” Maya wanted to scream out so loud but she dared not.“No, please, you can't get me out of the way now. I believe I am still useful.” She replied, lowering her voice in a pleading way.“Useful?” He scoffed at her.“Prove to me that you are useful then. I want to see results! Don't come back back here with need of failure else I would not hesitate to get you out of my way and find someone who can do the job better.”“I will not disappoint you this time.”“You had better be. I have been training you and fixed you in that family deliberately for the past twenty years and now you have nothing tangible to show forth.”Maya's eyes widened in desperation as she listened to the harsh words. She knew she had to think fast, to come up with something to prove her worth."I understand," she said, her voice trembling. "I'll get you the information you want. I'll make the head of the family pay
Adriel's eyes sparkled with mischief as he gazed at Emma, his grin still plastered on his face. "The next level of our relationship, my dear," he said, his voice low and husky. "I think it is time we get to know each other better... intimately."Emma's cheeks flushed deeper, her eyes darting away from his piercing gaze. "I don't think that is necessary." she stammered, trying to maintain her composure.Adriel chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Oh, I think it is very necessary." "We have been married for months now, and I still have not seen you smile... truly smile. You know, the kind of smile that lights up the whole room."Emma's gaze snapped back to his, her eyes narrowing. "I smile," she protested, her voice barely above a whisper.Adriel's grin grew wider. "Not like you mean it," he teased, his fingers brushing against her cheek. "I want to see the real you, Emma. The you that is hidden behind those beautiful eyes. The you that's been locked away, waiting to be set fr
"Adriel..yo..you..."“You should get a goodnight rest, Adriel. You don't want to still be tired by tomorrow.” Emma opened her mouth and finally found some words to say.“I am going to rest but then, I just said I love you and I want you to know I mean every word I have said. I am going to give you time to think about it and discover your feelings for me.”“I…err…Adriel…”“You don't have to say anything now. Say it when you are ready.”“I know you weren't really comfortable with marrying me especially when you heard I was crippled if not that you found out the truth later.”Adriel's eyes softened, his gaze gentle as he looked at Emma. "You don't have to explain, Emma. I know I was not exactly thrilled about the arrangement of a new bride at first, but...things have changed."Emma's cheeks flushed, her words tumbling out in a rush. "I know I am not like other women, Adriel. I'm...broken, in a way. But I promise I will make it up to you, I will be the best wife I can be… The very reason